By MaryHelen Swanson

On Thursday night, April 19, there was a grass fire south of the Rush City High School, the fire department was doing its annual burn to make the community safer.

Soon, on that same land, there will be progress toward two new ball fields: one softball and one baseball.

The Rush City School Board accepted the low bid of Peterson Companies, Inc., at $99,000 and agreed to proceed with the creation of the new fields. Inspec, the company that is working with the district on the ball field project, had estimated this work to be $125,000-$160,000 earlier this year.

What will commence soon is the grading, seeding, tiling and establishment of a parking lot.

The school district will seek separate quotes for a well, irrigation system and electrical work. The fence that was purchased several years ago will be installed.

And while it will be a tight fit, the school board is still considering a walking path around the ball fields, and hopes that local organizations or volunteer groups will handle that work.

The council heard from Lee Rood about aquatic center issues, including the fact that there have been some significant costs incurred already this year because the concession stand needed a number of improvements as required by the state health inspector in order to sell hot dogs. The state wanted to shut down the stand two days before closing last year. They were back this year and demanded that a 3-phase cleaning system be installed as well as ceiling tile and that the walls be painted before opening June 2. The improvements cost around $10,000.

Rood also noted the changes at the pool this year: there will be a coupon for one free admission with any paid admission of equal or greater value, excluding the family pass. The coupon will be good for residents of Rush City, Cambridge-Isanti and Pine City school districts.

He also noted that concession workers and lifeguards will get a 25 cent raise.

In other business, the school board:

• Learned from Supt. Vern Koepp that the elementary summer school program has been extended from two to three weeks; 4 days/week, for a half day. He also noted that there will not be a high school program this year because the grant for this program dried up and there is nothing to replace it. Students who were in this program got a boost to help them pass the 8th-grade basic tests and also helped with the Habitat for Humanity home building. Board member Gwen Goretsas suggested the school district contact Habitat directly to see if students could still help out.

• Approved tenure for the following: Susan Karvonen, elementary teacher; Kim Halbert, elementary Title I, Mark Bingham, high school math and Erick Telander, high school science.

• Did not renew the contract with Sara Dahl due to the discontinuance of her position, not performance.

• Hired George Horbacz as high school science teacher and James Monson as high school math teacher.

• Accepted with regrets the resignation of Vivian Pasche, longtime high school Special Ed teacher and Gary Dreissig, longtime elementary phy ed teacher. They also accepted the resignation of Sue Stang, elementary teacher and wished her luck on her new position, and Steve Hoff.

• Approved leaves for Cherie Lundeen, Chris Inman and Howard Hanson and is considering a discussion on leaves in general.

• Noted that there are numerous positions open in the district at this time.

Comment from Mary Schmidt, 5/2/07

Why is it always possible to find money for additions to our athletic program but we have to depend on grants for educating the kids (summer program eliminated). We are getting new baseball fields for the bargain price of $99,000 and hold fundraisers for money to buy books and computer equipment. I know there are "buckets" that each type of expense comes from but it seems they can move the money around when they want to. We have a bus garage that the voters did not approve yet they found the money for that. I wonder what the priority of the school board is?