USD 383 Board of Education

Feb. 20, 2013
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Board members discussed the elementary school schedule and the possibility of providing teachers with more time for collaboration.  In order to provide additional collaboration time, technology teachers would be hired, with an estimated cost of $352,000, which is about 0.7 mills.  Leah Fliter said she thought the estimated cost wasn't too much to pay to provide teachers with adequate planning time.  Other board members agreed that it was important to provide teachers with planning time but expressed concerns about how to pay for it and whether the district would be able to sustain it long term.  Walt Pesaresi commented that "sometimes you have to bite the bullet" and raise the mill levy.

The board also discussed the high school schedule.  The options considered including keeping the current 7-hour class schedule and also a modified block schedule, which includes some late start mornings.  Doug Messer, Director of Transportation, said it would be a challenge to manage busing for late start mornings in addition to early release days planned for additional elementary planning time, but the transportation department would make it work.  Darell Edie and Mr. Pesaresi expressed concerns about small class sizes at MHS and the financial problems of having smaller classes.  Curt Herrman and Beth Tatarko were in favor of keeping the current 7-hour class schedule because it seems to be working, teachers support it, and the timing might not be right to make a change while also hiring a new high school principal.