SHERBURN — The Martin County West School Board held their May meeting Monday evening and heard a report from Superintendent Reynolds. When the board saw the projected enrollment and the proposed sections, they discussed small sized classrooms and budget concerns. The students have interventions and added special help but more than 25 students in 5th grade class sections was concerning to the board. They approved asking for another section for grade 5 to three sections for the coming school year. The board also asked about leader job responsibilities and who oversees what and can it be done more efficiently.

The budget revisions was reported by Dan Schroeder from the school district’s management company. He reported that the legislature may have decisions soon. He projected enrollment for the next school year to be around 630. There should be an increase of 4 percent for the next two years in the basic aid formula. Special education should be about 44 percent for three years. The special Covid funds are used up. The council asked if the projects or programs started with Covid funds will be ongoing with no funds from that source. He reported that the FMLA leave may be funded from employee and employer taxes. His target for budget is 25 percent fund balance. He will have a more definitive report on the budget in June.

In the public comments time slot, there was a presentation from the paraprofessionals “Education Support Professionals” asking for a fair wage for their contract. They make less than someone working at a fast food restaurant. They explained their job description and asked the board to make sure their wages were fair for what they do in the school district.

There was a presentation of the English 12 Community Action Research Project by Tristan Engbretson and Nick Matejka about the possible dredging of the 951 acre Fox Lake north of Sherburn. The power plant was located on the southwest corner of the lake and was demolished in 2020. When demolished the charges were felt around the lake and the dust ball and debris settled into the lake. Residents near the lake got sick and the DNR shut off the flowing water and leaving water. Since the demolition the water is dirty and no fish live there, no new cabins are built and the lake has turned from a fun active lake to a dirty pool of water. The research done was about dredging the lake to restore the water depth, increase the storage quantity and restore recreation activities. After the dredging there would need to be a re-stocking of the lake of native fish species which were abundant before the demolition.

There should be limestone added to the lake to increase the PH level. This would be a 4-5 year restoration project which could be very expensive from $5,000 to $5 million. A lake the size of Fox Lake should be in the usual range of $50,000 to $250,000. The board asked questions about the restocking of fish which the presenters said would be around one pound of fingerlings per acre. They also asked what is the next step the researchers would like to take. They answered that they must contact the Fox Lake Conservation Club and others who know what to do.

In other news:

— The consent agenda was passed which included some hiring and acceptance of resignations. — The board accepted with gratitude donations of $500 from the Martin County Pork Producers for the FFA program and $300 toward payment of past due meal balances at the high school from an anonymous donor.

— — The board approved Bank Midwest for banking services, the school calendar for 2022-2023 revisions to make up for snow days and membership in the MN State High School League.

Superintendent Reynolds reported that the second round of community meetings with ISG will be 6:30 p.m. May 24 and May 30 in the cafeteria at the high school in Sherburn. In June a

construction manager should be named and the first reading of the promotion and retention policy should be read.

— The board approved sending letters of commendation to the State FFA qualifiers and State Speech qualifiers.

— The board approved the revisions in the student handbook and were reminded that May 29 is Memorial Day and there is no school. The last day of school will be June 2.

The next regular meeting of the Martin County West School Board is 6:30 p.m. on June 19.