School Board approves second assistant coach for girls hockey

The board seemed in general agreement that with the number of girls hockey participants at 30-plus in each of two levels of the program, it needed and deserved a second assistant. But some of them cautioned that other Booster clubs may start asking for reinstatement of sport cuts that have been made, and that other sports also needed more coaching support.

Board member Stuart Nordquist pointed out that girls swimming also needs a third coach; that some coaches are paying their own assistants out of their own pocket; and that some coaches are just plain volunteering all their time and skills.

“The need is there; it comes down to whether we have it in the budget,” Nordquist said, also citing track and softball as in need of more support. “If it works out, great, but we need to look at all sports. It’s a question of fairness.”

Bergstrom replied, “What we’re asking is if we can have the same coaching as the boys (program) has.”

Superintendent Don Langan asked the Boosters representatives for affirmation that they would also help in financing the change in the future. The new hiring had Langan’s recommendation.

“This is an opportunity to approach it as an equity issue,” Langan said. “... It would be hard to defend (failing to hire).”

The hiring was approved with Nordquist in opposition, “but not because we don’t need one,” he said.

The seasonal salary for the second assistant, based off the schedule on the existing union contract, will be $4,441 for a candidate with one to three years of experience, higher for more experience. The position will be posted, according to Sue Karsnia of the superintendent’s office.

In other business, the board also approved a policy change that will combine the positions of community education director and youth coordinator under one title and one benefit package. Assistant Superintendent Kevin Grover told the board that while insurance coverage for the community education director would increase from 50 percent to 75 percent, the salary would change little, making it a wise financial move for the district.

Expanding the senior open lunch period from every other Friday to every Friday was approved.

The board received copies of the budget summary report and on Langan’s recommendation, scheduled a 5 p.m. Dec. 7 work session for the district’s finances. Board members will be reviewing documents with an expectation to ratify a final document on Dec. 31.

Grover explained a new non-profit dental program entitled Smiles Across America, under the auspices of United Way. Through the program, children in the community who need dental work but are without resources can have the work done by local dentists. Dentists in the area are already on board, Grover said, adding that he will bring additional information for the board to consider.

Grover also publicly thanked Gail Rasmussen for heading a successful election campaign, saying she and her committee were instrumental in the passing of two referendum questions on Nov. 3.

Principal Tim Everson reported for principal Jerry Hilfer that the new Response to Intervention coordinator, Andy Fougner, has been meeting with a specialist on the recently implemented program in the district.

Falls High School November students of the month are Nick Lagen and Kara Kennedy.

Co-student school board member Amanda Lassila reported to the board that students were planning a Pink Shirt Day to rally against bullying. The shirts would signify a boy who was once bullied at school for wearing a pink shirt. Lassila said also being considered in the school is the hanging of a drug awareness banner on which students would inscribe their commitment against taking drugs.

Lassila added that a fund raiser was in the works with Gearhart’s Floral & Gifts in which roses would be sold for $10 and two items for the local food shelf.