District 197 Chalk Talk: BlueSky Proposal Rejected, Clean Audit Reviewed

  won’t acquire , the troubled charter school based out of West St. Paul.

That’s according to a recommendation made by Interim Superintendent Tom Nelson, whose conclusion was supported by the school board Monday night at .

Nelson cited the unknown financial investment, potential difficulties integrating BlueSky teachers into the district’s bargaining unit, curriculum concerns, uncertain student achievement and a lack of technology support staff in the district as a few reasons why the district would be better served establishing its own online program.

BlueSky Online School has been targeted for closure by the Minnesota Department of Education for allegedly providing a curriculum that does not meet state standards in social studies and math, and for graduating students that allegedly did not meet state graduation standards. BlueSky and the department of education are waiting on the on the case.  

• The board heard a report on the district’s annual audit, provided by MMKR Certified Public Accountants. The report returns an “unqualified," or clean, opinion of the district’s finances and procedures, along with possible corrective actions for findings that were inconsistent with district policy, such as two late payments and a reporting lapse.

• The board approved implementation of the , also known as Q Comp.   

•  A closed session followed the meeting for discussion of labor negotiations.