District ends year in the black

HUMBOLDT — The ANW Cooperative, through USD 258 school district, ended up a wee bit richer thanks to a year-end budget transfer.
The state increased the budget for the special education cooperative by $29,287. Monies are first deposited into the district general fund, then transferred to the co-op.
Despite the budget boost, 3.8 positions will be cut from the 2010-2011 budget to curtail expenses. Most of the reduction comes from adjusting hired staff to partial full-time equivalents, noted ANW representative Don Hauser.
“We’re still looking for a speech and language pathologist,” Hauser said. ANW has been shy one such position for a few years now, he noted. “We can’t go down two.” A speech and language pathologist out of Hutchinson may be hired via a Florida recruitment agency, Hauser said, adding to the expense of filling the slot.
Co-op enrollment was up 19 students for 2009-2010, Hauser said.
ANW also purchased one car, two vans and two buses to replace older vehicles. No purchase amounts were given. The replaced vehicles, particularly buses, will be offered for sale to other schools in the co-op, or put on the general market if need be.
After a closed executive session to discuss student and personnel matters, the board voted 6-0 to terminate Jeremy Weilert’s teaching contract due to lack of recertification. Weilert taught sixth grade. Weilert’s resignation as high school baseball coach was also accepted.
An after-school supervisor position was removed from the district’s supplemental instructor list.
Faculty and student handbook modifications were made so that students will have a consistent set of rules throughout elementary school and high school, noted high school principal Craig Smith. The board approved the changes.
Parameters for a golf program remain in the books, even though it is not currently offered at the schools. “I don’ think that program should be gone for good,” Smith said, noting that leaving the rules intact allowed for reimplementation of the program should interest and funding arise.
A $2,000 raise was approved for all administrators for the 2009-2010 school year. Board President Curt Mueller noted the raise had been settled upon earlier in the year, providing funds became available.
“Thanks to you guys we have seen great test scores and increased enrollment,” he told Smith and elementary principal Kay Bolt.

IN HIS LAST formal meeting as district superintendent, Bob Heigele told the board that “the field house roof was repaired and with recent rains there have been no leaks.”
Listing future maintenance tasks, he noted that “the elementary roof is the oldest.” The metal roof suffers from wind-related loosening, Heigele said, “and at some point you’ll be looking at replacing that roof.” Other roofing needs include continued maintenance on the middle school and technology buildings. “The membrane has a five-to-ten-year life left if the flashing and seams are kept in good repair,” Heigele said.
Flooring in the elementary school must also be addressed. Easiest would be to cover existing tile — some of which contains asbestos — with carpet tiles as has been done in the high school, Heigele said.
“Money-wise, that’s the only problem we have right now” he said before thanking the board for its congeniality.
“It’s been a very enjoyable, stress-free environment to work in,” he said. “I want to thank you. I couldn’t think of a better way to end a career.”
Former high school principal K.B. Criss takes over the position July 1.