ISD 166 school board member Ed Bolstad took issue at the November 7, 2013 school board meeting with the process the high school had just gone through to determine winter coaches. He stated that after reading statements by social studies teacher and basketball coach Mitch Dorr in the November 2 Cook County News-Herald regarding plans for the coaching of winter sports, he did not think the school’s hiring process had been followed properly.
In his interview with the newspaper, Dorr talked about switching to coaching the girls varsity basketball team and the roster of winter basketball coaches, but the board had not yet approved them.
Superintendent Schwarz told the school board that Dorr had requested the reassignment. He had told the News-Herald that he has three boys who might be playing football and basketball as they grow up and he thought it might be better not to coach them in both sports, since he is also the varsity football coach. Schwarz explained that the school needed to start winter sports even though coaching assignments had not been finalized with approval from the board.
Two people expressed dissatisfaction with the girls’ varsity basketball hiring process, but they did not understand the process, Schwarz said. Current coaches can request a downward or lateral move, which will be considered if an opening occurs, Schwarz said, and that’s what Dorr had done.
An interview team consisting of Principal Adam Nelson, Pam Taylor, and Mitch Dorr originally interviewed three candidates for the girls’ team. Schwarz said that Dorr was never considered a “candidate” himself. After those interviews, the interview team could not come to a consensus on hiring any of the three candidates. The position was re-advertised, only this time, it was advertised as a position for either a girls’ or a boys’ coach. This widened the applicant pool, Schwarz told the school board. Pat Eliasen was interviewed and selected to be the boys’ basketball varsity coach.
Athletic Director Pam Taylor said Dorr had participated with her and Principal Nelson in interviewing Eliasen but did not take part in determining who would be given the job. Principal Nelson said he and Taylor made the decision. When an open position was identified, Dorr’s request was granted. In a separate phone conversation, Superintendent Schwarz said Dorr had indicated he would be willing to take either varsity team.
The board approved an athletic coach hiring process that mirrors the process followed in this case. The board also approved a roster of winter coaches, including Dorr as head varsity girls’ basketball coach, by a vote of four ayes, with Deb White abstaining because her daughter-in-law was on the roster.
District office staffing
In the last two years, 1.75 positions have been cut from the district office. “I’m very concerned at this point that we may have cut too deeply,” Superintendent Schwarz said. She said she might be requesting part-timehelp in January.
Level IV program
Superintendent Schwarz recommended that the school pursue a Level IV program, an alternative learning center that is separate from the regular school setting. In a memo regarding the issue, she wrote, “…Students who need these types of settings either need to leave the county for services or try to make it in the traditional setting. The latter is often not a successful arrangement and students end up not completing their education or not gaining as much from the instruction due to unique needs.”
Schwarz said the Trovall commercial property on Reservation River in Hovland was for sale and would make a good alternative learning site. Purchasing and renovating was “looking good,” she said, because of “two outside supporters” offering financial help. Having a Level IV setting in Cook County would prevent students from having to leave the county to receive those kinds of services.
Schwarz’s memo went on to say, “Funding this type of programming is very challenging. We will likely have to supplement the budget of such programming with general education funds. I believe there is a way to eventually (3-5 years), with the collaboration of various agencies, make this a ‘break even’ facility.”
The board unanimously passed a motion authorizing Schwarz to look into the purchase of the Trovall property.
Middle school enrichment classes
The school board approved a request by Principal Nelson to add math and reading enrichment classes every other day for seventh and eighth graders who are falling behind. It will replace seventh-period study hall and music appreciation. An expenditure of up to $10,000 was approved.
School social worker activities
Student Success Coordinator Anna Sandstrom reported that she had 62 individual contacts with students (some repeat contacts with the same students) in October and had worked in 17 classrooms. “It’s been a really positive experience so far,” she said. This is the first time the district has had a social worker on staff.
Sandstrom works with teachers, communicates with parents, makes referrals, and attends interagency meetings. Student issues brought up so far this fall include abuse and neglect, grief, finances, legal issues, violence at home, and suicidality. She is available to meet with students one-on-one, and they are free to initiate contact with her on their own.
Sandstrom is working with the National Honor Society on a winter clothing exchange in which people can donate winter clothing and pick up something they might need that has been donated by someone else. Extra items will be used at Sawtooth Elementary or given to other places that could use them.
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