Enderlin Area School Board... New board faces 2007-08 facility improvements
Enderlin Area School Board...
New board faces 2007-08 facility improvements; hires assistant business manager
By Mike Martin
The rescheduled regular board meeting of the new Enderlin Area Public School District #24 was held Thursday, February 22, 2007 in the School’s Meeting Room 117. Board members present included Sandi Bar-tholomay, Matt Bartholo-may, Dan Billing, Rollie Schroeder, Rick Gillund and Cyndee Chesley. School Business Manager Susan Schlecht and School Super-intendent Pat Feist attended as did guests Diane Fuhrman and Barb Barth-olomay. Presiding over the meeting was Board Presi-dent Cyndee Chesley and a quorum was established with the meeting beginning at 8:12pm immediately following the band concert. Several additions were made to the agenda and the prior board minutes were approved.
Reports were given with the first up being “School Improvement.” Superintendent Feist said this is a work in progress and current emphasis is developing curriculum needs. Neither Enderlin principal gave a report as both were attending a professional school administrator’s convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
There were no School Board member concerns and no report given by any present; the Superintendent’s report started with Supt. Feist complimenting our School’s fine showing in the State Wrestling tournament, with several athletes placing at the state level.
A darker area of concern is the school’s attempt to eradicate “The Choking Game” and an example of a caution letter which had been sent to parents was passed to all. School Counselor Diane Fuhrman said lower grades would be brought in on the hazards of this activity.
Under unfinished business, Superintendent Feist said “according to the (school districts’) “reorganizational plan we will be having an assistant school business manager and it makes sense that Tammy Boeder gets this position.” After discussion regarding if this position had been budgeted, Board member Gillund moved and Board member Sandi Bartholomay seconded this job be offered to Tammy Boeder at her current Sheldon position wage. Motion passed.
Another item addressed was the “Certificate of Legal Description of the Enderlin Area School District” and board consensus was to use a local attorney to ascertain the correct legal descriptions before the legal descriptions of the combined district becomes permanent record. Board member Matt Bartholomay moved and board member Sandi Bartholomay seconded the district approve the North Dakota School Board Association group plan for Job Service determination (a continuation); motion passed.
Superintendent Feist led the board in discussion on how the current staff should be terminated from the old, non-existent School District and re-hired in the new. A language example was “I resign on condition I am employed in the Enderlin Area School District.” Board member Billing moved and Board member Gillund seconded this conditional resignation with rehire clause be included in contract language; motion passed. Board discussion suggested an explanatory letter be sent to ancillary staff “so rumors don’t fly.’
A rough draft of the 2007-08 school district budget was also presented to the board and it was emphasized the numbers are subject to change due to pending state legislation activity. The preliminary budget shows an approximate $145,000 deficit and the superintendent stressed that this number will probably improve. He also said special education is a growth area with more kids having a need for these services. He and School Business Manager, Susan Schlecht, also clarified to the Independent the hopeful 2007-08 mill assessment including general, building and renovation fund will be in the pledged 205 mill area. This contrasts with 2006-07 total mill assessments of 226 for Enderlin and 253 for Sheldon. Six applications were presented for out-open enrollment, and Board member Schroeder moved and Board member Matt Bartholomay seconded these be approved; motion passed. Another item of new business was the board’s embracing a memorandum of understanding with the Ransom County Tobacco Coalition; this agreement allows the district grant dollars in exchange of an approved anti-tobacco curriculum. Board member Gillund moved and Board member Billing seconded this memorandum be approved. Motion passed.
Board member Schroeder moved and Board member Gillund seconded the District recognize an appropriate bargaining unit for teacher’s negotiations; motion passed. Board member Sandi Bartholomay moved and Board member Gillund seconded the Enderlin Education Association be appointed the appropriate bargaining unit; motion passed.
Another item brought about with the combined district was allowing existing Sheldon School employees to come into the Enderlin School health insurance group and Board member Matt Bartholomay moved and Board member Dan Billing seconded this be allowed. Motion passed. Board member Gillund moved and Board member Sandi Bartholomay seconded the Business Manager be appointed as this new group’s authorized agent; motion passed.
The final part of the board meeting dealt with “Information” and all board members were asked if they received “Beacon,” an on-line periodical which kept abreast of pending legislature bills changes and bills. Superintendent Feist thought there is a lot of emphasis on vocational centers and continued “look at the travel involved to regional locations. I wish the dollars would come to our vocational end.” The group was also told Board members Schroeder and Billing had gone to the February 15-18, 2007 Negotiations Seminar and Non-Renewal/Reorgan-ization Seminar and they “were ready to go” on the new round of staff negotiations.
At 9:28pm the meeting was adjourned.