Luverne School Board signs hockey agreement, teacher contract

After months of re-negotiating, Luverne School Board members unanimously signed an agreement with the Luverne Hockey Club effective now through the 2017-18 season.
The agreement retroactively covered last season, leaving the expired contract’s terms at the same costs to the district. The district paid the salaries and benefits of the head coaches for the girls’ and boys’ teams.
Under the new one-year agreement signed at the board’s Sept. 14 meeting, the district will also pick up the salary and benefit costs of the assistant coaches. Cost was estimated at $7,300.
Board members rejected an agreement in June indicating they wanted more than a one-year agreement. A 10-year agreement expired last year.
According to Superintendent Craig Oftedahl, members of the Hockey Club will present program information to the board at a later date, before the next negotiations begin.
Interscholastic hockey began in Luverne High School during the 1999-2000 school year. At that time the Hockey Club agreed to cover all expenses.
 
Teachers, district agree to two-year contract
School board members unanimously ratified the master agreement with the Luverne Education Association for 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years.
The contract gives a 2.75-percent increase in the salary schedule in each of the next two years with a 2-percent increase for other activities.
The cap on personal leave was increased from three teachers gone per day to four. The district will also contribute an additional 5 percent toward health benefits.
 
In other business, board members:
•approved the hiring of Joanna Stroeh as a part-time elementary paraprofessional, Jason Berghorst, middle school student council adviser; Seana Graber, assistant school musical adviser; and Colleen Deutsch and Michelle Munk, co-Special Olympics liaisons. Deutsch, also a school board member, refrained from the liaison vote.
•accepted the resignation of Becky Rahm as middle school student council adviser.