District to sell bonds to fund air-quality projects; Board denies one-section math teacher position
Gordon Dault was appointed by the Falls School Board Monday as interim school board member through the end of 2010.
Dault will fill the position left vacant by the June death of board chairman Roger Jerome. The school board member position will be filled in the Nov. 2 general election. Dault has already filed to be on the November ballot.
Two candidates, Dault and Gerald Bolstad, were each interviewed briefly by the board prior to Monday’s meeting being called to order. The first order of business in the meeting was to seat the newly appointed board member.
During his interview, Dault discussed professionalism among board members, obeying the chain of command with the superintendent, and controlling financial resources as important to the success of the district.
Each candidate was asked five questions regarding collective bargaining, challenges the district will face in the near future, qualities of a successful candidate, how the parties involved in education can work well together, and the time commitment of being a board member.
After listening to the candidates, board member Will Kostiuk said each were excellent candidates and the board would do well to have either. “We can’t lose either way,” he said.
Board member Stuart Nordquist agreed with Kostiuk, but reiterated and agreed with several of Dault’s responses to the interview questions. The board unanimously approved Dault’s appointment, with board member Mark Lassila absent from the meeting.
Michelle Hebner was appointed chairwoman of the board until the Jan. 17, 2011, board meeting, when board officers are elected.
The board received a report from Carolyn Drude on the sale of $2 million in general obligation alternative facilities bonds to fund indoor air quality projects at the high school. The bonds are to be repaid over 15 years.
The board awarded the sale to Northland Securities Inc., of Minneapolis, which had the lowest bid in terms of net interest cost and true interest rate. Three other bids were received and reviewed. All bids came in below the projected 3.3 percent interest rate. The winning bid was for a 2.7459 percent interest rate.
With the school year starting in September, additional personnel items were added as an addendum to the agenda.
In addition to positions previously reported, nine educational support professionals were approved: Michelle Boelk, Shannon Moseman, Brittany Martinez, Shawn Bowles, Pam Sauve, Stacey Leseman, Heather Nevalainen, Tracy Trask and Mary Mannausau.
After brief discussion, the board approved all of the original personnel items with the exception of ratifying a contract with the Local 510 union. Superintendent Jeff Peura explained that details were still being ironed out between the union and management, and the contract had not been approved to bring to the school board.
Nordquist requested, when the position of assistant girls hockey coach was mentioned, that the female athletes not be relegated to a late time slot for practice every night. He asked that the early time slot for practice be split with the boys team.
One position added to the amended personnel list was not approved: the 0.2 full-time-equivalent math teacher position. The board had sought candidates for the position, and Rachel Helleloid was on the agenda for approval. Nordquist, stating that he approved of the candidate but not of the position, asked that the item be removed. He said the district could save $12,000 a year by assigning Dean of Students Kevin Grover to the first-hour math class. Grover is credentialed to teach the subject, and his dean of students position is a 0.8 full time equivalent.
Peura said the high school administrators recommended hiring the extra personnel for the one class for one year. Nordquist remarked that they would “have more administrators than teachers” if they maintained that path. The board voted unanimously with Nordquist to deny adding the position.
Falls High School Principal Tim Everson briefly reported to the board on enrollment of 614 students, and ongoing work towards making adequate yearly progress. The high school has fallen below state AYP benchmarks for the past two years.
Elementary schools Principal Jerry Hilfer also updated the board on enrollment of 637 students, and that he is watching fourth and sixth grades enrollment because class sizes are already at or above 30 students per section in those grades. He also updated the board on steps the elementary schools are taking regarding AYP, which was met last year after a one-year lapse.
Peura recommended that the board take action to reduce school activity fees by half for 2010-2011 due to a referendum passed last year to levy funds for that purpose. The board unanimously passed the reduction in activity fees, and also noted that related scholarships were available for students who qualify, as well.
