LCS board acts on terminations, resignations

The Le Mars Community Schools Board of Education took action on one of three teacher contract terminations on its agenda Monday night.

The terminations are the result of action taken earlier by the board to reduce two middle school positions and one elementary position due to budget reductions needed for the 2009-10 school year.

The board unanimously accepted the recommendation to terminate continuing contract for elementary teacher Courtney Washburn, a result of those reductions.

Middle school teacher Amy Hogrefe had filed a grievance over termination of her contract, Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt told board members.

A decision by an arbitrator on her grievance was received Monday by Wendt, who said the arbitrator sided with Hogrefe and the teacher's association. That decision ended any discussion on Hogrefe's contract.

The board received a recommendation to terminate the contract for a second middle school teacher, Judd Kopperud, but did not take action in it. Wendt said Kopperud has requested a hearing before the board. With that request, the board could not take action on termination. A motion was made and passed that the board acknowledge receipt of the termination recommendation and file that information.

Wendt also indicated Washburn and Kopperud may be offered positions in the district, but not their current positions, with money provided by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds, commonly called federal stimulus funds.

Wendt said he and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Carl Turner still need answers on several points of how some of the ARRA funds may be used. He expects to have more answers by the board's May 26 meeting.

Terminations for two assistant coaching positions were also approved by the board. They are Adam Moss for middle school assistant wrestling and Gabe Davis for high school girls' assistant track. Both position terminations are resulting from budget reductions for the 2009-10 school year.

The board also considered five resignations Monday night. Three of the resignations were approved, while two were approved with conditions.

The board approved the resignation of Audrey Brown as IMC Aide at Kluckhohn Elementary, Rachel Cunningham as seventh grade head volleyball coach and Tami Dunn as 8th grade assistant girls' basketball coach, all effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

The resignations of two high school coaches were approved by the board with conditions. They are Deb Swift, head girls tennis coach and Cliff Collins, head girls track coach, both effective at the end of the 2008-09 school year.

Wendt recommended the board accept the resignations, adding the stipulation, "pending the finding of a suitable replacement."