It includes a $50,000 annual increase for three years to update technology. As a result, Stony Creek and Garden Valley Schools are getting new computer labs. Round Prairie School activated their computer lab just recently.
District 8 Board President Ed Maisey said there will be a substantial hike in bus driver's pay in the new budget.
"We more than doubled the base pay. It will be $2,000 plus mileage," he said. "It depends on how man bus drivers we have."
He said it shouldn't sap the school system much because there won't be a new bus purchased this year. A teacher wage increase was already agreed upon during negotiations last year, and that will be included in this budget. Some $41,000 more was put into their salaries.
The board gave a second reading approval for a library/media policy. It spells out duties of the library media specialist, the library media program, selection of library media materials, criteria for selection of materials, requests for purchases, its gift policy, procedures for reconsideration of request of materials by public, the library bill of rights, and a classroom copyright chart. The policy must be approved a third time to be finalized.
Board members considered switching the 2008-2009 school calendar some. Superintendent of Schools Greg McNary inquired about starting school on Aug. 20, 2008, and closing May 2009.
Board members confirmed that they did not own the 1.6-acre a piece of property at the former Winner School building. Attorney Chuck Neff informed the district all bidders on the property will be notified they cannot buy it from the school.
Board members agreed to pay staff twice a month. Business manager Thomas Firemoon said a new accounting program makes it more simple to offer this option.
McNary said the summer school program is going very well. He said instructors Nick Knoll and Melissa Bauer are doing an excellent job.
McNary said the carpets are done so they can move the library back in at Garden Valley School. He is using part-time help for planting and other duties throughout the summer.
Firemoon announced Suzi Lee had won the recent school board race, and she will serve for another three years.
Board members received a request to deed back a property to the Irene Binde family. The Peder Binde estate had left the property to the school district with the intentions to build a rural school house there. None was ever built.
A letter from American State Bank and Trust on behalf of the family requests that since no school was built, could the land be deeded back to the Binde family? The letter reasoned there are farming operations being conducted in the area. The deed to reinstate to the Bindes would be both for surface and minerals.
Its legal description is Rainbow Township Property 158N, Range 90W-Section 23.
In a separate matter, the board members accepted the resignation of counselor LuAnn Wick.
The next regular board meeting is set for 6:45 a.m. July 15. A special board meeting will be held 7 a.m. Monday to discuss a question about a possible land purchase with Williams County.
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