District to hire middle school principal

Luverne School Board members unanimously approved adding two key positions in the district during a special meeting May 9.
A middle school principal and an elementary “behavior intervention support” teacher will be among the new hires for the 2019-20 school year.
After a 25-minute discussion, the board decided the additional staff was well researched and deemed necessary.
“Yes, it is a big investment, but our kids are also an investment,” said board member Colleen Deutsch. “You either pay for it and be proactive or you pay for it in the end. I think it is a win-win for students and families along with teachers and administration.”
General funds would pay for the estimated salary and benefits from $150,000 to $200,000 depending on qualifications.
The elementary position would work with students in grades 2 through 5 identified as at-risk.
The middle school principal recommendation came from the personnel committee after members reviewed student and staffing needs, enrollment figures, finances and the current budget numbers.
The Luverne school district general fund is projected to end the 2018-19 school year with a deficit of $44,040, according to information presented at Thursday’s meeting.
General fund revenue is projected at $13,126,000 with expenditures of $13,170,000. The fiscal year ends June 30.
Elementary enrollment for the next school year is projected to decrease to 526 from the current 531.
However, the elementary will continue to operate 25 sections of K-5 instruction.
Elementary personnel applied for a two-year state grant that would reimburse the district for 55 percent of the teacher’s salary.
However, as of the May 9 meeting, state officials had not announced the grant recipients.
Superintendent Craig Oftedahl cautioned board members not to rely on grant funding to sustain programming.
“When you take the position on, in reality you’re taking it all on whether you’d get the grant or not,” he said. “Two years from now there’s no guarantee if there is some offset.”
Enrollment in the middle-high school has increased 60+ students over the past nine years, prompting discussions about reinstating the middle school principal position.
However, previous boards were cautious about adding staff, despite the additional revenue generated by more students in grades 6-12.
“You hope we get an increase in enrollment or you’ll have to decrease elsewhere,” Oftedahl said. “That’s the reality of the board. … If you are comfortable with that, that’s what we need.”
Board members unanimously supported adding both positions for the 2019-20 school year.
“We either see it as a need or we don’t,” said chairman Jodi Bosch.
 
Retirements, resignations also mean new faces
In addition to a new elementary position and another school administrator, the elementary and middle-high schools will fill other open positions.
Kindergarten teacher Darlene Dreessen announced earlier this year she would retire at the end of the current school year, as did middle school math teacher Loel Olson.
At Thursday’s special meeting, the board also accepted the resignation of Laura Endres, the elementary speech and language pathologist.
Previously approved middle-high school resignations include the instrumental instructor Richard Owen, middle school English teacher Deb (Schandelmeier) Barnett and high school math teacher Hillary Neisteadt.
Ann Husfeldt was recently hired for the English teacher position. Her salary of $45,067 was approved at the April 25 board meeting.
Cory Meester was also hired for the high school math position. Meester will also be the middle school boys’ basketball coach. His salary was approved at $41,261.
Their contracts are effective for the 2019-20 school year.