There was discussion among Hills-Beaver Creek school board members concerning Wednesday evening activities at the Monday meeting.
School board member Dave Roozenboom pointed out that the policy in the school handbook reads no school activities will be scheduled past 6 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.
The only exception should be if the school district has no control over the function, such as an activity sponsored by another school district. Current policy also states all extracurricular activities are to be cancelled if classes are cancelled.
Roozenboom said he was approached by a parent who complained their child did not have enough time to travel to Christmas program practice at church because of athletic practice.
"It hit my home last week," said Roozenboom. "My child did not arrive home until 6:50 p.m. and he had not showered. He had to be at church at 7 p.m. I just wanted to put it in for discussion."
The policy has been included in the student handbook for at least 15 years, according to Superintendent Tom Knoll, but it hasn't been enforced, according to Athletic Director Steve Wiertzema.
A 6 p.m. cutoff would eliminate late practice options for Hills-Beaver Creek athletes. Wiertzema stressed that coaches have always cooperated when students told them they needed to leave for any reason. He said all parents need to do is call.
"The school has been very cooperative to let kids out for church functions," said board member Alan Harnack. "Some churches moved up start time. I felt it was not very fair to schools with only one gym."
The board discussed the possibility of leaving the policy as it is but making it clear to students that they can leave school activities for church functions.
Harnack, board chair in Rollie Crawford's absence, said, "We have to cut it off at 6 p.m. or change the policy. We cannot violate our own policy."
Following more discussion, the board passed a motion to allow extracurricular activities no later than 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evenings.
In other action during MondayÕs meeting:
oThe 2000 audit was presented to the board. Revenues outnumbered expenditures for the year by $47,070, according to Turbes, Drealan, Kvilhaug & Co., Worthington, who performed the audit.
A trouble spot was the food service budget, which came in with a $20,932 deficit. Money was transferred from the general fund to cover the loss.
The board asked the auditors what other schools charge for school lunches. According to auditors, salaries and food costs were the culprits in the overrun. Some of the salary costs were due to severance pay and would not reoccur. Food costs can fluctuate and are a trouble spot for most districts.
The board commended Superintendent Knoll and his staff for cooperating with the audit team. A motion carried to unanimously accept the audit.
oThe board accepted the resignation of teacher Leon Pick, effective at the end of the school year. They acknowledged his 34 years of service to the district.
oSuperintendent Knoll and maintenance workers at the high school have re-evaluated the boiler system in light of the Plankinton, S.D., tragedy. There is no safety hazard in the H-BC district, according to Knoll.
oThe board will host a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, in the high school cafeteria concerning its current budget and the amount of property taxes it is proposing to collect to pay for the costs of the district for the 2001-02 school year.
All residents of the district are invited.