Special board meeting draws budget cut ideas
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POLSON — The Polson School Board called a special meeting for April 28 at 9 a.m. with two agenda items, public participation on non-agenda items and budget cuts. About 50 teachers and paraprofessionals had questions.
Audience members suggested a salary schedule for administrators and asked whether or not the district needs a curriculum director.
Montana State Code mandates a curriculum director for districts employing over 100 teachers, according to Superintendent David Whitesell. School District 23 employs 129.
Questions were also asked about the amount of money paid to attorney Bea Kaleva. Others questioned the need for a district wide Indian education specialist since all teachers are required to take Indian education classes. Several teachers are graduates of Salish Kootenai College and are well-versed in Indian education.
Trustee John Laimbeer said neither Whitefish nor Flathead travel for junior high sports.
In the end Whitesell said, “We need to be child-centered not teacher-centered.”
The meeting generated a list of suggestions for budget cuts. They included:
Kootenai language teacher, $12,000; summer band, $1,461; field trips, $10,000; Handwriting for Tears, Linderman $5,000; Cherry Valley $2,000; half time special ed. director, $39,000; out of state travel/board/administration, $17,500; Indian education specialist.
These are only suggestions. Interested community members are invited to attention a special board meeting at 7 p.m. on April 27 at the PHS auditorium.
