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7/14/2010 12:00 AMBen Bradbury, Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch Sleepy Eye Public School has been busy making cuts over the past year to reduce expenses during uncertain economic times. Last Thursday, those cuts reached the highest level of the district’s administration: the school board. At their regular meeting last week, school board members were set to approve the fee schedule for the 2010-2011 school year. On this schedule are the various stipends board members receive for their work. During the 2009-2010 school year, board members were reimbursed $50 per board meeting and $30 per committee meeting. Also, the chair and clerk each received an additional $250 stipend. Board Member Lori Braun led the discussion surrounding lowering these amounts. “We asked every group to take a pay cut,” she explained. “In the future, when things are better, things can be reviewed again.” Board Chairperson Darla Remus agreed. “Looking at what we have going on right now, every penny counts,” she said. Board Vice Chairperson Ron Geiger suggested that the fees could be reduced to $150 stipends for the clerk and chair, $30 for each board meeting and $15 for each committee meeting. After some discussion, the new fee schedule with these reduced rates was passed. The motion was proposed by Geiger and seconded by Board Member Skinny Garcia. Also in the meeting, Superintendent John Cselovszki told the board about a delay the district faces regarding the substantial completion date for the HVAC project. The entire project was to be completed by Aug. 13, giving teachers plenty of time for in-service training before school begins Aug. 24. However, the company handling the construction is unable to get new light fixtures from their distributor until Aug. 27 at the earliest. Cselovszki assured board members that school will still start on time and function as usual during the first few weeks of the new year. Temporary light fixtures will be set up until the permanent ones arrive. “Otherwise the project is actually ahead of schedule,” he said. However, due to the light fixture mishap, the construction company will be fined $600 each day past Aug. 13 until the job is done. A presentation was also given to the board from Kathy Oglesby, targeted services coordinator for the summer. Due to the absence of Amber Franta, migrant coordinator, Oglesby spoke about both summer programs. Migrant school runs Monday-Friday from 8:15-3:15. Due to the HVAC project at the school, this program is being held at Comfrey Public School. Students from Sleepy Eye, Springfield, St. James and New Ulm attend the migrant program each day. Although the numbers fluctuate each week, 55 students are enrolled in Headstart and 57 in K-10. Targeted services students join the same classrooms as the migrant program on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Thirty-seven students have taken advantage of this program throughout the summer. “Comfrey has graciously allowed us to be here, but unfortunately the space is not as big as we have in Sleepy Eye,” said Oglesby. “We will be very happy to be back in Sleepy Eye next year.” http://www.sleepyeyenews.com/news/x1849234849/SEPS-board-members-take-pay-cut | |||||||||||||||||||||
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