USD 383 Board of Education

Sept. 7, 2011
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Regular meeting:
Dr. Bob Seymour, Associate Superintendent, provided the board with a preliminary enrollment report. Enrollment was up 73 students for K-12, and preschool, iQ Academy, and the Open Door program are still enrolling students, and so those numbers are not yet final.

The board was presented with the design development for the improvement project for MHS East Campus. The majority of the work will involve improvements to the gym, locker rooms, and restrooms (the gym is located in a separate, detached structure), and the main building will primarily receive cosmetic upgrades, such as plaster repair, paint, and new carpet. Bruce McMillan, the project architect, also included a possible alternate project that would involve excavating the interior courtyard to improve drainage and to prevent future moisture problems in the lower level classrooms. The board approved 7-0 the design development.

Trisha Brooke-Fuendt, the district's program manager for the construction projects, provided the board with information regarding the structural repairs needed at Roosevelt Elementary. The cost of the additional structural materials is not to exceed $226,000, and the project on the 1923 portion of the building will need an additional 75 days to complete. Board members expressed relief that the cost of the additional materials was not as high as had been feared and approved the materials 7-0.

Administration presented the board with a recommendation for making up time lost when Wilson and Roosevelt Elementary Schools had to delay the start of the school year by a day and a half due to construction delays. The option preferred by the NEA and staff at both schools was to begin the school day five minutes earlier and dismiss school five minutes later. The extra minutes would apply from Sept. 19th through Dec. 20th. The additional time would not impact bus routes. Leah Fliter said she believed teachers have already made up the time with their students. The board approved 5-2 to add the extra minutes, with Fliter and Pete Paukstelis dissenting.

Brooke-Fuendt updated the board on the progress of construction projects at various schools, and Doug Messer expressed concern about the quality of the work at Wilson. Brooke-Fuendt agreed that the work as been slow and sloppy, some things were done quickly in order to get the building ready to be occupied, and some things may need to be redone. Walt Pesaresi asked if Wilson's project was too far along for the board to be able to fire the general contractor, and Messer replied that that was a discussion for another time.

The board approved 7-0 the ratification of the 2011-12 negotiated agreement, which included a $400 increase to the base salary. The board also approved 7-0 to increase classified employees' wages $0.25/hour or by 2.2%, whichever is greater, and also to increase administrators' salaries by 2%.