Board Member Terry Collins reported on the status of staff contract negotiations with the Cook County Education Association at the October 22, 2015 meeting of the School District 166 school board. The discourse began in May of this year. Collins, together with Board Member Chris Goettl, has attended eight negotiation sessions with the association. He said that although the meetings have been cordial and professional they have failed to reach an agreement.
The district, which originally offered no raise in compensation, eventually increased itsoffertoa2percentraisein the first year of the contract and no additional raise the following year. The education association, originallyaskingfora3percent raise each year, had decreased that request to 2 percent each year. Collins suggested that the board withdraw any tentative offers made through the negotiations, fall back to the terms of the contract that expired in June and assemble a new negotiation team to begin the process again. Under the former contract many teachers will still receive a raise in compensation but those that have reached the top step of the pay scale will not.
Administrative restructuring
Among several personnel items discussed was the hiring of Administrative Consultant Kathleen Mortenson. Mortenson was hired at a rate higher than originally intended. It was hoped that someone could be hired at $25 per hour, however Mortenson will be paid $50 per hour. Collins recalled the $47,000 in tentative savings after the administrative restructuring and resignation of Principal Gwen Carman. He asked that at some point later in the school year, an accounting be presented of what remains of that amount.
Board Chair Jeanne Anderson spoke of research she is doing among other similar sized districts on their administrative structures. She will evaluate the comparable districts on points as to whether they have full-time or part-time superintendents, how many principals they employ, if they have administrative consultants, deans of students and such other points. Part of her goal is to help determine if the board should take on the task of hiring a new superintendent on their own or if it would be beneficial to hire an outside consultant to assist with the task. Her efforts will be part of the discussion at a board retreat scheduled for November 10.
Superintendent apologizes
Superintendent Beth Schwarz opened the community comments portion of the October 22, 2015 school board meeting with an apology to the board and community members. Schwarz had authorized an early release of school for Friday’s football playoff game. The early release caused childcare and other scheduling problems for many parents.
Board member Sissy Lunde pointed out that the school needs to remember that we are here for teaching and keep our priorities in mind. Schwarz stated that moving forward the school’s practice will be to not release early for playoff games. Collins did confirm with her that there are other options available for individual students to leave early in such situations. Schwarz also mentioned that the staff will continue to work a full day, whether at the school or supervising students at the game.
Levy referendum ballots due November 3
Mail-in ballots have been mailed to all registered voters in the county for the upcoming levy referendum vote November 3, 2015. With only a couple of days remaining at press time, citizens can drop their ballots off at the Cook County Auditor’s Office to be sure their vote arrives in time. Replacement ballots for lost or damaged ballots can also be obtained through the auditor’s office. Carl Perkins Consortium
In his report to the board, Principal Adam Nelson reviewed funding received through the Carl Perkins Consortium. The district has received approximately $7,700 so far this year and about $27,000 total over the previous two years. The consortium receives federal grant dollars and then passes them through to local school districts for classes, projects and equipment for the schools. An example of which is $7,500 used toward the purchase of three dimensional printers for the industrial arts department in the 2013- 2014 school year.
Currently $1,000 of consortium funds is being used to fund two buses to Pathways for Careers. The all-day event is offered every two years and allows students to meet with various business professionals to learn about potential job opportunities after graduation. About 70 students, grades 10 to 12, will be attending this year’s event. This number is up from approximately 30 students two years ago.
Nelson also spoke of using consortium funds for possible telepresence classes held remotely with other schools. Classes such as certified nursing assistant and wildfire fighting are some examples of courses being considered.
Better Internet for Grand Portage?
The Thursday meeting of the board was held in the log building across from the Community Center in Grand Portage. Community member Jason Burnett inquired if the board could assist in any way with speeding up access to broadband Internet in Grand Portage. He stated that President Obama said five years ago that broadband will be available to all of us. Board Member Deb White indicated that Grand Portage currently has access to DSL (digital subscriber line) Internet but it is not reliable. Schwarz will research where the broadband expansion in the county is at and report back at the next meeting.
In other business
. The board expressed its support of the TXT4Life program. The program is intended to promote suicide prevention/intervention among students in a sevencounty area of northeast Minnesota. Student Success Coordinator Anna Sandstrom and Counselor Kris Hoffman are the main contacts for this effort at ISD 166. Posters with details will be displayed throughout the school as well as put in school announcements.
. Schwarz gave a very interesting and informative presentation on the special education services provided by Cook County School District. The report detailed legal requirements as well as financial and staffing aspects of the program. Please see next week’s Cook County-News Herald for the complete report. . The board approved the sale of $500,000 in certificates to temporarily offset a delay in receiving state aid funds. The certificates shall pay a maximum of three percent interest. Schwarz also added a clarification to the last school board article in the Cook County News-Herald reporting a $94,000 savings to the district with the refinancing of an existing bond. She said that the savings is actually that of the taxpayers because the district will not have to collect that amount from them over the next seven years.
. Nelson announced that the winter sports meeting for coaches and student athletes will be held Monday, November 2 at 5:00 p.m.
Leave a Reply