Caledonia Argus

Accountant/controller hired for district

Posted: 5/28/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

An accountant/controller has been hired for the school district. Amy Kiehne was offered a one year contract for the 2002-2003 school year Tuesday night, May 21.

Board members Chuck Schulte, Dave Klinski and Suzanne Roesler were part of the committee that conducted interviews for the position.

Schulte said there were 26 applicants and the field was narrowed down to four. Discussion was held after each applicant. ìWhen it came to Amy, we were all in 100% total agreement. Sheís a certified public accountant, sheís had five years experience, has ties with the local area and was employed in Rochester,î he said.

Shadow time with current business manager Gretchen Anderson has been scheduled. Kiehne will begin July 1, 2002 and be paid $40,000 a year.

Teacher receive tenure

Four full time staff members were granted tenure. They include Lisa Barum, speech clinician; Chris Miron, elementary physical education and K-12 adaptive PE; Cynthia Welscher, elementary MMMI (Mild to Moderate Mentally Impaired) and MSMI (Moderate to Severe Mentally Impaired); and Angie Zaiger, business education. Part time staff Nancy Runningen, community education director, at .75 time received tenure as well.

Students are dismissed early

Students in grades seven through twelve will get out of school two days early this year, so that teachers are able to pack their classrooms for moving to the new high school middle school.

The board approved a resolution dismissing students in grades seven through twelve on May 30, 2002 and May 31, 2002. Originally the last day of school was scheduled for Friday, May 31.

School will also not be in session for sixth grade students on May 31, 2002.

A portion of the days will be spent on staff development activities.

There had been some concern from teaching staff that teachers should not be required to work past their contracted time, therefore the board set aside this time to pack classrooms.

It also works out well because all of the schoolís snow days have not been used due to the mild winter.

It was suggested by Elementary Principal Connie Hesse to give a few days off for elementary staff to pack when it comes time for them to move regardless of whether snow days have been used or not. Packing may occur in January or February in 2003.

She also noted that there are too many activities happening in the elementary during the last week of school to be having that many days off.

Board member Barb Hurley asked Keith Hollatz, a teacher and member of the audience, whether he had heard of any teachers not planning to pack and move.

Hollatz commented, ìThe feeling was, ëweíre under contract so you can tell us what weíre going to do and if we donít, thatís insubordination.íî

He added, though, that there may be some who may not be able to do things because of a physical limitation.

Attendance policy needs to be reviewed

Board members received a request from students and a parent that the attendance policy be reviewed.

The board were presented the results of a survey of 25 students who were asked questions about what they thought of the attendance policy.

Sixty-four percent of students surveyed thought the allowance of four days per quarter is unsuitable, and also that automatically losing credit for your class on the fifth absence is unfair.

The report stated, ìIn the United States Court system, there is the belief that a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Since the attendance committee doesnít know why the person is gone, the student should be presumed innocent, and they should retain their credit until it is deliberated by an attendance committee.î

The report showed that most students surveyed missed between zero to 10 days of school.

Seventy two percent missed because of vacation, sickness, appointments and other reasons while twenty three percent were counted absent because of being late ten minutes or more from class or because of skipping.

Furthermore, eighty nine percent of the total days they missed were excused.

The survey was conducted by Caledonia High School students Stephanie Lundt, Meghan Burg, Kirby Fitzpatrick and Angie Ideker.

A mom, Barbara Lundt, told the board that the policy makes her feel limited as a parent. ìI donít think the policy lets me as a parent call in and say my child is sick. I have to call a doctor. Many parents donít have the money to call a doctor. I feel a parentís phone call should be good.î

Lundt said, ìI ask the board if a committee could be made up so that the attendance policy can be reviewed.î

Hurley noted that a review of the policy may be in order.

Board members Roesler and Bruce Bulman noted that in their experience, many students who are in conference are students who have used up their first four absences and then when an absence has really been needed, they have no absences left.

The policy was first put into place a few years ago because some students were being absent for at least 60 to 70 days in a three quarter period. Some of those cases involved abscences as requested by parents.

Elementary students nervous about new school

A survey of 36 fifth grade students revealed that the biggest worry when going over to the new middle school is getting lost and being late.

Sixty seven percent said they had not toured the school, but would feel better if they did.

A tour of the new school is scheduled with Kraus-Anderson Site Superintendent Ken Cote' for fifth and sixth grade students Thursday, May 30.

The survey was conducted by Caledonia High School students Jennifer Schulze, Chelsey Meyer and Sarah Hartley.

Curriculum Committee update

Mary Frank provided the board with and update on the curriculum committee which has been meeting since March.

There are 17 committee members comprised of parents, teachers and administrators. Since then, the attendance has been good with an average of 12 members for each meeting.

Frank issued a statement that the committee will be concentrating on language arts, math, science and social studies as the foundation for all other areas.

Board Chair Cheryl Whitesitt expressed concern that there should be something said in the statement concerning following graduation standards. ìYou canít keep them separate. Are they in all these areas? I know theyíre not,î she said.

Roesler said itís great to start with these four areas, but to also work on incorporating grad standards.

Hurley agreed with Roesler. ìIíd feel more comfortable if it was included in the statement,î she said.

Schulte, who is on the committee, said he thinks the statement is well worded. ìItís not intended to be something weíll get all excited about. Itís a reference point,î he explained.

Frank explained that since there is so much to look at, that these are the areas that will be looked at first and then they will branch off into other areas.

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