Staff writer
USD 410 Superintendent Steve Noble said Monday he wanted the district to at least make back $30,000 it spent to obtain land located on the southwest corner of Adams Street and U.S. 56 highway.
The district purchased the plot, in November 2007, but has not yet found much use for it. It was originally bought for district office space, but there was never a need with the current building.
On a night when little action was taken, school board members discussed selling the land and finding potential buyers. Noble said he would wait 30 days to explore more options, and bring the issue back to the board at its next meeting.
Noble said he also was approached by the city about possibly selling Jefferson Field.
The Hillsboro Middle School football team practices on the field, so he said he would entertain offers if the district could trade for land near the high school practice field. He had received no response yet.
In other business:
- Noble said the district will make $300,000 in cuts in fiscal year 2015, and $350,000 in 2016. The district has already cut mechanic, district office administrative assistant, and activities director positions. He said they could possibly cut from athletics, supplies, and more staff in the future.
- Board members approved resignations of pre-school teacher Becky Patterson, as well as Eileen Butler as a walking school bus coordinator. Butler will continue working as a library aide.
- Board members also accepted a supplemental contract for assistant high school baseball coach Adam McCormick, and allowed Mike Moran to work as a counselor for only three days out of the week during the 2014-15 school year.
- Principals Evan Yoder, Greg Brown, and Max Heinrichs received contract extensions. Yoder’s contract as elementary school principal was retained through June of 2016, while Brown will serve as middle school principal for the 2014-15 year, and assistant principal and activities director for grades 6-12 the following year. Heinrichs will be the high school principal next school year, and middle and high school principal in 2015.
- The Marion County Farm Bureau became the first donor to the district’s school-to-farm program. Farm Bureau donated $1,000.