Posted: 3/7/06
Principal negotiations approved on split vote
The ISD #299 board voted 5-2 on February 27 to negotiate two-year contracts with the districtís three principals.
The motion also stated that after the 2006-2008 contract ends, the board will contract with only two principals.
Mike Novak and Chuck Schulte opposed the motion. Novak said the board should not be negotiating a reduction in the number of principals. ìThatís a boardís prerogative based on the finances of the district,î he said.
ìItís not negotiating,î board member Charlie Wray responded. ìItís simply stating the boardís vision of whatís going to happen.î
Novak made a motion that did not contain the reduction language, but it died for a lack of a second.
Schulte said the district has three full-time administrative salaries, and noted that enrollment had dipped to 840 students. ìWe really donít know what weíre doing,î he said.
Board chair person Mary Frank said the board is moving toward two principals. ìBut which two?î Schulte asked. ìThatís maybe something we should visit about in closed session.î
Staffing cuts coming
Superintendent Mick Moriarty said staffing cuts this year will include a special education teacher; the reduction in time of physical education and family consumer science positions; and a reduction of special education assistants. Next yearís budget should be ready in six weeks, he said.
The elementary school will have two sections in every class next year, Moriarty said. That will push a teacher from there to the middle school to teach special education, which in turn will push out one special education teacher. The middle school will shrink to two sections over the next three years, he said.
Coaching contracts approved
In other personnel business, the board approved the following coaching contracts for spring sports.
BASEBALL: Eliott Kranz, head coach, $2,2703; Kevin Klug, assistant, $1,723; Zach Hauser, junior high, $1,527.
GOLF: Ken VanDenBoom, head girls , $3,012; Mitch Mullins, head boys, $3,012; Jennifer Snook, assistant boys and girls, $1,723.
TRACK: Carl Fruechte, head boys, $3,012; Paul Stevens, girls head, $3,012; Reese Wait, assistant boys and girls, $1,723.
The softball contract is done through the lead school, Spring Grove, which has a cooperative with Caledonia.
Other personnel item: The board also approved a support staff long-term substitute contract for Shauna Salow in the middle/high school kitchen at the hourly rate of $8.67. She replaces Rebecca Carmack, who is on maternity leave.
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