BLUE EARTH– The Blue Earth Area School Board started off their meeting on Monday by electing School Board officers, before tackling a full agenda of other items.

The board selected Sara Hauskins as the board chair, Ted Armon as vice chair, Stacey Beyer as the clerk and Lindsay Mensing as the treasurer.

All of them were already holding those positions and were re-elected by acclamation, with no other nominations being made.

After that, the board got down to their regular agenda and heard a report from staff member Jennifer Kafka concerning a proposed new Language Access Plan.

The 15-page plan covers guidelines for providing language services when needed. Some of those included providing translators when families speak languages other than English.

That includes providing school printed documents translated into other languages when needed.

“We already have all the things which are listed in the document in place,” Kafka reported to the board. “So, we are already doing all the things which are required.”

She explained the district just needs to have the written plan in place which clearly states exactly what language services the BEA School District has available.

“It does need to have board approval,” Kafka said. “And I ask the board to give it their approval tonight.”

The board did exactly that, later in the meeting, when they were going through the list of action items, with a unanimous 6-0 vote.

During her report at the meeting, Superintendent Mandy Fletcher gave the board an update on the plan for facilities education plan created by the board.

“This evening School Board Member Gary Armon and myself will be going to Delavan to attend their City Council meeting,” Fletcher said. “It will be a busy two months of going to public meetings throughout the district with information.”

Also at the School Board meeting the board:

— Approved the list of committees that board members serve on. The list remained the same as the current year, except for Gary Armon being added to the Legislative Liason Committee and Ted Armon added to the Minnesota State High School League Committee.

— Approved the Instructional Staff Sharing Agreement with Southern Plains Education Cooperative for speech services.

— Approved a resolution directing administration to make Recommendations for Reductions in Programs and Positions. This resolution is made each year and no reductions are being anticipated at this time.

— Approved BUCCY Bags donations from McDonalds/McTeacher promotion and from the BEA first grade teachers.

— Approved accepting a grant from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families in the amount of $2,000.

— Approved an agreement with Genesis Classical Academy for use of chemicals and chemical equipment.

— Approved the hirings of paraprofessional Airyana Shaffer, elementary teacher Jack Mellstrom, long term subs LeAnn Boettcher and Esther Nelson, volunteer wrestling coaches Randy Wirtjes and Dave Pfaffinger; lane changes for Sara Albright, Ann Crofton, Lindsey Norman and Christine Hodges.