By Jolene FarleyAt a Monday meeting, the Hills-Beaver Creek School Board agreed to abide by third-party mediation concerning disputed special education bills with the Luverne School District.The bills stem from H-BC students that open enrolled to the Luverne district. The student’s home district is required to reimburse the district where the student open enrolls for special education and other costs. At an October meeting, the board agreed to pay $83,799, in addition to a $20,000 payment the district had already made to Luverne, to clear up the 2001-02 and 2002-03 school years. But the board continued to dispute bills totaling $55,864 from the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 school year.The billing system for the disputed years was different than for the undisputed years.Deragisch was instructed to offer the Luverne district a payment of $30,000 for the disputed bills. The Luverne district refused the offer and asked for the full amount.At Monday’s meeting, Deragisch recommended allowing a third party to step in and mediate. A third party from the Pipestone Special Education Cooperative would review the documentation on the charges for discrepancies. If everything looked legitimate, the Hills-Beaver Creek school district would pay the amount in full."I am willing to take the lumps, whatever they may be, and then we will be debt-free," Deragisch said.Although listed on the agenda as a non-action item, the board decided to vote, and the motion passed unanimously. In personnel changes…The board approved maternity leave for Nicole Fey and Michele Baker. They will return to their jobs as elementary teachers next fall. The board accepted — with regrets — the resignation at the end of the school year of oMichele Baker as Early Childhood Family Education Coordinator,oGreg Ebert as art and industrial arts teacher, and oRoger Jackson as math and technology teacher.Enrollment projectionsDeragisch shared enrollment projections for the 2004-05 school year with the board."You have to have some good news when you’re looking at black clouds all the time," he said.Deragisch anticipates the district will have six more students next year with an enrollment of 307 students or 153 elementary students and 154 in grades 7-12. The 2003-04 enrollment was 301 students, 152 students at the elementary school and 149 in grades 7-12.This year kindergarten started with 19 students and numbers increased to 23 during the year."Our ability to stay steady is really unique for a lot of schools our size," said board member Gary Esselink.Shut the gatesThe Beaver Creek city council has agreed to allow the school to install gates to block the traffic flow on both ends of East Fifth Ave, according to Elementary Principal Todd Holthous. The road runs through the playground by the elementary school. Showing appreciationDeragisch presented the board members with certificates of recognition for their service. He also treated everyone in the room to apple pie and ice cream. "I think our school is the way it is because of your work and dedication," he told the board. Esselink said that when he joined the board he was advised that when it comes to a decision, if it’s the best thing for the kids, it’s probably the right decision.
