Action of the School Board Action of the School Board 04/27/15 | Page 4

Heidemann said the board is stressing to legislators the importance of keeping compensatory pilot funding in the final bill. Operations Child Nutrition update presented Child Nutrition Program Director Noah Atlas and Assistant Director Patty Duenow presented to the Board a financial update on the Child Nutrition program. Atlas said the program, which had been generating an annual fund balance prior to the 2012-13 school year, is now struggling due to substantia l cost increases associated with implementation of new federal nutrition guidelines required by the National School Lunch Program. As a result, Atlas asked the board to approve a 10-cent increase to breakfast and lunch prices for next year. Last year, Anoka-Hennepin spent $6.3 million on food, a 15 percent increase from 2011-12, and another $1 million on milk, which is a 22 percent increase from 2011-12. Part of the increase is related to the federal requirement that children take at least half a cup of produce at every meal. The result, Atlas said, has been the need to buy more fruits and vegetables. For example, Anoka-Hennepin purchased twice as many cases of apples as it did in 2011. The district last increased meal prices in 2011-12, when a similar 10-cent increase was made. “We’ve kept the price down over the years,” Atlas said. Atlas also explained to the board that opting out of the National School Lunch Program wasn’t a viable option. The Child Nutrition Program receives more than $9.3 million in funding by being a part of it. That would evaporate if the district opted out. “It’s a huge number,” he said. The board will make a decision about raising meal prices at a later date. View the full presentation on the April 27 agenda. Elementary and Secondary Education Overview of Middle School Collaboration Teams presented Associate Superintendent Dr. Jinger Gustafson introduced Oak View Middle School math teachers Nicole Stromme, Sarah Valley and Beth Heimerl, who presented to the School Board the success their Professional Learning Community (PLC) has had this year. This intermediate algebra math team works together at least twice a week to look at data, analyze what strengths their students have, create common tests and notes, and work on interventions and extensions for students of all abilities, Valley said. “That time is invaluable to us,” she said. Stromme and Heimerl said one of the biggest benefits to the team is being able to reflect back on the process. “I think that the reflection is a huge piece,” Heimerl said. During our collaborative time, we really look, as a team, at what we think quality work should look like. It’s really helped us raise the expectations we have for the students.” 4 ACTION Board Chair Tom Heidemann said he and the board are proud of the work they do as a PLC. “I think from a board point of view, collaborative time is something we fought hard to continue to fund because we know how important it is for you to meet and work with your colleagues. I can see the energy feeds off itself,” he said. “Thank you for the great work.”