School board clears slate at special year-end meeting

The Montevideo Board of Education started the work week early Monday morning with a special year-end meeting that began at 7 a.m.

The meeting was called to deal with a number of issues that required action before the next regularly scheduled board meeting in August. Board member Betty Christensen was unable to attend the meeting.

Actions taken included:
• The board approved purchasing a new phone system for the middle school from Bennett Technologies of Willmar. The current system is 15 years old and was moved into the middle school from Central Middle School in 1995.

“There is no benefit in keeping what we have,” said board member Gerry Wohlhuter during discussion.

The low bid for the system is $44,121.14 plus an additional $1,174.20 for connection materials. The price includes an extended seven-year warranty. The district has been spending between $3,000 and $7,000 annually to keep the present system running.

• Board members tabled action on a new infant and toddler care program proposed at the regular June board meeting.

Financial feasibility is the main concern, according to Supt. Dr. Luther Heller. The program will need to operated at full capacity just to break even.

Consensus among the board members was that more time was needed to study the issue of acquiring equipment such as cribs, and to consider funding options.

“I would not stop looking at the program,” said Heller, “but I would recommend we gather more information.”

• Additional information was presented by members of the Montevideo Music Boosters regarding fund­raising efforts to restore cuts to the K-12 music curriculum. The group has fallen short of its goal of getting pledges for $250,000 over five years.

At this time the boosters have acquired approximately $32,000 in pledges, which is not enough to reinstate a full-time position unless the individual were a first-year teacher.

According to Bruce Bergeson, high school principal, a couple of applications have been received for the .5 FTE position that is available.

Board members Maggie Kluver and Darin Balken reiterated their concern that there be sufficient money pledged to last five years, out of fairness to anyone hired to fill the position full time.

Heller said he was not comfortable with the district being mandated to use the funds for a faculty position. He did say he was comfortable with the district using the funds as it sees fit in the K-12 music curriculum.

Boosters member Ellen Moore said the group would have to check back with donors to see if this would be acceptable, since the original goal was to restore a full-time instructional position.

Balken asked the administration to develop a recommendation as to how the $32,000 will be used. Talks between the district and the music boosters will continue in meantime.

“We will continue forward based on the world as it is now,” said Heller, noting discussions will continue.

Balken thanked the members of the boosters at the meeting for the group’s efforts to maintain a strong music curriculum.

• Two licensed teachers were recalled to teach next year. Monica Stueck will be full time, and Ralph Heidorn is filling a .357 full-time equivalent position. They will take over some of the classes taught by Leah Schwachtgen, whose full-time position was eliminated because of budget reductions.

• Board stipends and meeting rates were left unchanged from the current $60 ($80 for the chair) for regular meetings, $30 for special meetings and committee meetings ($40 for the chair), and $60 for negotiations committee meetings. Board meetings will remain at 7:30 p.m. on the second Monday of the month.

• Students fees remain relatively unchanged for the 2010-2011 school year, with the exception of a 10 cent increase for meals and the elimination of the physical education fee.

• The board convened an executive session for the purpose of discussing administrative team job performance proposals.