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There was a bit of reorganization at the school board meeting Tuesday night as only two of the original board members remained seated at the table.
Board members Mike Klemetsrud and Steve Boone had resigned from their positions and president Ed Brown had lost a bid for re-election.
Since Steve Halldorson had served the longest, he was selected to lead the meeting until a president could be elected. A short time later he was officially elected president and never relinquished the seat.
“Welcome everybody,” he said with a smile. “It should be a fun ride.”
The only other standing board member, Kory Boehmer, was selected to serve as vice-president.
Newcomers Lee Ann Johnston and Veronica Nicla took the oath of office and Halldorson took the oath again, as he was recently reelected to the spot.
One of the first items of business was how to select the final board member. The seat became vacant following Boone's resignation, but was too late to be included on the ballot.
Superintendent Steve Swiontek suggested following the procedure used in 2005 when a board member was replaced mid-term. He recommended accepting applications until Aug. 12 and then the board can interview the candidates at a special meeting on Aug. 16. A finalist will be selected and the new board member would be sworn in Aug. 22.
Johnston noted the when the Park Board was in this situation, they appointed the person who had received the second highest amount of votes in the previous election.
“I was just wondering if that was ever considered?” she asked.
Boehmer said they have found the interview process makes it easier to choose a person who will fit well with the board, someone who has the district's best interests in mind.
Swiontek noted that Boehmer actually came on board the last time the situation arose.
“This worked for us in the past,” Halldorson said.
The board agreed to advertise for the position, beginning today.
Other business
• The board voted to employ business manager Scott Privratsky and Halldorson administered the oath of office.
• Swiontek said that due to a state regulation, schools are required to gradually increase lunch prices until they reach $2.46 (free reimbursement minus paid reimbursement).
“According to state formula, we are required to raise our lunch prices by $.05 for the 2011-2012 school year,” he said.
The board reluctantly approved the increase.
“I don't like raising prices every year — or even every other year,” Swiontek added. “I apologize to the public for it.”
• Board members accepted a proposal from Tri-State Paving for $56,000 to add one and one-half inches of asphalt on the Myron Loberg track before the rubber surface is applied. Swiontek said they discovered the asphalt was not in good shape when the rubber surface was recently removed.
“We want to get it right,” Swiontek said. “You don't want to make that investment and get it wrong.”
• The board approved a consolidated grant application for 2011-2012. The first grant, Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards, is for $789,567.53 and the other, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting, is for $261,122.46.
The board also authorized Privratsky as the representative to submit the application.
• The Devils Lake Journal was selected as the official newspaper of the district for the purpose of publishing meeting minutes, advertising for positions, etc.
• The rest of the meeting was all about the numbers. Privratsky presented a number of financial documents to the board for approval, all of which he explained carefully to the new members.
The board approved the pledge of assets from Western State Bank, Ramsey National Bank and Bremer Bank.
Board members reviewed and approved the 2010-2011 School District State Financial Report.
The board approved a certificate of levy for a total dollar amount of $3,347,758.68, which includes a 10 mill Building Fund levy, a 3 mill Special Reserve levy and the maximum amount for the General Fund levy, as well as necessary amounts for the Sinking & Interest, Special Assessment and Asbestos Levies.
The preliminary budgets for the 2011-2012 school year were reviewed and approved in the following amounts: General Fund $18,362,947.86; Special Reserve Fund $200,000; Sinking & Interest $236,000; Food Service Fund $915,500; Asbestos Fund $1,500; Building Fund $246,000; and Special Assessments Fund $80,000.
Privratsky also hosted a brief public meeting to explain the property tax levies and take comments. He provided a five year mill levy history of the school district and estimated 2011 taxable valuation at $24,669.988.
There was a bit of reorganization at the school board meeting Tuesday night as only two of the original board members remained seated at the table.
Board members Mike Klemetsrud and Steve Boone had resigned from their positions and president Ed Brown had lost a bid for re-election.
Since Steve Halldorson had served the longest, he was selected to lead the meeting until a president could be elected. A short time later he was officially elected president and never relinquished the seat.
“Welcome everybody,” he said with a smile. “It should be a fun ride.”
The only other standing board member, Kory Boehmer, was selected to serve as vice-president.
Newcomers Lee Ann Johnston and Veronica Nicla took the oath of office and Halldorson took the oath again, as he was recently reelected to the spot.
One of the first items of business was how to select the final board member. The seat became vacant following Boone's resignation, but was too late to be included on the ballot.
Superintendent Steve Swiontek suggested following the procedure used in 2005 when a board member was replaced mid-term. He recommended accepting applications until Aug. 12 and then the board can interview the candidates at a special meeting on Aug. 16. A finalist will be selected and the new board member would be sworn in Aug. 22.
Johnston noted the when the Park Board was in this situation, they appointed the person who had received the second highest amount of votes in the previous election.
“I was just wondering if that was ever considered?” she asked.
Boehmer said they have found the interview process makes it easier to choose a person who will fit well with the board, someone who has the district's best interests in mind.
Swiontek noted that Boehmer actually came on board the last time the situation arose.
“This worked for us in the past,” Halldorson said.
The board agreed to advertise for the position, beginning today.
Other business
• The board voted to employ business manager Scott Privratsky and Halldorson administered the oath of office.
• Swiontek said that due to a state regulation, schools are required to gradually increase lunch prices until they reach $2.46 (free reimbursement minus paid reimbursement).
“According to state formula, we are required to raise our lunch prices by $.05 for the 2011-2012 school year,” he said.
The board reluctantly approved the increase.
“I don't like raising prices every year — or even every other year,” Swiontek added. “I apologize to the public for it.”
• Board members accepted a proposal from Tri-State Paving for $56,000 to add one and one-half inches of asphalt on the Myron Loberg track before the rubber surface is applied. Swiontek said they discovered the asphalt was not in good shape when the rubber surface was recently removed.
“We want to get it right,” Swiontek said. “You don't want to make that investment and get it wrong.”
• The board approved a consolidated grant application for 2011-2012. The first grant, Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards, is for $789,567.53 and the other, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting, is for $261,122.46.
The board also authorized Privratsky as the representative to submit the application.
• The Devils Lake Journal was selected as the official newspaper of the district for the purpose of publishing meeting minutes, advertising for positions, etc.
• The rest of the meeting was all about the numbers. Privratsky presented a number of financial documents to the board for approval, all of which he explained carefully to the new members.
The board approved the pledge of assets from Western State Bank, Ramsey National Bank and Bremer Bank.
Board members reviewed and approved the 2010-2011 School District State Financial Report.
The board approved a certificate of levy for a total dollar amount of $3,347,758.68, which includes a 10 mill Building Fund levy, a 3 mill Special Reserve levy and the maximum amount for the General Fund levy, as well as necessary amounts for the Sinking & Interest, Special Assessment and Asbestos Levies.
The preliminary budgets for the 2011-2012 school year were reviewed and approved in the following amounts: General Fund $18,362,947.86; Special Reserve Fund $200,000; Sinking & Interest $236,000; Food Service Fund $915,500; Asbestos Fund $1,500; Building Fund $246,000; and Special Assessments Fund $80,000.
Privratsky also hosted a brief public meeting to explain the property tax levies and take comments. He provided a five year mill levy history of the school district and estimated 2011 taxable valuation at $24,669.988.
