By MaryHelen Swanson

The July 15 Rush City School Board meeting began with the pledge of allegiance. The board is unsure if it will continue the practice regularly at its meetings.

After months of planning and discussion, the board unanimously moved forward on the new bus garage by accepting the low bid of Koch Financial Corporation for financing the facility over a 10-year period.

Business manager Laureen Frost said there had been seven bids from banks on the lease-purchase project. Koch offered an interest rate of 4.45 percent.

Financing $536,000 creates annual payments of $66,000 for the school district.

The vote was unanimous to proceed.

Reorganization

Leading the board for the first time last week was new superintendent Dr. James Redfield. First things addressed included annual reorganization decisions which included setting the time, place and dates for the meetings for the coming year. The board voted unanimously to keep them the same, the third Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. in the Spanish room at the high school.

The board voted unanimously to keep member compensation the same: $45 a meeting, $65 a day for all day meetings.

The ECM Post Review was once again named as the official newspaper for legal publications. Official depositories selected include MN Liquid Asset fund, PM LaSalle, Northwoods Bank and the First State Bank of Rush City.

The schools business manager, Laureen Frost, and the superintendent were given authority to make electronic fund transfers.

The board authorized the superintendent to work with the Knutson, Flynn law firm and Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney law firm, or other legal firms to conduct school legal business.

Board meetings will be run using Robertís Rules of Order.

The board also approved memberships, with varying fees, in nine organizations.

New ball fields

Open land across the road to the south of the high school may become new ball fields in the near future. The addition of these fields may mean expansion of programs to younger students who cannot play now because there is not enough field space. The board has been discussing creation of the new ball fields for nearly a year.

It will take several years to establish the fields. Right now the work that is needed includes grading and seeding of the field area, placement of ag-lime, installation of an irrigation system, a well, electrical work and installation of fencing. The actual fencing has already been purchased and is being stored.

The board is looking at doing grading, seeding, ag-lime and the irrigation system this year, and fencing installation, but the cost of all of this is exceeds the $65,000 that has been allocated in the 2005 budget.

While the board was hesitant to proceed with bids for the work without knowing more concrete figures for the 2005 budget, the members did eventually vote to seek bids for the ball field work with the understanding that they donít have to accept them.

Board member Paul Pasche suggested approaching local civic organizations for some assistance with the project.

In other business, the school board:

ï Approved all school policies reviewed during the past year which brings them all up to date.
ï Approved handbooks for the elementary and high school buildings. Both handbooks for students and parents and staff have sections on the districtís new policy on bullying. In all cases, only a summary or brief outline is printed in the book, notation is given that the entire policy can be seen in the schoolsí offices.

ï Discussed changes in the elementary lunch program with elementary principal Vernon Koepp noting that each student will be required to have his or her own account and parents will not be able to write one check for all their children. After board discussion, it was decided that Koepp would discuss other options with food service director. Any change will be noted in the handbook. Also, Koepp informed the board that breakfast prices will be reduced this year. The regular price will drop from $1 to 75 cents.

ï Discussed differences in acronyms for immunizations, the principals will check for the accurate acronym and adjust the handbooks accordingly.
ï Learned from high school principal Mark Saari that a new item in the high school handbook addresses the purchase of graduation gowns for seniors. He noted that the district is not in violation of state regulations by having the students purchase the gowns. He noted that due to some confusion this spring, Rush City did refund fees to all graduating seniors. He also noted that a student does not have to purchase or wear one in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. Regular school dress policy applies.

ï Learned from Superintendent Dr. James Redfield that the 2003-04 budget was ìreally on track,î and that the 2004-05 will be a ìlittle bit tight.î The board set the public hearing (truth in taxation) for Tuesday, Dec. 7 with a continuation date of Tuesday, Dec. 14. The board will approve the final levy at its meeting Thursday, Dec. 16.

ï Learned from principal Koepp that the new playground is about 99 percent completed. He noted that there were many, many volunteers who made this play area possible.

ï Paid bills in the amount of $2,216,977.30.

ïÝHired Cherie Lundeen as an elementary teacher, hired Erin Olson as adults with Disabilities Program assistant. and Michael Saari as secondary business teacher. High school principal Saari explained that although this candidate is his nephew, he made every effort to not be involved in his hiring. He did not participate in the interview process or in setting the contract.

ï Approved the final draft of the school calendar for the upcoming year. School starts Sept. 1. District residents will receive the school calendar in the mail.

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