Falls District settles teachers contract

Teachers in District 361 will see no increases in salaries for the 2009-10 school year; and 1.5-percent salary increases for the 2010-11 school year.

The contract shows an increase of $44.91 in monthly health insurance contributions for family coverage, capped value, in the first year; and an increase in contributions of $78.45 for family coverage in the second year. The health insurance increase in monthly contributions for single coverage, capped value, is $19.21 in the first year and $31.15 in the second year. The coverage applies to full-time teachers.

The contract contained no increases in 2009-11 dental insurance coverage.

There are approximately 25 districts within the state still without settled contracts. They include Minneapolis, Edina, St. Cloud and Brainerd, according to the state teachers union, quoted in the Associated Press.

In other business, Kevin Grover was granted an immediate leave of absence from his assistant superintendent position, and was approved as the district’s interim superintendent until June 30, or earlier should the open position be filled. The board approved the interim contract under an agreement that it would consider a salary increase to be applied to the position retroactively in acknowledgement of the superintendent licensing that Grover holds.

The board also authorized Grover to initiate advertising for a new superintendent, for which Grover is a candidate.

Among several board officer appointments and committee assignments made during the first meeting of 2010 was the selection of Roger Jerome as the new board chairman. Upon the appointment, Jerome and outgoing chairman Darrell Wagner immediately stood up and exchanged positions at the table.

Revisions to the district’s attendance policy were approved, and discussion ensued about a Koochiching County truancy policy currently being formed. Falls High School Principal Tim Everson explained that it is a direction in which all county schools are headed and involves the placement of truant students in remedial learning situations rather than removing them from the classroom.

“We’re hurting ourselves by taking them out of another class,” Everson said, noting that many of the truant students are also students who are not achieving acceptable test scores.

Elementary school Principal Jerry Hilfer reported some successes in what may be the result of the district’s newly implemented Response to Intervention Program, coordinated by Andy Fougner.

Fougner was in attendance to explain his printed report on the district’s average student growth in reading for grades two through six. Slight increases in achievement, with comparisons to the NWEA norms, were reported on the latest assessments.

Among Hilfer’s reports was information on autism training as well as non-violent intervention training that will be available for staff.

Everson also reported on a Jan. 25 in-service workshop which will focus on progress by grade level as well as state curriculum placement standards.

After attending the Minnesota School Board Association conference, Grover reports a possible delay in state aid payments to the district.

“We very well could be borrowing money for cash flow,” Grover said.

Other aspects of the conference also included licensing and four-day weeks which are being considered because of the potential for savings to districts, Grover said.

Grover also said preliminary discussions are in order for improvements to continue on FHS facilities. In the plans are improvements in health and safety, as well as in lights, ceilings and air exchange. Grover reports that the lights in Falls High School must be replaced by 2012 because bulbs for the fixtures will no longer be manufactured.