By Jolene FarleyAt a Monday meeting the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board laid the groundwork for teacher and program reductions if state aid to the district declines.Board members passed a resolution allowing the superintendent to make recommendations for reductions should it become necessary. The School Board would vote on any program cuts before they were implemented. Cuts may be needed in the 2003-04 school year because of declining financial aid from the state, according to Superintendent Dave Deragisch. In the future, cuts may be needed because of declining enrollment. "We need to keep our options open as far as what’s going to happen legislatively and with student numbers," Deragisch told the board. Any individual staff members whose positions are affected this year would have to be notified by Monday, June 16. The law requires a 14-day period where the individual may choose to have a hearing. He said the Minnesota School Board Association recommends the districts pass the resolution every year as a precaution. Although the district has a fund balance, the general fund could be depleted quickly if the proposed cuts in state aid pass, according to Deragisch. "What’s really frustrating is we don’t know what the final (state budget) line will be," he said. Deragisch said he has staff members waiting for teaching assignments but is unable to give assignments until after state budget talks are finished. The last time teachers were placed on unrequested leaves of absence was in 1999, according to Deragisch. Staff development School Board members approved repeating the 2002-03 staff development goal for the 2003-04 school year. Administration and staff set the goal as "aligning learner outcomes and assessments in all subject areas, kindergarten through 12th grades."Board member Ann Boeve encouraged the board to approve using the goal a second year, because she felt there was still work to be completed. Deragisch agreed. "They’ll (staff) tell you they’re really feeling good about what’s been done this year," he said. "But they will tell you they’re not done."The elementary school had developed a checklist telling teachers what curriculum to teach in what grades so there is no repetition or omissions."The high school doesn’t have that clear, defined thing," said Boeve. The administration and staff is working toward developing a checklist for the high school. "It really gives the staff the knowledge of if we are giving our students the whole package," Boeve said. "… that we’re not missing anything." As an added benefit, the program has facilitated the staffs of the two schools getting to know each other better, according to Boeve. In other business: oThe board approved Nicole Fey’s drop from full-time to half-time elementary teacher. The board placed a five-year limit on the half-time status and asked for notification by Feb. 1 if Fey intends to return before the end of the five-year period. oThe board moved the Monday, May 26, meeting to Tuesday, May 27, because of Memorial Day. The June board meetings were set for Monday, June 9, and Monday, June 30.The board will meet once in July, on Monday, July 14.
