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School board looks at winter sports coaches, potential budget issues
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By Craig Moorhead
Special for the Argus
At the Oct. 19 meeting of the ISD #299 Board of Education winter sports coaching contracts, snow removal and other seasonal issues were on the agenda, along with budget concerns.
A special meeting of the board was scheduled for Nov. 2 to discuss the upcoming superintendent vacancy, along with other items of concern. Board Chair Naomi Fruechte told directors, “We need to get moving, folks. Soon enough it will be July 1st. We want to advertise early enough that we have a number of choices.”
Directors ratified the coaching contracts for boys basketball with Josh Diersen as head coach, Jeremy Leis as assistant coach, Bob Burmester as ninth grade coach, and Daniel Reinhart and Bill Kearney as junior high coaches.
Girls basketball will have Scott Sorenson as head coach, Carl Fruechte as assistant coach, Kevin Klug as ninth grade coach, Jenna Betz and Alissa Goetzinger sharing the eighth grade coaching duties and Mark Krause serving as seventh grade coach.
Gymnastics coaches were approved at the Sept. 21 meeting.
Closed session
Directors went into closed session to discuss coaching contracts for wrestling.
When the meeting was re-opened, Athletic Director Dave Meyer objected to having been left out of the discussion. Fruechte told Meyer that he would have been called upon if directors had a question for him to answer, but since that was not the case, he wasn’t asked to come in.
Directors voted to approve Roger Knutson’s head wrestling coaching position. Other wrestling coaching jobs were tabled, to be posted prior to the Nov. 2 meeting of the board. The motion also called for consultation with the Houston School District on the numbers of participants in wrestling and their involvement in the paired program. Houston provides an assistant coach for wrestling.
The board discussed a two year co-operative agreement for girls gymnastics with three other area school districts. Caledonia would serve as the host for that program, with students from Spring Grove, Houston, and Mabel-Canton joining in.
Director Jean Meyer asked if some students from the district might lose the opportunity to compete under the plan.
Other directors noted that cost sharing with other districts probably outweighed any potential drawbacks. “Cost sharing is important,” Director Charlie Wray said. “We may come to the point where we would have to eliminate a program.”
“It’s important to remember that they aren’t coming over for free. We do get some payment from them to participate,” Fruechte reminded directors.
“I think it’s great,” Director Spencer Yohe said. “Down the road, we may want to share a little more to keep costs down.”
“It’s their responsibility to get here, but we will provide the opportunity when they come,” Fruechte said.
Directors voted unanimously in favor of the agreement.
Snow plowing bids
Snow plowing bids were reviewed. Superintendent Bruce Thomas explained that the bid from C&C Excavating, Hokah, would cost the district less when total costs are compared. Thomas said that the district would be looking at snow plowing on a call in basis this year, in order to make the most efficient use of the funds available for the service. Directors voted to award the bid to C&C Excavating.
HVMHC contract
The board approved a contract with Hiawatha Valley Mental Health Center. “This is something we do every year,” Fruechte said. “It’s in regards to the day treatment center.” The district utilizes day treatment services from Hiawatha at its Hokah location.
Principal’s report
Middle/high School Principal Paul DeMorett reported on programs and activities under his supervision. DeMorett also brought information to the board about a “instant alert” messaging system which he said would be a great asset for the school. The system can be used to alert parents, teachers, support staff and administrators via regular phone, e-mail, text massaging and cell phone, at a cost of $2.30 “per seat,” A seat is defined as a student, faculty or staff member. The board asked DeMorett to forward the idea to the technology committee. Thomas said that the idea had merit, but would need a funding source.
Budget concerns
Superintendent Thomas remarked on budgetary concerns. “I just want to publicly say that this district is in a precarious position. I’m not saying that the sky is falling. What we need to do is to recognize the fact that we are close to statutory operating debt.”
Thomas said that he would bring specific suggestions to the board at the regular December meeting.
“I would anticipate the dialog we’ll have in January, February and March will in fact be difficult, but the decisions have to be made by the March board meeting,” he concluded.
Staff contract proposals
Fruechte told the board that contract proposals have been exchanged with the teachers’ union, but not yet with administrators. She said that teachers’ representatives have proposed a 3.25 percent raise this year and a 3.5 percent raise for next year. The district proposal is for current pay rates for both teachers and administrators, she noted.
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