I-S staff handbook sparks controversy
Discussion was heated as the Iola-Scandinavia School Board considered a rough draft of its employee handbook.
"I don't recommend that the board offer any early retirement because the district does not have enough in Fund 73 to cover the liability," District Administrator Joe Price said at the board's Dec. 12 meeting.
Currently, there are 12 teachers in the district who could qualify for early retirement, he noted.
Librarian Helene Pohl spoke on the teachers' behalf.
"You do not turn your back on teachers simply because there is a $200,000 shortfall in a $7 million budget," she said. "Since 1993, our standard of living has been on a holding pattern."
"We've heard you compliment teachers and praise (the district's) test scores," she continued. "Now we need (the school board) to stand tall."
By not offering an early retirement package, Pohl said the board was making teachers feel expendable and unappreciated.
"We do care. We do matter," she said.
Prior to the board meeting, the employee handbook was discussed at length by the Personnel and Nominations Committee. At the committee meeting, employees voiced concern that they were losing banked sick days, because the handbook stated that only 65 days could be accumulated.
"The 'paid leave' wording clarifies what we're doing and reconciles how we account for those days," Price explained at the board meeting. "Ninety days is really not necessary to provide the security we want for our teachers. They only need 65 work days to get to that 90 calendar days after which their long-term disability insurance would be in effect."
He admitted that the handbook includes some "pretty foreboding language," but it was suggested by the district's attorneys to assure that the handbook wasn't mistaken for a contract.
"We will also have individual employment contracts that can be renewed annually," Price said.
"(The employee handbook) is still in review at this point," said Personnel and Nominations Committee Chair Kelton Wilhite.
Other business
A revised 2012-13 curriculum was approved by the board to accommodate changing the careers class to a half credit.
Previously, the class had been offered at quarter a credit and offered in the same semester as driver's education, High School Principal Sara Anderson explained.
With the district no longer offering driver's education, the careers class can now be offered for a full semester.
"Now everything is on an even credit," Anderson said.
She explained that the expanded class time will allow students to explore opportunities more in depth and perhaps, get hands-on experience and even do some job shadowing.
In other business, the board approved:
• Family medical leave request for Lonnie Kucksdorf, beginning around May 10.
• Middle school track coach contract for Tom Hutchinson.
• Middle school forensics coach contract for Greg Ubbelohde.
• Renew its agreement with the Waupaca County Charter School Consortium.
• 2012-13 revised school calendar, adding Oct. 25 as a school day with the end of the school year on June 6.
Refinancing debt
Business Manager Jon Novak reported on the school district's sale of general obligation bonds to refinance long-term debt. The district received an A+ rating from Standards & Poors and worked with financial advisor PMA Securities, Inc., and underwriter Bankers' Bank.
Novak reported that three bidders submitted a total of eight bids on bonds totaling 4.38 million. The non-callable loan was secured for $4.33 million at 1.64 percent interest, saving the district $418,000, after costs.
Closing date for the refinancing is set for Jan. 4.
Receiving an A+ rating helped to lower the cost of the loan, Novak reported. He explained that the district received the high rating because of its strong financial background and lack of short-term borrowing, plus stable employment in the area.
Novak said the bonds will be paid off in nine years.
The refinancing will "help keep our tax levy down," he said.
Thunderstruck Java
An update on the Thunderstruck Java coffee shop was presented by members of the business education class and instructor Laura Scott.
The students presented the five "departments" of business including marketing, finance, human resources, operation and promotion/sales.
"It's been a real good learning tool," Scott said. "It incorporates reading, writing and arithmetic, plus high order thinking skills."
The students say that Tuesday is the highest sales day, new flavors spark more sales and "without constant promotion and good promotions, we lose business."
The students project that the initial investment will be paid off by the end of the 2011-12 school year. Their projected profit for the year is $1,474.46.
Shifts are from 7:40 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. on school days. The target is to sell 31 cups each morning, for a daily profit of $9.30.
Students work in teams of three, with a different team for each day of the week. If a student cannot work, they must arrange a replacement.
By working, the students can qualify for a field trip at the end of the year. The plan is to visit the Crystal Cafè.
The goal is to build a solid foundation for the next class.
"I don't recommend that the board offer any early retirement because the district does not have enough in Fund 73 to cover the liability," District Administrator Joe Price said at the board's Dec. 12 meeting.
Currently, there are 12 teachers in the district who could qualify for early retirement, he noted.
Librarian Helene Pohl spoke on the teachers' behalf.
"You do not turn your back on teachers simply because there is a $200,000 shortfall in a $7 million budget," she said. "Since 1993, our standard of living has been on a holding pattern."
"We've heard you compliment teachers and praise (the district's) test scores," she continued. "Now we need (the school board) to stand tall."
By not offering an early retirement package, Pohl said the board was making teachers feel expendable and unappreciated.
"We do care. We do matter," she said.
Prior to the board meeting, the employee handbook was discussed at length by the Personnel and Nominations Committee. At the committee meeting, employees voiced concern that they were losing banked sick days, because the handbook stated that only 65 days could be accumulated.
"The 'paid leave' wording clarifies what we're doing and reconciles how we account for those days," Price explained at the board meeting. "Ninety days is really not necessary to provide the security we want for our teachers. They only need 65 work days to get to that 90 calendar days after which their long-term disability insurance would be in effect."
He admitted that the handbook includes some "pretty foreboding language," but it was suggested by the district's attorneys to assure that the handbook wasn't mistaken for a contract.
"We will also have individual employment contracts that can be renewed annually," Price said.
"(The employee handbook) is still in review at this point," said Personnel and Nominations Committee Chair Kelton Wilhite.
Other business
A revised 2012-13 curriculum was approved by the board to accommodate changing the careers class to a half credit.
Previously, the class had been offered at quarter a credit and offered in the same semester as driver's education, High School Principal Sara Anderson explained.
With the district no longer offering driver's education, the careers class can now be offered for a full semester.
"Now everything is on an even credit," Anderson said.
She explained that the expanded class time will allow students to explore opportunities more in depth and perhaps, get hands-on experience and even do some job shadowing.
In other business, the board approved:
• Family medical leave request for Lonnie Kucksdorf, beginning around May 10.
• Middle school track coach contract for Tom Hutchinson.
• Middle school forensics coach contract for Greg Ubbelohde.
• Renew its agreement with the Waupaca County Charter School Consortium.
• 2012-13 revised school calendar, adding Oct. 25 as a school day with the end of the school year on June 6.
Refinancing debt
Business Manager Jon Novak reported on the school district's sale of general obligation bonds to refinance long-term debt. The district received an A+ rating from Standards & Poors and worked with financial advisor PMA Securities, Inc., and underwriter Bankers' Bank.
Novak reported that three bidders submitted a total of eight bids on bonds totaling 4.38 million. The non-callable loan was secured for $4.33 million at 1.64 percent interest, saving the district $418,000, after costs.
Closing date for the refinancing is set for Jan. 4.
Receiving an A+ rating helped to lower the cost of the loan, Novak reported. He explained that the district received the high rating because of its strong financial background and lack of short-term borrowing, plus stable employment in the area.
Novak said the bonds will be paid off in nine years.
The refinancing will "help keep our tax levy down," he said.
Thunderstruck Java
An update on the Thunderstruck Java coffee shop was presented by members of the business education class and instructor Laura Scott.
The students presented the five "departments" of business including marketing, finance, human resources, operation and promotion/sales.
"It's been a real good learning tool," Scott said. "It incorporates reading, writing and arithmetic, plus high order thinking skills."
The students say that Tuesday is the highest sales day, new flavors spark more sales and "without constant promotion and good promotions, we lose business."
The students project that the initial investment will be paid off by the end of the 2011-12 school year. Their projected profit for the year is $1,474.46.
Shifts are from 7:40 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. on school days. The target is to sell 31 cups each morning, for a daily profit of $9.30.
Students work in teams of three, with a different team for each day of the week. If a student cannot work, they must arrange a replacement.
By working, the students can qualify for a field trip at the end of the year. The plan is to visit the Crystal Cafè.
The goal is to build a solid foundation for the next class.
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4 Comments for "I-S staff handbook sparks controversy
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Just think of how low the levy would be if the money had never been borrowed in the first place.
lastpercentile Dec 21, 2011 1:48 PM
Have any of the 12 teachers actually asked for early retirement?
In other industries, employees have the option to "retire" at any time. They just don't get to maintain their benefits at little or no cost to themselves. I suggest this industry do the same.
waupacataxpayer Dec 24, 2011 10:04 AM
A teacher could work from age 22 to age 45, earn 23 years' of retirement benefits, then "retire" - ie, stop working. However, his/her retirement checks would not start until the standard retirement age, whatever that is: 55, 58, 62, etc.
The concept of working for 20 years and retiring with full benefits at age 38 or 42 is not cost effective and, quite frankly, is a boondoggle for the employer - who in this case are all of us.
(The military and a very few other professions being an exception.)
It's just another example of tax-dollar chiseling by unions over the years.
lastpercentile Dec 24, 2011 3:00 PM
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A field trip to the Crystal Cafe? Woooooooo Hooooooo! If that doesn't motivate the kids, what will? :D
Mike Hegan Jan 25, 2012 10:48 PM