L-BF finances in the black
The Littlefork-Big Falls School Board regretfully accepted Wednesday the resignation of Peter Kowitz, music teacher and National Honor Society advisor, said L-BF Superintendent Fred Seybert, noting Kowitz’s excellent service to the school.
“He’s been just a fantastic teacher,” he said.
The board is currently reviewing five good applicants for the position which will be hired for the 2010-11 school year, Seybert said. Kowitz will reportedly attend seminary school.
The board also approved a revised 2009-10 budget Wednesday, which finds the finances of District 362 in the black.
The district’s revenues of $4.8 million exceeded its expenditures of nearly $4.7 million. The only real tight area of the L-BF budget was in food costs, according to Seybert, but there is currently no plan to increase meal prices for students.
The L-BF school calendar was also approved Wednesday. Seybert noted that there is limited room for any time shifts of school calendars in Minnesota due to the mandated start of school after the Labor Day holiday, and the required ending before Memorial Day weekend. Seybert said an extension of the school year one week beyond Memorial Day weekend would allow more breaks during the year, but at this time is not possible.
Jenny Taylor was approved as a long-term L-BF substitute to fill the position of teacher Heidi Thompson who is on maternity leave. The board also approved the resignation of C Team volleyball coach Katie Prettyman, who has joined the faculty of District 361 in International Falls.
Heather Kennedy was appointed as an at-large committee member for the L-BF Community Education Recreation Commission, which facilitates extracurricular activities in the community. Wendy Boorman remains the CERC director with an office in City Hall. “Our community is fortunate because she does a great job,” Seybert said.
L-BF Awards Night is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 19 in the L-BF School commons where student academic and athletic achievement will be recognized.
On a recommendation from the Curriculum Committee, the board approved the implementation of the course “Everyday English” for junior and senior students in remedial English who need additional support toward achieving state testing standards. The course will be taught by English instructor and theatrical director, Nancy McBride, who will relinquish one seventh-grade English course to do so. The teacher for that class will now be Sara Kennedy.
The Transportation Committee made the recommendation for the annual purchase of a school bus. The district currently owns 11 buses, but is on a cycle of retiring and replacing one older bus each year.
