Songs

Rotary Minute

Announcements

1. Next Wine Down Wednesday is Dec. 12th in place of regular meeting at 5pm at Mill Street Residence. M State Choir will be there to provide entertainment. Sign up sheet was passed around and an email version will be coming as well.
2. There has been an inquiry about outbound exchange and we have a local family (Richard & Kitty Lahti) who will be applying for us to sponsor their daughter.
3. Fergus Falls Aquatic Feasibility Study is looking to do a more in-depth study on fundraising for the aquatic park. Since splash pad is our centennial project (we have about $20,000 saved, $5,000 committed for each of the next two years, and plan to apply for matching funds from the district) this was a good time to remind the club of our efforts.
4. Baby Photo Contest Announcement. Last week’s was Anthony Nordan but no one guessed it right!

Brags & Fines

Today's Speaker

Dean Monke introduced the speaker, Jerry Ness. Superintendent of Fergus Falls Schools. He said this is Jerry's 13th year in Fergus Falls, but that Dean is going to lose his boss come July 1 due to Jerry’s upcoming retirement.

Highlight's of Jerry's Comments

• It’s a good time to be an Otter. The district is growing. Finances are good with a 20% fund balance. Facilities are in good shape. 
• Student enrollment is up. Up 66 students the first day. There are 10 sections of kindergarten this year - 215 students. This is a big deal because funding is allocated based on student count. 2,400 students on-site in district buildings and another 600 students in the on-line program. 
• There is not much diversity in our district. The biggest disparities in opportunity are among students of poverty. Over 35% free & reduced lunches (up from 16-19% in the 1990’s).
• Principals Tiny Rund and Scott Colbeck have conducted research on students in the district and have found that only 63% of kids live in 2-parent homes. The fastest growing parent-type is grandparents raising their kids' kids.
• They have hired 52 new teachers in the last two years and over 100 new support staff. The school district has 430 employees total making them the second largest employer in town.
• Test Scores: Compared 20 MCA scores to neighboring schools. Jerry prefaced this with the comment that Western MN is full of great schools. Fergus Falls outscored or tied: Ashby on 16 of 20. Battle Lake 13 of 20. Underwood 19 of 20, Rothsay 20 of 20, Alex 13 of 20, Moorhead 20 of 20.
• Facilities: Long term facility maintenance funding has been increased thanks to work of MREA of which Ness has been active in for many years. FF Schools are remodeling the heritage building for early childhood education, remodeling Roosevelt, and planning is underway for next round of facility needs. New elementary school is likely the next major construction that will be needed due to current growth trends.
• Jerry's Retirement: He is retiring at the end of the school year. Timeline for his replacement: Dec. 1 through January position opens and is advertised. February candidate selections. He will help recruit candidates and board will be charged with interviewing. They hope to have new person hired by March with transition period to begin then.