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GoogleThe Le Mars Community School Board of Education conducted a bid opening and hearing on the project at the start of its Monday meeting. It also accepted the low bid of $61,000 from L & L Builders of Sioux City.
Three other bids ranged from $66,698 to $76,000. Architect Jim Ruble of Cannon Moss Brygger & Assoc., who prepared the bid specifications, said his estimate of the project cost was $60,000. He recommended the board accept the bid from L & L Builders.
The board also conducted a public hearing on a budget amendment for the 2008-09 school year.
Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt said three areas needed adjustment in the current budget, which was adopted in April 2008.
In the area of "Instruction," the budget was adjusted from $12.6 to $12.9 million.
Wendt said almost the entire amount of adjustment was due to an increase in Teacher Quality money which was $300,000 more than the original budget estimate.
An increase in food service receipts and expenditures increased the "Noninstructional Programs" category from $717,000 to $745,000.
The third category, "Total Other Expenditures," was increased from about $2.8 to $3.3 million.
That change was due to an increase in the SILO/PPEL receipts.
Board president Dr. Mark Stelzer emphasized the budget must reflect money coming in and going out of the district.
Board member Dan Smith added, "This is not a change because we decided to spend more money."
Wendt told board members it is hard to know some of the allocations in April when preparing the budget for the following school year.
"It's not unusual to amend the budget at this time of year," he said.
Contracts
The board also took action on four employee contracts, including the contract for Superintendent Dr. Todd Wendt.
Earlier this year, following the annual superintendent's evaluation, the board approved a three-year contract for Wendt.
At Monday's meeting, it approved an annual salary of $123,517 for the first year, July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.
According to the contract, the second and third year salary shall be set by the board, but cannot be less than the salary set for the first year.
The salary amount is the same as Wendt has been paid for both the 2008-09 and 2007-08 school year. Wendt told board members he agreed with the salary freeze.
In other contracts, the board approved a contract for Tamara Dunn as head girls track coach for $3,996; a contract for Gabe Davis as assistant girls track coach for $2,767; and a contract for Jolynn Sitzmann as elementary school nurse for $24,343.
There are still three or four coaching positions open, mostly in volleyball, Wendt told board members.
The district is also advertising for a middle school science instructor. That position opened when a high school science instructor retired and the middle school teacher chose to move to the high school level.
Board members also waived board policy and will hold only one meeting in July, rather than two. That meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 13.
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WOW those are pretty good salaries for coaching!
I think when looking at the salary a teacher is paid for coaching, you need to consider the number of hours the coach spends both at practice, games and traveling. I think you would find they don't even get paid minimum wage. No I am not a coach but do know some of the sports involve a lot of time.
I know this was not mentioned in the above article but perhaps Mr. Smith you can answer this question...It is my understanding that teachers/people who work the gates at home games get paid to work those gates. Wouldn't it make more sense to have some volunteers work the gates and use that money elsewhere in the budget- how little or how much it may be?
I can answer that, I think. The money to pay the workers comes from the gate receipts, not the general fund. Someone can correct me if I am wrong.
onlywhatiknow,
From what I remember only, staff may volunteer to work at an event (crowd control) to earn an activity pass. Folks who are paid for services are doing jobs that include scoreboard operation, food stand manager, and scorekeeper. These are special skill jobs that take time to learn. I think they are paid out of the activities account.