District support services split at Monday meeting

Coming out of closed session at 7:25 p.m., school board president Bob Geist opened the doors to the high school library Monday October 25.

“Alright, everybody, we’re in open session,” he announced to those patiently waiting in the high school lobby. Then reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and taking roll call, it was into business from closed session.

First though, and by far the biggest items covered, were teh annual budget levy and contract for architectural services.

As to the approved budget levy, it will be $6.20 per $1,000 in

Photo by Joseph Back. property valuation this year, a decrease from the year before. Superintendent Jeff Koenig noted that the district relied for 76 percent of its budget on outside sources, good for local taxpayers but not necessarily for general future planning. Board member Jeff Boie, meanwhile, raised the possibility that taxes would need to be raised in the future as a nod to realities, stating, “we’ve been very good to our constituents. But in case you’re wondering whether the planned architectural projects will cost an arm and leg, think again. The board it turns out, has been saving the last five years in Fund 46 for Capital Improvements, meaning that they have a fund balance for upcoming projects now approaching $5.2 million, after starting with just $100 five years ago “to get things rolling,” it was shared by Boie.

Following a discussion of the three architectural firms interviewed, including River Valley Architects of Eau Claire, LHB out of Superior, and finally Wendel, also out of Eau Claire. Hoffstatter shared that River Valley Architects was her preference for planned improvements, while Verbeten and others sided with LHB as anticipating questions and answering district needs. Following a motion by Carlson that was seconded by Boie to offer the contract to LHB, readers can expect to see remodel and addition plans in the future at Stanley-Boyd.For the present though, there was maintenance of past additions to take care of.

More specifically and to the point, the ballasted roof over the library is among the final sections of roofing in need of work outside the original high school roof. The school has been replacing much of its overhead rain and snow protection with Custofoam the past few years, and it was decided to go with Custofoam on the present roof project as well. With a motion by Geist seconded by Hoffstatter, the library and related roof surface will soon get a $272,641 replacement to protect against the elements.

Also covered for maintenance was the elementary gym floor, in need of replacement with just one bid returned, from Schmidt Custom Floors out of Waukesha. With $150,000 budgeted by the district for the project, Schmidt Custom Floors bid $131,320, a bid which was later approved.

Acting on item 1.2 from closed session, the board voted to split support service duties between Mike Fazendin and Tricia Milas. The move comes with Tim Troyer’s planned retirement, meaning that Fazendin and Milas will share Troyer’s former long-time duties. More specifically, Fazendin will oversee Building, Grounds and Transportation, while Milas will do Food Service, Cleaning, and the Pool. With motion by Geist seconded by Lanse Carlson the new duties were assigned, Verbeten and Seidl voting ‘no.’ The board did not vote on or take action on the other closed session item from what the agenda described as a “Preliminary Investigation into a Personnel Matter.”

Finally, to be looked into by the district but not acted upon as of Monday was the possibility of live-streaming meetings. With YouTube reported to be “randomly deleting” accounts that it wasn’t able to monetize, the prospect of just where to host such meetings, is a work in progress.

Making an appearance Monday as usual was teacher Bob Seidl, who asked what the fund for expenditures related to future building was and why the district didn’t put more money into Fund 10 as opposed to Fund 46.

Koenig answered in part that Fund 10 (the general fund), rather than helping with district savings, was more of a help with “float time,” with few districts Board member Boie had another take on things.

“You’re fiscally responsible, they take it anyway,” he said of trying to save through Fund 10, the only way for the district to adjust revenue matters frozen back in the early 90s being to go to referendum. But in case you cry ‘control,’ there was one thing the board did raise Monday night—adult meal prices, with the price for adult lunch raised from $3.30 up to $4.65 and the price of breakfast from $1.90 up to $2.56. The district’s adult meal program, meanwhile, was said not to be widely used, whereas failure to raise prices, could lead to trouble with other agencies.

Also touched on Monday was the high school student council report, given by Janelle Schesel and Avery Vait with advisor Kayleigh Steinmetz.

Schesel reported that the Make A Difference Day had been a success with over 50 volunteers, while Vait reported an activity Wednesday October 26 to paint or carve a pumpkin.

In addition, it was shared that the Student Council will be hosting kid’s games as well as giving out candy and prizes for the Saturday Trunk or Treat event at Courtesy.