August 28, 2015 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

Description: 
Jeff, Randy and I met with Brent Lieser last evening to discuss his contract.  Jim was not in attendance.  The significant pieces of the contract were the following:  $64,000 salary, $1,500 403b match, 80/20 insurance, and increase from 183 to 225 working days.

Brent's work year in the past was 183 days.  His new contract will be a year-round 225 days.  His daily rate of pay this year would have been $275/day if we didn't combine these positions.

We multiplied the $275/daily pay by the new year-round 225 days.  It came out to $61,875.

Brent was scheduled to receive $1,2000 this year in 403b match.  He asked for and we supported $1,500.

We placed his insurance below, but within range of the principals and business manager.  This position (441 points) has a state point value above the business manager (332) and below the principals (611).  What we offered in the combination of salary and insurance is acceptably in line.  

Description: 
Please see attached the REM contract with agreed changes highlighted in red.  The more significant items in the 2015-17 contract are the following:

1.  Salary increases of 2.5% (2015-16) & 2.0% (2016-17) on top of steps.
2.  Higher amounts of 403b matching dollars in earlier years (e.g., instead of $300 match in years 0-8 it's now $300 in years 0-3 and $600 in years 4-8).
3.  Substitute coverage increased from $18/hour to $22/hour (Section 7.7 of REM Contract)
4.  Language for compensatory time was added to allow teachers to take up to two (2) days of time off during "instructional times"  (Section 7.8 of REM Contract).
5.  Taking the Activities Director position out of the REM contract.
    

Description: 
Winkelman is scheduling the pre-bid meeting for bid package two on September 15.  The bid opening will be nine days later on September 24.  Both meetings will be at the MS-HS at 2:00 PM.

In the bids are concrete footings and foundations and the supply and install of the structural steel.  Winkelman believes we will have more than 15 contractors at the pre-bid meeting.

Description: 
There was discussion at one of the last board meetings about coaches on staff.  Please see attached data Brent shared with me.  I agree with Brent the district will have some big holes to fill when Mr. Thielges, Mr. Snyder, and Mr. Makela retire.

I'm giving Brent the okay to pay hourly employees overtime to coach junior high level sports.  Although we'd be paying time and one-half it's still less than when we hire a teacher to coach the same junior high sport.  This is not the case, however, if hourly employees were allowed overtime to coach a JV or varsity sport.

I'll place it on the September agenda to discuss whether or not to allow hourly employees to coach JV and varsity sports.

Description: 
I want to share the latest schedule of interviews regarding the investigation into the wrestling booster club and wrestling program.

Description: 
Sharing an article published in the August 2015 School Administrator magazine.  It has some helpful advice to share with all of us.  And it expresses the concern enough to publish in a leading school administrator magazine.  In other words, we're not the only ones who face adversity and difficult times. 

Description: 
Please see attached the weekly bills for your approval.