Third-grade teacher takes part-time leave of absence

By Lexi MooreFollowing a lengthy discussion and a roll-call vote, Hills-Beaver Creek School Board members accepted Michele Baker’s request for a part-time five-year leave of absence.The request came via a letter addressed to the H-BC administration and board members. Baker asked that she be given a part-time position at the school beginning with the 2006-07 school year.The request included an option to resume teaching full-time each school year for the following five years. She promised to let the board know by April 1 of each school year if she intends to come on as a full-time or part-time employee.Board members looked to the elementary and high school administrators to guide them in their decision.Deragisch explained the advantage of accepting such a leave of absence is that the district usually gets full-time work from part-time employees."They typically stay longer than they need to and arrive at the school before they are scheduled," he said.He also explained that the salary of two part-time employees, including insurance, is less than that of one full-time employee.He agreed with board member Lloyd DeBoer that the negative aspect of a situation like this is when the district hires a part-time employee for a short-term position, that person is first to be fired when the staff member on leave returns to the position.DeBoer said, "I don’t think it is fair to invite someone into the community, especially for a period as long as five years, and then ask them to leave when the staff member wants to come back."Deragisch assured the board that administration is open and honest with potential candidates about the situation during interviews and that the school’s contract covers the specifics.Elementary principal Todd Holthaus gave his opinion, saying, "I really feel very comfortable with the situation. If I had one inkling of a hesitation, I would stand here and tell you not to accept this offer, but I don’t."He went on to say that the elementary school currently employs fourth-grade teacher Nicole Fey, a tenured staff member, as a part-time teacher who is in year three of a part-time leave of absence. Angie Blosmo teaches the other half of the day in fourth grade."I haven’t heard any negative reports about the situation in the fourth grade classroom, in fact I rarely even have to explain it."Board member Chris Harnack eventually made the motion to accept the terms of the leave of absence based on the contingency that H-BC is able to find a suitable replacement for Baker’s position.Harnack said, "If the administration doesn’t see this situation as a big deal, I don’t know why we should."The motion was seconded by Lois Leuthold and brought to a roll call vote.Board members Leuthold, Harnack, Harley Fransman and Ann Boeve voted in favor of accepting the motion and DeBoer opposed, while Tim Baker abstained.Baker will remain a tenured staff member at H-BC.Kuecker hiredSummer Kuecker was hired as a part-time English teacher for seventh and eighth grades. She will also act as assistant high school volleyball coach for the 2006 season. She was hired for $22,513.50.Kuecker graduated from the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, with a degree in elementary education with a specialty in middle school English. She currently lives in Sioux Falls, but grew up in McCook Lake.In other school news:
Board members opened sealed bids for fuel oil and LP gas contracts for the 2006-07 school year.Bids for LP gas were submitted from Ferrellgas, Farmer’s Union Co-op Oil, Osceola County Co-op and Popkes. The lowest bid came from Osceola County Co-op at $1.36 per gallon for all LP gas purchased from Sept. 1, 2006, to June 1, 2007. The highest bid was submitted by Popkes Oil for $1.459 per gallon. The board accepted Osceola County Co-op’s bid.Fuel oil bids were submitted by Farmer’s Union Co-op Oil, Osceola County Co-op and Popkes oil. The lowest bid was from Osceola County Co-op at $2.67 per gallon for fuel oil purchased between Sept. 1, 2006, and June 1, 2007. Popkes submitted the highest bid at $2.89 per gallon. Again, the board accepted the lowest bid from Osceola County Co-op.
Holthaus updated the board on the elementary computer project. Staff has successfully installed 45 new Apple Emac computers on teachers’ desks and in the computer lab at the elementary school. This finishes the new computer installation for the district.
The board moved the date of the next meeting from Aug. 28 to Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. and will begin the meeting at the elementary school in Beaver Creek. The change allows board members to attend the district’s staff picnic on Aug. 28 at the Hills Park.