School Board makes controversial budget decisions

By Lori EhdeSeparating emotions from issues was difficult at times during the first round of budget cuts at the Luverne School Board meeting Thursday, April 29.Faced with a projected $375,000 deficit spending over the next few years, the board plans to make a series of budget cuts between now and July 1, the end of the school fiscal year.Most controversial so far is the board’s 5-2 decision Thursday to eliminate the positions of curriculum coordinator and alternative school director, at an annual savings of $39,000 for each position.Jan Olson has filled both positions for the past five years, with a strong record of improving both the alternative school and the district’s curriculum planning process.While it’s unclear how those responsibilities will be farmed out and what the ramifications of the cuts will be, one likely scenario would be that Olson’s time would divided between classroom teaching and administrative work.Board member Steve Tofteland voted against the motion, saying he wished he’d had more information about the cut and discussion on possible alternatives."I just got this information two days ago, and I’d like some discussion on it," he said.Board member Cary Radisewitz said he disagreed with Tofteland’s interpretation of the process, and he said the board was acting on a recommendation from people close to the issue."We’ve talked about this for a long time," he said to Tofteland. "What you’re saying is, ‘I think I know better than the superintendent and administrative team.""Can’t I ask questions?" said Tofteland, who also raised the issue of a $472,585 fund balance. "Can’t we use some of that money to take care of some of these cuts?"Radisewitz said that, too, had been discussed at length at prior meetings. "When I got on the board eight years ago, our goal then was to have two to three months of operating capital," he said. "You can ask questions, but I think you’re micromanaging."District Finance Officer Marlene Mann said the $472,585 fund balance is what appears on paper; and that doesn’t reflect what the state is withholding and "metering" slowly to districts to balance state budgets.She also said the proposal to cut the two positions had been presented at the April 15 board meeting and published in the Star Herald.Tofteland said he was merely trying to encourage an open process, and he quoted the board’s recently approved code of ethics that states board members must, for example take action after "considering the recommendation of the superintendent and only after the superintendent ahs furnished adequate information supporting the recommendation."Radisewitz said it’s not responsible for the board to put off unpopular decisions indefinitely."We’re called on to make tough decisions," he said. "This is an outstanding person, no doubt about it."The motion to eliminate the positions of curriculum coordinator and alternative school director was made by Don Bryan and seconded by Bill Stegemann.Board members voting in favor were Radisewitz, Stegemann, Bryan, Dan Kopp and Becky Walgrave. Voting against it were Tofteland and Colleen Deutsch.Schaefer clarified that cutting the position of alternative school director does not mean the alternative school is closing."It will continue, just with a new person at the helm," Schaefer said.Other personnel actionOlson wasn’t the only district employee affected by Thursday’s board action. Several others were notified that they’d either be terminated or their contracts not renewed.There’s a legal procedure and timeline the state requires for terminating non-tenured staff. Schaefer said he hoped the action could be temporary."When the budget process is completed there’s a chance this action may be reversed," Schaefer said. "But it’s important to note that this is in no way a reflection on their teaching abilities."That said, the board approved resolutions relating to the termination and non-renewal of the teaching contracts of probationary teachers Kelly Bergan, Jennifer Engesser and Lori Jacobs.In addition, the board passed resolutions placing James Lunder on unrequested leave of absence for half-time.In other personnel action the board:
Accepted the retirement of Lorna Harms, elementary head cook, effective at the end of the school year.
Accepted the resignation of Stacey Lihs, Middle School English teacher, effective at the end of the school year.
Approved a maternity leave request for Kari Lais, health teacher, from Sept. 1 through Jan. 2, 2005.Community inputUnder the agenda item, "community input," two people asked for the floor during Thursday’s meeting.Second-grade teacher Jane Cote urged the board to protect Luverne’s quality educational tradition heading into budget cuts.She also urged the public to get involved with the process. "Now is the time for everyone in the community to become involved, and it starts here," Cote said. "The quality of our children’s education does affect each and every one of us.Cheryl Thacker, parent of a incoming kindergarten student, encouraged the board to explore alternatives to all-day-every-day kindergarten, which is being considered as a cut in 2004-05 to save $137,000 per year.She said the most notable benefit of all-day- every-day kindergarten is identifying special needs students early, to rectify learning problems before they need more costly attention in later grades. "So does it not make more sense to concentrate our resources on those children who most need, rather pulling in all children with the same net," Thacker said.She suggested the board consider proven programs, such as Kindergarten Plus that works all day every day with kindergarten students who have been identified as having risk factors.