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Minnewaska Area School Board Prepares To Make Cuts
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Zach Anderson - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Wednesday, 25 March 2009 15:00


"There are things out there other than just staff to cut," Ohl told the Tribune. "There are supply budgets and things, and you just look at everything and ask, 'What else can we cut?'"

Last May, the board took action to eliminate 12 staff members and extra curricular programs. However, nine were offered positions in July once final end-of-year budget figures and enrollment figures for the coming year were known.

Because of what Ohl calls "incredibly conflicting messages coming out of St. Paul," it's too early to pin down a precise amount that the district will have to cut, but Ohl said he expects the total to be about the same as last year.

"We can count on a few retirements to help," Ohl said, "but our goal is to keep the best programs for kids and keep opportunities available for them," Ohl said.

The Minnewaska Area Schools Board of Education met Tuesday, March 17 and conducted the following business:

• Approved payment of bills totaling $910,591.74 which includes payments of: $613.37 to City of Glenwood; $54,216.83 to Constellation Energy; $13,339.41 to Dashir Management Services; $745 to Screen Prints Plus; $9,900 to Taylor Publishing; $18.62 to Trophy Depot; $8,439.79 to Alexandria Technical College, $34.07 to Auto Value Glenwood; $200 to Educators Benefits Consultants; $400 to Foodsafe LLC; $3,211 to Greely Snow Removal; $1,260 to Rainbows & Rhymes Preschool; $20,472.50 to Test & Balance Associates, Inc.; $3,684 to Andes Tower Hills; $9,259.35 to Flexible Benefits Plan; $27,181.93 to MN Teachers Retirement Association; $96,305.50 to Blue Cross Blue Shield of MN; $956.54 to Starbuck Telephone Company; $14,500 to Rural Cellular Company; and health and safety project bills totaled $120,624.34.

• Approved acceptance of donations totaling $705. All donations were made to Armful of Love.

• Heard presentations during the Spotlight portion of the meeting:

-Andy Claire representing FOCUS (Focusing on Changing Unhealthy Situations). Andy reviewed some of the group's goals yet this school year. For example, around Prom, FOCUS group will target seat belt safety, drunk driving and domestic abuse. Visited state capitol to bring message for need to focus on domestic abuse prevention.

-Speech team had a great season.

-Four wrestlers at state meet.

-Mock Trial at state competition.

-Recognition award for Ryan Stadsvold, Special Education Teacher. The school received the college transition resource award for enabling students with disabilities to participate in Start Smart this spring, the school has received a set of "College Survival and Success Scale," compliments of the Lakes Country Perkins Consortium.




-In recent Math Counts competition, sixth graders placed 6th and 13th, all individuals placed in top-half.

-FFA visited state capitol.

• Approved the following resignations: Joquel Molenaar, Junior Varsity Volleyball Coach; Dave Dziengel, 7th grade Boys Basketball Coach; Dale Hanson, Freshman Boy's Basketball Coach; and Linda Mills, JV Softball Coach.

• Approved the following new hires: Dick Cordes, JV Softball, grade 6; and David Dziengel, Jr. High Baseball, grade 10; Tamara Storms, EBD Tech at Day Treatment, Gr. 6 Step 1.

• Approved a one-year leave of absence request for Shari Opdahl, effective for the 2009-2010 school year.

• Heard reports of special committee/meetings attended by board members.

• Heard a brief report from Superintendent Greg Ohl.

• Heard administrative reports from Lyle Katzenmeyer, Pat Falk and Diane Cordes.

• Approved a contract with Ehlers & Associates Inc. to provide continuing disclosure reporting services for the school district.

• Approved Johnson Controls project change orders to date.

• Briefly discussed budget revisions for 2008-09 budget and budget impacts for 2009-2010 school year.

The school board will next meet Tuesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. in the school district meeting room.

National Guard deployment party set for Saturday
There will be a deployment celebration for the Minnesota Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery Unit on March 28 in Morris.

The unit, which includes a number of Pope County soldiers, is scheduled to begin a 12-month deployment next month as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The deployment celebration in Morris will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, at the Morris Area Elementary School. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one hour.

Following the ceremony, a community dinner is being planned at the Lee Community Center in Morris. Up to 2,500 people are being expected to attend the community meal which will began at 6 p.m.

Following the dinner, there will be a dance at the Morris Armory that will begin at 9 p.m.

All of the day's events are open to the public and everyone is being encouraged to attend.

The 151st is comprised of approximately 560 soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard based units from Appleton, Marshall, Madison, Olivia, Morris, and Ortonville.

Mission

Stationed at Camp Virginia in Kuwait the 151st will provide convoy security and force protection throughout the Kuwait and Iraqi area. The unit will also be responsible for escorting logistical supplies to coalition and Iraqi forces, according to the Minnesota National Guard.

The soldiers will depart for training in Fort Hood, Texas, in April before being deployed to Kuwait.

The deployment is scheduled to last approximately 12-months.