Example Article for School News
DANIEL TRUESDELL APPOINTED FIFTH SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE
 | Author:
Nancy Marks, Reporter
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
DANIEL TRUESDELL APPOINTED FIFTH SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE
Nancy Marks
Reporter
Daniel Truesdell was elected to the empty board position on June 13 by the District #1 School Board after a lengthy interview session. He garnered three votes with board member Vanessa Flynn voting against.
Hannah Rauser was the second person who applied for the seat.
Truesdell had run in the school board election held in May. He came in third in the running for the then two empty seats. The third seat opened when long-time board member Shaun Scott resigned. Truesdell was officially sworn in by County Clerk and Recorder Angie Paulsen.
PLAYGROUND FENCE IN QUESTION
High on the minds of the board members was the question of the new fence around the playground. Superintendent Susie Hedalen had received a parent’s email about the height of the fence and the placement of the basketball court near the fence.
Parents voiced the idea that a stranger could reach over the fence, or in the case of an active shooter, harm the children through the fence. In addition, because of the location of the basketball court, balls are going over the court backboard into the street. Then children go into the street to get the ball. “What is the real risk,” Hedalen questioned, “Keeping kids in or allowing them to get out in case of an emergency from inside the school?”
The District’s safety committee will take up the concern. The board fielded bids on a higher fence at $7,700 or putting up netting around the basketball court at $5,500, the cost of which would come out of the building reserve fund. Board member Jason Kool suggested the funds could come from safety grants received from the Office of Public Instruction (OPI). “For safety reasons, I would rather have a brick fence with automatic gates,” Kool said. The board tabled the decision.
WAGE INCREASE FOR TEACHERS, STAFF
Wage increases for teachers were approved at 4% raise to the base of the salary matrix with a reduction in sick leave from 15 to 12 days and five days of bereavement absence. “This is the highest wage increase we have ever agreed to,” Board Chair Jason Noyes declared.
Teachers will have the same instruction time (1436.5 hours) as last year, just longer days. We will have some school days on Fridays depending on holidays. Fridays scheduling has not been approved yet.
The agreement negotiated with the classified staff will mostly affect the lower wage level employees. It is a one-year agreement. Hedalen said the increased costs can be met with changes in the budget but she can make it work. Board members discussed other avenues to cover the additional costs including an expected higher enrollment and a higher percentage per student passed by the State Legislature. “Keep in mind though that our ANB payments( amounts paid by the state per enrolled student) are always paid from the year following,” Hedalen said. The board approved the negotiation.
Telephone company Century Link has notified the district it will no longer provide phone service for the school beginning September 10.
Technicians Director Luke Carr researched several companies. Broad Voice seemed the best choice at $826 per month for thirty phones in the buildings. That was an April bid, so he indicated the bid might increase. The bid would not include phones in teachers’ rooms which board members agreed was important for safety reasons. After discussion, the board approved researching a proposal for no more than $900 a month with a review of phones needed. No decision was made.
The board approved a host of resignations including Old Baldy Education director Terey Artz. The board approved summer camp employees. Assistant Coach Joe Horne was hired as head football coach. Former University of Montana quarterback Jace Lewis will volunteer with high school football. Lewis is originally from Townsend.
Elementary School Principal Christina Hartmann reported the afterschool program has had great attendance. Sign-up for kindergarten has hit a high of 71 students. She will have four kindergarten classes, as well as four classes in each of the 1st and 2nd grades.
She commended the American Legion Post #42 members for awarding its student Citizenship Award Legion Auxiliary members also fixed lunch for the teachers as a thank you. She thanked Townsend Tree Board members for their arbor day poster competition. They have been giving the award for 19 years she said. Ag Day at the Fairgrounds was a huge hit. She thanked teacher Lisa Larson for her leadership in that program.
Middle School Principal Brad Racht reported his classes will be larger, but manageable this coming school year.
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