Hoerner raises concerns about school budget

Budget updates were at the forefront in last week’s school board meeting. With state funding set to drop and major construction projects slated for this year and next, some board members were concerned about the balance and the impacts on taxpayers. In particular, junior high roof improvements will be an expensive undertaking next summer.

Trustee E.J. Hoerner was particularly vocal, noting that the district projects seemed to have been planned without heed to impending budget cuts and potential shortfalls.

“If my husband wants a new four-wheel drive, even though he’s the sweetest man and I love him, if it’s not in the budget, he’s not going to get it,” she argued.

She further defended the analogy by explaining that a balanced budget weighs “what we have” against “what we need,” and asserted that the school board wasn’t doing that.

District clerk Dustin Zuffelato and other board members took Hoerner’s input into account but weren’t as openly troubled by the budget changes.

The junior high roof could cost as much as $250,000.

In other board news:

- The board noted that choir teacher Beth Benton had submitted her letter of resignation but wasn’t on the list of resignations to approve. She would be leaving Columbia Falls to seek co-employment with her husband in Boise, Idaho.

- The board voted to waive age requirements as requested for several preschool children to enter kindergarten in the fall.

- The board agreed to use the junior high risers for the Community Choir in August.

- The board renewed the interlocal agreement for the FVCC Running Start program.

- The board established a Gay-Straight Alliance student activity fund.

- The board elected to continue Montana Quality Education Coalition membership for the next school year. Vice chair Dean Chisholm was the only board official who voted against MQEC membership, stating that it didn’t seem effective in protecting school and district legal interests.

- The board accepted the resignations of Jeff Peck, Janet Summerscales, Roberta Hagen, Doug Karper, Alicia Gillen, Candy Gross, Amy Henderson, and Jessica Kauffman.

- The board approved the hirings of Kathy Carl, special education paraeducator at Ruder; Mary Burns and Jane Dews, fourth-grade teachers at Ruder and Glacier Gateway, respectively; Effie Roma, junior high language arts; Andrew Lilienthal, junior high social studies; Randy Woller, Ruby Beach, Jarnie Kuka, and Karen Kyger, lead custodians at Ruder, Glacier Gateway, junior high, and high school, respectively; Chelsee Perkins, kitchen helper/hot lunch truck driver; Jessica Klintworth, freshman class advisor; Chris Fannon, assistant boys soccer coach; Anna Danley, freshman volleyball coach; and Shaylene Fishel, assistant volleyball coach.

- The board voted in favor of all summer staff hirings and approved the extra duty elementary contracts.