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Sen. Ropes: ‘School districts are in for some difficult days’
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By Craig Moorhead
Special for the Argus
State Senator Sharon Ropes visited with members of the Caledonia School Board prior to their Nov. 16 meeting. With an estimated six billion dollars worth of cuts coming at the state level next year, Ropes said that school districts are in for some difficult days.
“It’s going to be tough sledding for the next two to three years,” Ropes told the board. Addressing the governor’s move last year to delay funding for school districts, pushing payments due one year into the next, Ropes said that the withholding of $1.2 billion has caused some districts to seek bank loans to keep running. “It’s dishonest accounting politics,” she said.
“Based on the last seven years of Governor Pawlenty’s history, I can’t imagine that he’s going to change his strategy and say ‘Let’s put some new money into schools and let’s raise some new revenue‚‘ new revenue will not be part of his solution.”
When told that the district was basically running without a fund balance, Ropes said that it “might be a good thing,” since one of the proposals to balance the state budget is to withhold funding for cities, counties, and schools that have a fund balance. “We’re looking at cuts that are enormous,” she told the board.
“Please keep me on speed dial,” Ropes told board members. “We’ve got to get through this together. If I hear any glimmer of good news I will let you know right away.”
Director Matt Hendel, chairing the meeting, thanked Ropes for her comments.
In other board action:
Personnel issues
Directors ratified a contract for Jane Morken to serve as interim elementary principal. Morken’s contract is for .6 FTE, while Mrs. O’Mara-Meyer will continue to assist with administrative duties at .2 FTE. Thomas said that the total coverage of .8 FTE would be an improvement, but the district needs to keep a full-time elementary principal. Principal Connie Hesse is on medical leave until the end of the semester.
The board voted to eliminate the full time position of food service director. Superintendent Bruce Thomas told board members that he would re-configure a part-time position to fill the duties of the job.
Directors accepted the resignation of Mike Meyer as crossing guard on highway 44/76. Laurie Cleven was hired to fill the post. Director John Klug asked if the position, which is paid for jointly by the City of Caledonia and the district, needed to be okayed with the city, and was told that the district is expected to do the hiring.
The resignation of Alissa Goetzinger as junior high girls basketball coach was accepted. Goetzinger had been job-sharing the position with Jenna Betz. Betz will now take on the full duties of that job.
Special meeting scheduled
The board voted to hold a special meeting on Thursday, Dec. 3 in the elementary media center, to discuss the need for a new superintendent next year. Norm Miller of the search firm ADM will give a presentation. Miller is a former school superintendent. Director Charlie Wray confirmed with Thomas that there would be no fees or obligations for the district unless ADM was hired.
Spring musical
Directors tabled discussion on a sharing agreement with the Houston School District for the spring musical. The board requested that middle/high school music instructor Eliott Kranz sit in on the discussion, which was tentatively slated for the Dec. 3 meeting.
Head Start discussed
An interagency agreement with Semcac Head Start was discussed. Thomas described it as an “operational agreement” between the two organizations. Director Jean Meyer noted that “They’ve had an interagency agreement with us in previous years, too.” Hendel asked Thomas if there were any changes in the pact. Thomas replied, “Not really.” The board accepted the agreement.
Superintendent position
Board Chair Naomi Fruechte, who was not able to attend, sent a written report on her efforts to contact other local school board chairpersons for the purpose of possible sharing of a school superintendent position.
Of the five nearest school districts, Fruechte had been able to contact all board chairs with the exception of Mabel-Canton. Spring Grove and La Crescent were interested in sharing, although not for the superintendent job. Houston was interested in a part-time human resources director, and offered the possibility of a part-time HR person also working as a part-time superintendent in Caledonia. Fillmore-Central replied that they would also need a superintendent on July 1, and would like to talk with ISA #299 about the possibility of a shared position.
A joint meeting of the two school boards was scheduled for Nov. 18. (See the write up in this week’s Argus.)
Thomas said, “I personally don’t think it’s appropriate for me to participate in that. I think at that meeting it’s more of a colleague thing with your fellow board members from the neighboring community.” He offered to answer any questions that directors had after the meeting.
Community Ed reports
Community Education Director Nancy Runningen reported that KinderFriends enrollment is up to 14 students. She said that the program was a win/win situation. When kindergarten students spend more days in the classroom later this school year, KinderFriends staff will transition with them, serving as classroom assistants.
Runningen noted that the ISD #299 Foundation recently awarded $6,900 in mini-grants to 25 applicants. “The foundation continues to do really good things on behalf of the students in our district,” she said, “and I certainly encourage you all to come to the foundation fun night in April.”
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