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School board takes care of end-of-the-year business
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By Craig Moorhead
Special for the Argus
Budget cuts, a possible solution to the superintendent search, taxes, and sports were all on the agenda at the Dec. 21 meeting of the ISD #299 Board of Education.
Levy is set
Directors set the final levy for taxes payable in 2010 at the meeting. The amount certified was $2,581,833. That is $111,117 higher than the 2009 levy.
Sports issues
Directors accepted the resignation of Peggy Perry as junior high girls’ soccer coach, effective immediately. A contract for Jim Westland to serve as head girls’ track coach was ratified. The board also debated briefly before accepting a proposal to join in a cooperative sponsorship agreement with the Spring Grove and Houston school districts. Under the terms of the agreement, all three schools would share boys’ and girls’ soccer programs, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.
Superintendent position
Director Charlie Wray reported that the superintendent search committee had met since the Dec. 7 school board meeting. He said that the committee had learned that Interim Superintendent Bruce Thomas might be interested in continuing next year in a part time (.80 FTE) capacity. With that in mind, Wray asked the board if they wanted to re-consider offering the job as a part-time position, with a one or two year contract.
Directors voted to rescind their decision of Dec. 7, which was to hire a full-time superintendent, so that the administrative negotiating committee could meet with Thomas before the first of the year. Several directors voiced the opinion that they would probably not want to consider a part time posting, but would offer the job to Thomas since he has experience in the district.
Wray speculated that with benefits, a full time superintendent would cost the district approximately $126,000 per year. He said that an 80 percent position with benefits would probably require about $100,000 in compensation. Wray suggested that $126,000 be left in the budget even if a part time position is offered, since a full time superintendent might be needed in the future.
Resolution to make cuts
The board passed a resolution directing the superintendent and administration to “consider discontinuance of programs or positions” in order to balance next year’s budget.
Thomas told directors that changes were being made in the food service area, and that more adjustments would follow. He reported that he had met with staff from both school buildings, seeking ideas on how cuts to the budget can be made.
“These next few months won’t be easy,” Thomas explained. “Hopefully we can do it in the most positive way possible.”
Principal DeMorett’s report
Middle/High School Principal Paul DeMorett reported on efforts to help middle schoolers who are falling behind in their studies. Two existing after-school programs which help students with homework were described. DeMorett said that a third program was being planned for kids who can’t stay after school due to “not having parent support.” The goal, he said, is to get students up to speed before they enter high school, so they can focus on graduation requirements.
On a related note, “graduation requirements policy #612” was ratified by the board. “This is just to get in line with the state,” DeMorett said of the changes, which allow students to earn economics credits in departments other than social studies. Students have been taking business economics and agriculture economics courses, DeMorett explained, and these need to be credited towards graduation requirements.
In-Service Day “Coup”
DeMorett had more news for the board; “At the January workshop day at the end of the semester, we’re having a speaker come in… She’s actually a nationally-renowned speaker, and in districts around us, people in the know are absolutely beyond jealous that we’re having her come and do a workshop.”
Kylene Beers, author of “When kids can’t read, what teachers can do: a guide for teachers, 6-12” will be coming, DeMorett explained. Beers has agreed to waive her fee, he said, which is normally thousands of dollars. The district will only need to pay travel expenses. Teachers have already been issued copies of the book.
The author will spend a half-day at each school building, DeMorett explained. “It’s an absolute total coup for our district,” he told directors. DeMorett explained later that the visit was largely due to some hard work by Business Manager Barb Meyer. “It’s part of our push to really make sure our reading is up to where it should be… we’re all excited about that,” DeMorett noted.
The board discussed the possibility of moving from a block schedule to a seven period day. Thomas explained that the move might allow the district to cut two full time positions. Noting that there would be pros and cons to any schedule change, directors voted to have administrators look into the effects of changing to a seven period day class schedule.
Directors voted to hold a special organizational meeting at the elementary school on Jan. 4 at 7 p.m.
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