By Lexi MooreThe Hills-Beaver Creek School Board approved the following items during their regular monthly meeting on Monday.Preliminary BudgetA preliminary 2005-06 budget of $3,140,850 was approved. Superintendent David Deragisch warned the board that the figures provided are the same used in the 2004-05 school year’s budget, without any adjustments."Due to state budget problems, I had to roll over last year’s figures," he said. "We had to do this so we could start paying bills."Deragisch expects to have a finalized version of the budget for board members to approve in August or September.He presented the board with projected state aids as posted on the Department of Education Web site."We can take this and start making an actual budget based on these numbers," he said.A new education bill was signed into law Wednesday, July 13, but state financiers are still working out the details.State projections estimate H-BC would receive $2,128,618 in state aid for the 2005-06 school year. This figure would give the school a 1.28-percent increase compared to the $2,102,366 in state aid received in 2004-05.The new law projects the school would receive $2,236,362 in state aid for the 2006-07 school year, a 5.1-percent increase."We fare much better the second year than the first. The state is making some strides for improvements," Deragisch said.Board members were pleased to see any increase in the dollar amount of state funding after four years without an increase.MSBA MembershipBoard members approved the renewal of their Minnesota School Board Association membership.The MSBA supports, promotes and enhances the work of local school boards. Dues are determined by the "average daily membership of students served for the fiscal year ended on June 30, 2004."H-BC’s dues totaled $1,765 for the 2005-06 school year. An additional $395 is due for policy renewal."They do a great job and provide us with invaluable resources," Deragisch said. "I call about once a week, if I have a question, I call them. I would push to approve our renewal."The board agreed and approved their renewal with MSBA for the 2005-06 school year.Parent-Student HandbooksThe board voted to approve revised parent-student handbooks for the upcoming school year.Elementary Principal Todd Holthaus explained the few changes to the elementary handbook. The changes were minimal and approved by the board.The board approved the following changes to the high school handbook:
The Department of Education now requires students to pass three science and three math credits prior to graduation.In the past, students were required to pass two math and two science credits. They were then given the option to choose which discipline, math or science, they wanted to take a third credit.
The administration can adjust the credits of transfer students.
The procedure for dropping a class changed to state, "You may not drop or add classes after the first week of either semester."In the past, students only had the option to drop a class during the first week of the school year. The new procedure gives the students that right at the beginning of the new semester.
When students are removed from class, they will be sent home for the remainder of the day. In the past, the removed student would have be sent to the office until the end of the period.Title I Parent Involvement PolicyThe board approved a Title I Parent Involvement Policy mandated by state and federal governments for schools to receive Title I funds.The policy pushes to get parents of Title I students more involved with the process by holding an annual meeting, implementing a school-parent compact, encouraging parent involvement at home and creating an advisory committee to maintain the school district’s Parental Involvement Policy.Policy Changes
Changes to the Public and Personnel Data Policy, Policy number 406, were accepted and approved. The policy provides guidance to school district employees as to the data the school district collects and maintains regarding its personnel.One change eliminated city and county of residence from the list of public data. Officials added an additional item to the list of private personnel data."The school district shall release to a requesting school district or charter school private personnel data on a current or former employee related to acts of violence toward or sexual contact with a student in an investigation conducted by or on behalf of the school district or law enforcement."A complete list of the data considered public and private is available at the high school.
A policy dealing with drug and alcohol testing, policy number 416, was also approved at the meeting.The policy deals with the testing of service employees and paraprofessionals.Attachment 99 – OSHA RecommendationsAttachment 99 outlined assessments made during a mock OSHA walk-through on Dec. 14, 2004.Although the violations were minor, school officials have a detailed plan of action to fix each of the violations.Dates to Remember
August 8 and August 22 will be the dates for upcoming school board meetings.
August 29-30 Hills-Beaver Creek teachers will meet for teacher workshops.
August 30 the schools will hold their open houses for local residents interested in learning about the programs offered.
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