Board approves full-time media specialist
By CHRISTY WULF
Staff writer
Hillsboro Elementary School media specialist Sandy Arnold told USD 410 board of education members Monday evening that students and teachers would benefit if she spent more time at the school.
Arnold gave a PowerPoint presentation and said she would be available to help with teaching, providing information, research skills, and supporting reading outcomes. She also would have time to update the library's website and collaborate with teachers about curriculum media.
The board looked at two proposals, increasing the position to four days a week or making it a full-time position.
The board voted unanimously to increase Arnold's contract as a media specialist to a full-time position for the 2005-06 school year.
Band teacher Greg Walker said the May 23 parents' meeting and band tryouts for fourth graders went well. Many students are taking summer lessons.
"Teach to the Future" class, taught by Maura Wiebe has begun and she invited board members to attend a presentation by the class.
Resignations from Gloria Winter, fourth grade teacher, Arlene Pankratz, custodian, and Priscilla Unruh, Wiebe Media Center aide were presented and accepted by the board.
The board also approved resignations from full-time positions for Judy Hiebert, food service, and Irene Bezdek, custodian, contingent upon being offered part-time contracts beginning Aug. 1.
The board discussed and approved supplemental contracts including Phil Oelke as high school baseball coach and Stephanie Sinclair as high school softball coach.
Supplemental vacancies still exist for assistant high school volleyball coach, assistant high school girls' basketball coach, assistant girls' middle school basketball coach, assistant track coach for both middle and high school, assistant high school wrestling coach, and assistant high school girls' tennis coach.
School superintendent Gordon Mohn said the district may need an assistant cross country coach to handle an increase in participation. The board will discuss that issue again in August.
Dennis Boldt updated the board on the interest-based bargaining team and said teachers were pleased with 2005-06 contract negotiations.
The contract includes a 3.1 percent wage increase for returning teachers.
Mohn recommended the board approve the contract but cautioned negotiations may need to be reopened following a decision by the legislature on school finance reform.
The board approved the contract with that in mind.
Pay rates for non-contracted classified employees was discussed and the board agreed to increase most by three percent.
Classified employee benefits and contract details for classified employees were examined and approved.
Classified employee contracts and salaries changes for custodian Arlene Pankratz, building secretaries, food services employee June Suderman, the Wiebe Media Center aide, and high school AAP Coordinator were discussed and approved, along with contract information for other classified personnel.
Keith Goossen, director of transportation and maintenance, and Jerry Hinerman, business manager/board clerk, were issued contract renewals for the 2005-06 school year along with a three percent pay increase.
Cory Burton, middle school principal, Max Heinrichs, activities director, Dale Honeck, high school principal, and Evan Yoder, elementary school principal, also received three percent pay increases.
Following an executive session, the board also voted to increase Mohn's salary by three percent.
There will be no increase in student fees for the 2005-06 school year.
The only change was the addition of a $25 sixth grade supply packet required of all sixth grade students. Burton said it would include all the supplies needed for the school year.
The board voted not to increase textbook fees for the 2005-06 school year. They will remain at $25 for kindergarteners and $35 for all other grades.
In his report to the board, Mohn recommended the board invite retiring employees to the July meeting instead of holding a dinner.
Mohn asked the board to consider putting more money into the extended learning program (ELP). He said the school system could only expect out of the program what it puts into it, and right now there weren't enough funds to do much for the gifted program.
The board will hold its next regularly scheduled meeting at 7 p.m. July 11 in the technology center of the Hillsboro High School.
