School district's insurance premiums go up

June 09--Bad weather means bigger premiums.

Mitchell Board of Education members saw that Monday, when they approved renewing a participation agreement with the Associated School Boards of South Dakota Property and Liability Fund, which provides coverage for the district's property, auto and liability protection. The premium for next year is $230,380. Superintendent Joe Graves said that is up 19 percent from last year, which he termed as "very significant."

"We're not happy with a 19 percent increase, obviously, but we're hopeful that's going to come under control," he said.

He said the pooled plan has taken large property losses due to wind and hail in recent years, especially for West River schools.

Graves also noted that the Mitchell School District has collected a "great deal of insurance premiums," referring to repairs needed to the middle school roof and hail damage over the last few years. Overall, Graves said the insurance pool has covered the Mitchell School District well, and he is happy with the service.

Members approved the agreement during their regular meeting Monday night at MCTEA. They approved renewing participation in the ASBSD Workers' Compensation Fund, which also went up. The total premium for next year is $156,513, which Graves said is an 8 percent increase from last year. However, he said the school district usually receives a dividend check; next year's will be $34,250.

Members also approved a participation agreement, adoption and renewal for the ASBSD South Dakota School District Benefits Fund, for the school district's health insurance plan, which saw an 11 percent increase.

MTI policies reviewed

Board members also approved, on first reading, a set of Mitchell Technical Institute policies, including the school's policy on alcohol use and possession on campus. According to the policy, no possession, use or distribution of alcohol is permitted on premises controlled by the Mitchell Board of Education, except as provided in the policy.

MTI Vice President Vicki Wiese said the policy is meant to give groups like the MTI Alumni Association and MTI Foundation the ability to serve alcohol at special events, like donor appreciation events, held only a few times per year. Graves also noted the policy, which is not new, dictates the alcohol served is limited to beer and wine only.

Board member Neil Putnam said while he believes MTI handles the events and the policy "very responsibly," he remains opposed to the idea of allowing alcohol on campus.

"It's still a school," he said. "I just philosophically have a problem with it."

Fellow board member Lacey Musick said she has attended some of the MTI events where alcohol is served, and thinks they are positive events.

"It's not that they're promoting drinking, it's just an option," she said.

Putnam requested the alcohol policy be voted on separately from the other policy items, and was the only board member to vote against its passage.

The other policy revisions, on MTI policies 1000 (students), 1100 (school-community relations) and 1200 (education agency relations, were unanimously approved.

Election results canvassed

Michelle Bathke, the city finance officer, assisted the board in canvassing the June 2 election results, which elected incumbents Putnam and Musick to three-year terms and Kevin Kenkel to a one-year term.

Graves congratulated the winning candidates, and noted that Kenkel will join the board at its reorganizational meeting next month.

Personnel

As part of a consent agenda that includes board minutes, claims and open enrollment requests, the board approved the following personnel changes:

--New hires (certified): Dustin Putnam, high school English language arts at $39,000, effective 2015-16 school year; Kelli Shryock, middle school science teacher at $50,000, effective 2015-16 school year; Mike Hoffman, human resources at $8,000, effective May 1 through June 30 and at $48,000, effective 2015-16 school year; Joe Shepardson, head track coach at $4,401, effective 2015-16 school year; and Taylor Schramm, head seventh-grade volleyball coach at $1,675, effective 2015-16 school year.

--New hires (classified): Leonda Doering, custodial at middle school at $13 per hour, effective June 1; Kenneth Novak, head boys soccer coach at $1, effective 2015-16 school year; and Jason Wear, head girls soccer coach at $3,070, effective 2015-16 school year.

--Resignations: Terry Moore, middle school Native American tutor, effective end of 2014-15 school year; Becky Street, L.B. Williams Elementary secretary, effective end of 2014-15 school year; Audra Rew, ISS instructor, effective end of 2014-15 school year; Geoff Gross, head track coach, effective end of 2014-15 school year; and Joe Shepardson, assistant girls basketball coach, effective end of 2014-15 school year.

--Transfer (certified): Kris Borgan, second-third multiage, effective 2015-16 school year.

--Transfer (classified): Lisa Beck, ISS supervisor, effective 2015-16 school year; and Todd Schaefer, MCTEA custodial to SH custodial, effective June 1.

--MTI new hire: Julie Hart-Schutte, adjunct sociology at $1,785, effective June 1.

--MTI resignations: Steve Schriener, CDL instructor, effective end of 2014-15 school year; and Kristi Sittner, bookstore assistant, effective June 5.

Administrative raises

Board members also approved contracts and compensation increases for K-12 administrators, based on Graves' recommendation.

Those raises went to: Sherri Becker, curriculum director, (half-time administrator), increase of $1,000 for 2015-16 salary of $37,500; Joe Childs, MHS principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $85,000; Steve Culhane, business manager, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $96,600; Brittney Eide, middle school assistant principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $57,000; Geoff Gross, activities director, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $73,450; Vicki Harmdierks, Gertie Belle Rogers Elementary principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $75,450; Lisa Heckenlaible, Longfellow Elementary principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $70,000; Denise Hoffman, MCTEA director (half-time administrator), $1,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $23,620; Craig Mock, MHS assistant principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $78,081; Sean Moen, food services director, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $65,225; Carl Niehoff, assistant director of buildings and grounds, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $46,700; Becky Roth, L.B. Williams principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $75,450; John Sieverding, director of buildings and grounds, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $64,600; Shane Thill, MHS assistant principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $66,550; and Justin Zajic, middle school principal, $2,000 increase for 2015-16 salary of $67,000.

Other business

During its regular meeting today, the board will consider the following agenda items:

--Noted the absence of board president Theresa Kriese.

--Approved marking the ballot for the South Dakota High School Activities Association run-off election. Based on Graves' and Activities Director Geoff Gross' recommendations, the board voted for Bryan Skinner, of the West Central School District, for the small school group seat and Moe Ruesink, of Sioux Valley High School, for the East River at-large seat.

--Approved revisions, on second reading, to Policy 544, on wellness. Graves said the policy must be reviewed annually, as mandated by state and federal requirements. It's reviewed by the ADAPT Committee, which made four suggested revisions this year, ranging from a brief statement about the newest federal changes to student meal requirements to including a website--choosemyplate.gov--for healthy food choices. The other revisions include a statement on the requirement of building principals to report annually to the ADAPT Committee on their wellness action plans, and a definition of the school day.

--Approved, on first reading, a review of board policies 100 (foundations and basic commitments), 200 (board governance and operations) and 300 (general school administration). Graves said the revisions are part of an annual review of policy to keep the board's policy manual up-to-date. Most of the revisions included correcting typos--such as changing "bulling" to "bullying"--or updating words and phrases in the policy.

--Approved bids from Ron and Nancy Kogel for the site house totaling $285,000, plus 2 percent excise tax; and from Chris and Kelsey Hill for the shop house, totaling $125,000 plus 6 percent sales tax.

--Approved a bid from Scott Supply for $27,586 for a commercial lawn mower. Graves said it was the only bid submitted.

--Held an executive session to discuss a personnel matter. Upon exiting the session, board members approved a $2,000 increase to Superintendent Graves' salary.

--Heard the superintendent's report.

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