District ratifies negotiated employee contracts
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POLSON — At the Polson School Board of Trustees meeting on June 21, board members reported the Polson Classified Education Association 2009-2010 contract was ratified. Employees received a two-percent increase in salary with increases in insurance capped at this year’s rate and some language was changed.
“That was a long time in coming,” Trustee Caryl Cox commented.
In other business Polson School Nurses Milly Nesladek and Amy Knutson gave a quick report of their year.
Nesladek commented on the busy year, with “the big happening” being the H1N1 virus, which resulted in an absentee rate of approximately 40 percent in October.
In describing their job, Knutson said nurses look at students in a different way than teachers and administrators do, saying sometimes kids just need a hug.
During the superintendent’s report, David Whitesell reported that the district office would reduce the secretarial work force by one position and shift the work around at the office.
As far as the status for bids on pods behind Cherry Valley, Whitesell said at about $75,000 per pod and with the roof issues at PHS and PMS, he’s a little more cautious about jumping off and doing six pods.
Whitesell had two architects and one vendor look at the roofs on both PHS and PMS.
The original roof at PHS was steel girders topped with three inches of concrete. Then the concrete was tarred and graveled and eventually covered with spray insulation and a membrane. However, there is no asbestos in the ceiling, Whitesell said, citing a certified letter from Tetra Tech in Billings.
Shepherd recently replaced their roof for $11.65 per sq/ft, which Whitesell felt would be a reasonable estimate for replacing the PHS roof. Using these numbers, the PHS roof would cost $804,000 to replace.
The PMS roof was covered with black membrane in places and white membrane in others. There are a few tears in the black, which are easy to fix; but there are more significant splits and rips in the white membrane. Missoula Sheet Metal will send a rep up this week to look at options, Whitesell said.
Also, the trustees discussed long-range planning.
Trustee Kelly Bagnell said long-range planning needs to include voices throughout the community, such as parents, teachers and board members.
Cox said she would like to see the district bring Lance Melton, executive director of the Montana School Board Association, to Polson to do a presentation on long-term planning. Cox added that the initial time investment for board members would be 12 hours.
Whitesell said he would check with Melton to see when he could come to Polson.
Curriculum Director Bill Appleton presented information on the Criterion Reference Tests, the Effectiveness Report and preliminary Average Yearly Progress numbers.
Both Appleton and Whitesell stressed the numbers were only a snapshot of student achievement. Appleton said there was general improvement, and the final AYP numbers will be available in a couple of weeks.
In other business, the trustees approved, recommended out-of-district enrollment, claims for May and the personnel report
The next board meeting will be July 12 at 5 p.m. in the District Conference Room.
