By Craig Moorhead
Special for the Argus
On Aug. 17, ISD #299 directors met at the Caledonia Elementary media center, making final preparations for the 2009-2010 school year.
Kristin Hanson, vice president and financial advisor with Ehlers Incorporated, reported on the sale of $2,215,000 in general obligation aid anticipation certificates. She said that four companies had offered bids earlier in the day. The low bid was from Wells Fargo Brokerage Services of Minneapolis, at .8947 percent. The net interest cost to the district would be $21,470.
Hanson said that the district had to borrow more money this year “because of how the (state) aids are going to be metered this year. You’re going to get 73 percent of your state aids this year, and then 27 percent next year. That obviously makes your cash flow a little bit more challenging than it has been in the past.”
She was upbeat about the rate offered. “We were really pleased today,” she said. “This is one of the lower rates we’ve seen on non-rated aid certificates.”
Directors voted unanimously to approve the sale of GOAA certificates to Wells Fargo.
Personnel
The board approved five teaching contract changes for 2009-2010. Middle/high school art instructor Jennifer Snook’s contract was increased from .50 to .7125 FTE. High school family and consumer science teacher Sally Mensink will go from .75 to .825 FTE. Middle/high business education instructor Angela TenKley will go from .50 to .75 FTE. High school social studies teacher Jason Cognac will go from .50 to .92, with .42 FTE of his contract being shared with the Spring Grove School District. High school science instructor Bradley Church will go from .50 to .525 FTE.
Middle/high school Principal Paul DeMorett said that the added hours were needed to fit the class schedule for the coming year, which was already made up when he arrived. Superintendent Bruce Thomas told the board, “It’s my understanding that the budget is supportive of the schedule.”
Directors also approved girls soccer coaching contracts for the coming year. Sue Link will serve as head coach. Laurie Conway will be assistant coach. Peggy Perry will serve as junior high coach.
The board took up the issue of coaching volunteers, voting to approve an application which potential volunteers will need to fill out. The form states that by signing, the applicant “understands and will follow the policies and procedures of Caledonia Public Schools as stated in the handbooks. The applicant is under the supervision of the head coach and will take direction as seen fit by the head coach. The applicant must have a background check on file before beginning any contact with students. The volunteer coach may be released from duties at any time deemed necessary by the head coach, athletic director, or principal.”
The form requires not only the signature of the applicant, but also that of the head coach, athletic director and the principal.
Director Spencer Yohe commented on the process, saying, “We need to get the best fit and the best roll models” for coaching positions.
Fall coaching volunteers for this year are listed as Jim Westland and Kurt Christian for football, and Kari Rusert for volleyball.
Directors accepted the resignation of middle/high school custodian Roger Olerud effective Sept. 30. Olerud has worked for the district since April of 1977. The board expressed thanks for his years of service.
Tammy Reichenbacher was hired as early childhood family education/ school readiness assistant for the 2009/2010 school year.
The board also granted a medical leave of absence for Elementary Principal Connie Hesse. The two month leave will begin Sept. 8.
Administrative reports
Middle/high school principal DeMorett updated directors on scheduling for the coming year. “This process has included figuring out FTE assignments for part-time staff, getting all of the students entered into the system, balancing classes, and scheduling the middle school students,” he explained.
DeMorett said that he hopes to be able to develop ways to improve scheduling with the goal of “having it completed before the end of the school year.” DeMorett said that he hoped “when kids walk out the door (in the spring), they know what will happen in the fall.”
Community Education Director Nancy Runningen said that so far only four students were enrolled in group “A” and five students in group “B” of the KinderCare program. She said that registrations would be accepted until Aug. 21, but so far there aren’t enough children in either group to offer the program.
Runningen said that Head Start moved into the elementary school Aug. 10. “I think it will be a really good partnership,” she said. “They have 17 students enrolled. I think it will be a good transition for those children.” She said that the program would be buying meals from the Caledonia Elementary School kitchen.
Elementary Principal Connie Hesse reported that the grant that she informed the board about in May has been finalized. The amount of the grant will be slightly more than the figure reported in May, at $73,658. The funds will support one full time and two part time positions, paying for a program called “Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training.”
Hesse enlisted Runningen, DeMorett, and District Business Manager Barb Meyer, as “students” as she demonstrated what students will do in SMART class. All kindergarten and first grade students will get 30 minutes of instruction at the beginning of the day. Hesse said the goal of the activity is getting the right and left hemispheres of the brain working together. The physical/learning activities demonstrated have been shown to be a great help to special needs students in particular, she said. By adding SMART, some children are expected to be able to exit Title and specialized education programs and join the general student population.
The demonstration included exercises intended to be fun while reinforcing learning. Eye exercises are even included.
“As you can see,” Hesse said, “the activities that they do are really cheap.” She explained that reading and math are the primary goals, and that the grant, which will pay for the equivalent hours of two full time positions, will pay for a reading specialist and two SMART specialists. “I think we’ll see great results,” Hesse said.
Other business
Directors approved Dec. 21, 2009 as the truth in taxation meeting date for the district. The 2010 budget and tax levy will be discussed at the meeting, to be held at 7 P.M. in the elementary media center.
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