Salaries, activity fees top school board agenda
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POLSON — Salaries were on the agenda at the Polson school board Aug. 12 meeting. School board trustees voted to give employees who are not represented by a union a 3-percent raise. District Business Manager Pam Owen received $1.55 per hour raise plus 3-percent, “in spite of her protests,” Trustee John Laimbeer said.
The Polson Education Association has not voted on the 2.25 percent raise offered in negotiations. It’s summer and many teachers are out of town so a vote is difficult.
Cherry Valley Principal Elaine Meeks added that the negotiating committee has not spoken with administrators. Raises for administrators were tabled until the next meeting so trustees and staff could assemble comparisons with other Class A school administrators.
Also difficult was trustees raising prices for sports participation fees and activity passes. Scott Wilson, PHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director, said gate receipts and participation fees pay for the individuals needed to run an event, such as referees and workers. Officials’ fees have increased and so has mileage.
The current PHS athletic fee is $30 and will be raised to $45. Student activity passes, now $25, will be raised to $30. Adult activity pass prices will also rise from $50 to $65.
In discussion, Trustee Caroline McDonald asked if raising these fees would in any way price disadvantaged kids out of participation.
“We have not had one person not play due to participation fees,” Wilson answered.
PHS does have a slush fund, some of which was provided by an area person especially for scholarships for kids who can’t afford to play otherwise.
Tana Seeley and the Mission Valley Aquatic Center crew also came to talk to the board about a PHS swim team. After discussion, the board decided to add swimming as a club sport.
Polson Middle School personnel were on hand to support PMS teacher Mike Ellis, who applied for the interim vice president job but was not chosen, and to ask questions about how the current interim vice-president was hired.
An interview committee consisting of LouAnne Krantz, Melissa Bahr, Katie Kvam, Tom DiGiallonardo, Bill Appleton and Superintendent Linda Reksten interviewed the candidates. Then Reksten, with a set of four questions, interviewed the top two candidates and chose a person for the job, recommending that person to the school board.
“I can tell you right now, the best qualified candidate was not chosen,” said Valerie Rogers, PMS teacher.
“This (hiring) has caused a lot of concern,” Board Chair Caryl Cox said. “I get that concern.”
Noting that the job opened late in the hiring season and that the applicant pool from outside the district was “not good,” Cox said the district needed to hire from the inside.
“It is a minefield, ladies and gentlemen, whatever decision (Reksten) made, someone was going to be unhappy,” Cox said, adding that she was comfortable with process Reksten used.
Jesse Yarbrough was selected by Reksten as the interim assistant principal, and Tom DiGiallonardo as interim principal.
In other business, the board heard information on the Graduation Matters push in the Polson district. PHS Counselor Jesse Yarbrough and local businessman Gary DuPuis presented the program’s objectives — to increase the rate of graduation, establish a support network for students and create school and community based opportunities.
The trustees also approved he 2013-2014 budget and appointed Chanel Lake to finish Trustee John Kelly’s term on the board.
After the board went into executive session, they extentend Reksten’s contract for one year, even though trustees had until Jan. 31. The next regularly scheduled school board meeting will be held Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
