By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

ISD #299 School Board approved a new two year contract for District 299 support staff at its September 20 meeting.

Support staff includes all non-licensed staff with the exception of confidential employees.

The 2004-2006 settlement gives an annual step advance on the salary schedule, and an annual two percent increase on the salary schedule.

Also, the district contribution toward health insurance will be increased by $750 to $4,250 per year in the first year, and by $500 to $4,750 in the second year. The district pays 93.4 percent of the single coverage premium cost of $4,548.

The decision came after a 15 minute closed session for negotiations at the meeting, which was held at the Brownsville Community Center.

Personnel hired

The board approved six personnel items:

ï Kellie Rhinerson was hired as 3/5-time speech and language teacher, at a salary of $34,926.

ï Gail Peter was hired as middle school/high school counselor at the salary of $38,975.

ï James Olson was hired as part-time middle school/high school janitor at the wage of $8.17 per hour.

ï Laura Welscher was hired as part-time middle school/high school cook for the wage of $8.33 per hour.

ï Gail McCormick was hired as junior high girlsí soccer coach for $1,483.

ï The board also reinstated the assurance of mastery math position, which was cut a few years ago. Tina Esch will do that work, which is aimed at helping students prepare for the basic skills tests. It is done opposite music so students are not taken out of regular classes for the work.

Concession stand coming?

Board member Chuck Schulte asked the board for permission to have the Caledonia Rotary Club take on the project of building a concession stand by the athletic fields.

He said the Rotary Club was looking at projects to do as part a nation-wide centennial project, and the concession stand is one choice for the group to consider.

ìThis would be a great project for the Rotarians to do because there is a need there,î Schulte said. ìI think itíd be a great way to bring the public together for a project for the school.î

Several board members agreed. Naomi Fruechte said she would like to see the club follow up on plans that had been previously developed on the building. Those plans were presented earlier this year, but had to be scrapped due to budget constraints.

Schulte said the board would serve as the general contractor, and would give the final OK on design and construction questions.

Ticket taking booth

The board also approved putting up a temporary structure for outside ticket takers at athletic events. Schulte noted that the the Caledonia Lions, who take tickets on a volunteer basis, save District 299 a lot of money.

ìAs long as itís tastefully done,î Naomi Fruechte said.

ìNo crescent moons on the door?î superintendent Mike Moriarty asked with a smile.

Web site concerns

Board member Barb Hurley expressed some disappointment in the schoolís web site. She said there was nothing on the schoolís calendar, and that the site should let people know about school activities like music events, athletics, and school board meetings.

Superintendent Mike Moriarty said he would check into this.

FFA trip approved

The board approved a request from high school principal Ron Helmers to allow six students to attend the national convention of Future Farmers of America on October 26-30 in Kansas City, Missouri.

ìIf we donít support the program, FFA in Caledonia will die,î Dave Klinski said.

Helmers said the trip would cost about $1,445, which would come from the clubís account, from fundraising and from the students.

Barb Hurley reminded Helmers of a board policy that trips like that need to cover all of the costs in advance, including the cost of a substitute teacher to replace the teacher who goes on the trip.

Graduation day discussed

Board members discussed when to hold commencement exercises next year. Graduation is scheduled for Sunday, May 29. Sunday is traditionally the day of Caledonia graduations.

But May 29, 2005 is the day before Memorial Day. That fact, along with the early start of school this year, has had people discussing moving graduation up.

Moriarty said moving it up a week could cost the district state aid, so he was against that. He and Helmers said that Friday, May 27 might be a good alternative. Hurley suggested that the school send a questionnaire about this to parents, and Moriarty responded that he would do this.

Bullying discussed

The subject of bullying came up a couple times in the two-hour-long meeting.

Helmers gave a strong statement in his report to the board about his commitment to stop bullying He said he will track and document bullying, and will go after bullies. If it happens outside school, heíll bring it back to the school, and call law enforcement if necessary. ìIt can change and I expect that it will,î he said.

Elementary school principal Connie Hesse said that students at her school are filling out bullying forms, and staff members are following up by talking to students and sending notes home to parents. ìItís a major effort K-12,î Hesse said. ìItís a work in progress.î

The elementary school has been working on the issue of respect for many years, and bullying is related to that, she added.

Preliminary levy certified

The board approved a preliminary levy limitation certification of $1,772,821. Last year the final levy was certified at $1,715,723.

Top of Page

Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475

E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com