School board raises administrative salaries
Berl Tiskus
Michael Anderson stands in front of a school bus. He’s the new transportation director for Polson schools.
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POLSON — Trustees voted 4 to 2 at the October school board meeting to give administrators in the Polson School District a 2-percent raise. In addition to the salary increase, administrators received two more personal days, bringing their total up to seven per year. Each administrator also receives full medical insurance.
Non-represented employees received a 2.5-percent raise and $20 on their monthly insurance premiums.
The trustees also voted to hire three paraprofessionals, each working four hours per day for one year. The “paras” will work at Cherry Valley School in kindergarten classrooms since numbers of kindergarten students continue to grow.
In other business, Pam Owen, school district manager, told trustees if they wanted to run a debt service bond for the high school roof and heat pump system on Feb. 27, 2013, trustees would have to vote on the resolution at the November meeting.
The trustees set a 5:30 p.m. work meeting on Oct. 23 to discuss the issue.
Chair Caryl Cox announced that Andy Learn, trustee for the Dayton-Proctor High School District, has resigned. If anyone is interested in the position, send in a letter of interest to Pam Owen, district clerk, at the District Office, 111 Fourth Ave. E., Polson.
The building principals, the director of special education, the director of curriculum, Superintendent Linda Reksten and Cox will be attending a Leading Professional Learning workshop in Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 29 and 30. The workshop is facilitated by Rick and Becky DuFour and will be paid for with Title 2 funds, according to Reksten. Title 2 monies are used to increase academic achievement and improve teacher and principal quality.
Reksten introduced Michael Anderson, the district’s new transportation director. She said when she went to the bus barn to speak with Anderson, he had a flashlight and was checking out buses for safety issues.
“The buses are hauling people’s children, and we have to make them 100 percent,” Anderson said.
In other business, some issues the board considered and discussed were:
• Providing notice to the public for public meetings
• Graduation Matters and attendance incentives
• School improvement processes
• Trustees scheduled board dialogues at Polson High School on Nov. 19, Polson Middle School on Dec. 3, Linderman on Jan. 14 and Cherry Valley on Feb. 4. All dialogues will begin at 4 p.m.
• Trustees approved the first and second reading of several policies. They pulled policies regarding Montana Digital Academy classes for more consideration.
The school board’s next meeting will be held on Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. in the administration office conference room.
