BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board spent much of its relatively short, one-hour meeting on Monday night listening to reports from various staff and school board members.

Teacher and Q Comp coordinator Brenda Smith gave the board an update on the changes in the way Q Comp is operating this year.

She reported there are three main changes. One is that the plan has been reduced from three cycles (time periods) down to two. Another change is that the DLT (District Learning Team) no longer needs to oversee the Q Comp program, and the third change is one with the paperwork, reducing the forms which need to be filled out from three down to one.

The superintendent’s report was in a written version, as superintendent Mandy Fletcher was attending a conference.

However, principal Dave Dressler read Fletcher’s report which included information on enrollment.

“Compared to last year, we are down two students, from 1,043 down to 1,041,” he read. “And, the number of students qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch is up from 48.7 percent last year to 50.7 percent this year.”

Dressler explained that lunches for all students are free this year through state mandate, but the district still tracks the number of students who would qualify because other federal programs are tied to that number.

School Board member Stacey Beyer gave a report from the BEA School Foundation, noting that at its recent meeting it approved 10 requests for $20,300 in grants to various school projects.

She also reminded everyone that the Foundation’s annual Maroon and Gold Gala is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 18.

School Board member Ted Armon reported the Negotiations Committee had reached a tentative agreement with the teachers union on a new contract. Details are being worked on, but the agreement should be ready to be presented at the next School Board meeting, in November.

The Board also heard reports from three principals and the director of Curriculum/Instruction.

In other business, the BEA Board:

— Accepted a donation from the B.E. Welcoming group for the purchase of translation devices.

— Approved a Minnesota State High School League grant to offset student activity fees.

— Approved a resolution to allow Southern Plains Education Cooperative to bill all member districts equally for expenses incurred with Student Support Personnel Aid.

— Approved various personnel matters, including accepting a resignation from paraprofessional Rhama Starrett, hiring of Katie Welsh as a paraprofessional, granting a leave of absence maternity leave for Sam Jahnke and a lane change from MA to MA+14 to Brittany Eckhardt.