William Crandall
Six months after the announcement by Superintendent Beth Schwarz that she did not plan to seek a renewal of her contract with Cook County Schools – ISD 166 the board has approved a contract with Dr. William Robert Crandall. Crandall will begin his contract July 1, 2016 after the termination of Schwartz’s agreement in June. The new arrangement was unanimously approved at the March 17, 2016 school board meeting.
Crandall will be employed at 30 percent of full time. He will be required to work 78 days with a salary of $47,977 per year. He will also continue with his regular full-time superintendent position at the Lake Superior School District with schools in Two Harbors and Silver Bay at a salary of $135,000 per year. A separate agreement at $76.88 per hour for the period of March 17 to June 30, 2016 will be in effect for consulting from Crandall as necessary.
The two districts have also agreed to share related expenses at 50 percent each when the superintendent is representing both districts. Both agreements will terminate June 30, 2017 unless reaffirmed prior to that.
The application process for a superintendent/ principal through grade five that was taking place simultaneously with the Minnesota School Board Association has been stopped. Some discussion of how to proceed with the elementary principal position was considered. Options could be to leave things as they are with Adam Nelson continuing as the principal for the entire school or to hire a half-time principal for the lower grades.
Board Member Terry Collins sees merit in saving money by not hiring an additional administrator thereby freeing up funds to retain teaching positions. Both Board Chair Jeanne Anderson and Board Member Deb White would like to have input from the elementary teaching staff as to their view of needs for an elementary principal.
Budget to be finalized April 7
The current budget recommendation from Schwarz involves a net decrease of about 2½ teaching positions which equates to $153,000. Board Member Chris Goettl feels that there is room for additional savings in other areas that can further reduce that amount. The 2016-2017 budget will be adopted at the next meeting April 7.
The board discussed alternatives involving the community education budget. The budget has projected revenues of $292,000 of which $105,000 comes from local property tax payers. Currently it is estimated that community education would operate at a deficit of $39,000 plus an additional deficit of $76,000 for the operation of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Regulations do allow for community education to carry a deficit from year to year so shortfalls do not have to be reimbursed from the general fund.
The shortfall in the figures does include an allowance for administration costs. Schwarz was asked to bring a more detailed version of the community education budget breaking out the specifics of administrative costs to the next meeting. It was suggested that some of the individual adult programs and driver’s education that currently operate at losses could be corrected by increasing fees to the users of those programs.
Three preschool sessions planned
Schwarz presented her recommendation for next year’s preschool program. Comments and ideas from parent surveys, staff, child care providers and the newly formed active parent group were all considered. The plan would allow for three sections of 18 students each. Two of the sections would run during the morning and one in the afternoon, five days a week. The maximum tuition would increase to $235 per month and would operate in the black after a $15,000 transfer from the general fund.
Community member Lindsey Mielke read from a prepared statement in support of not downsizing the preschool program. Mielke elected to opt out of having her child attend the program this past year due to what she viewed as a disorganized program with staffing problems early in the year. Even though her children are now beyond preschool age she stressed the importance of having the program available to all children interested in attending.
The school board will make a decision on the structure of the preschool program when it finalizes its 2016-2017 budget on April 7.
Celebrating district successes
Fresh off of a spectacular showing at the Northern Lights Regional tournament, the Cook County School robotics team Ice Storm gave a short presentation and demonstration at the March 17 school board meeting. Team Ice Storm placed sixth out of 60 teams and narrowly missed moving on to the national finals in St Louis Missouri.
The 20 student crew was one of the smallest teams that competed against one international and several Midwestern teams. Most other teams had a minimum of 30 members and some were as large as 100 participants, many with large sponsors helping to finance them. In addition to a $5,000 donation from Arrowhead Electric the group also raised an additional $5,000 to be used toward their project. Not resting on their laurels the squad is already planning for next year and is encouraging anyone wishing to become a new member or mentor to join them.
As a follow up to the high school choir who also performed at a recent board meeting, it was announced the group had received three superior ratings at the Minnesota State High School League competition. The rating is the highest honor awarded.
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