Charles Wasrud was the only nominee to serve as president of the Iola-Scandinavia School Board.
He was elected to the position during the board’s reorganizational meeting on May 13.
Wasrud succeeds Tom Opperman, who chose not to be a candidate in the spring election. Opperman served on the board for 30 years.
Other board officers are: Vice president – Kristin Hoyord; clerk – Mike Koles; treasurer – Bob Fredy.
Opperman was the only citizen requesting to speak during the public comment segment of the board’s regular meeting.
He read excerpts from the School Board Member Handbook concerning board member responsibilities as recommended by the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
Among the highlights were putting children first, being a policy maker and not administrative, respecting that the majority rules and to represent the entire district and not just the people at the meeting.
“Most importantly, respect the position,” Opperman said.
The building principals encouraged citizens to oppose the school voucher system.
“If the voucher system goes through, that will mean less money for our school,” said Tess Lecy-Wojcik, elementary principal.
High/Middle School Principal Sara Anderson presented a list of proposed class offerings for 2013-14. She received the board’s permission to make the decision which classes to offer based on student requests.
In other business, the board:
• Approved hiring two summer school band assistants at $20 per hour, with the hiring dependent on summer school enrollment.
• Approved reasonable assurance letter for support staff stating they will not have a pay cut in 2013-14.
• Agreed to extend contracts for food services director and payroll assistant director.
• Approved 17 open enrollment requests into the district and seven open enrollment requests out of the district.
• Declined one open enrollment request into the district because information needs to be upgraded for the special needs student.
• Agreed to use the CESA 6 model for Educator Effectiveness.
Retirements
The board approved the retirement of Marsha Mueller, art instructor, and Marie Skowen, high school secretary, and Gifted and Talented Coordinator Ila Sanders.
Skowen has served the district for the past 34 years.
Mueller has been the high school art teacher for 16 years.
Sanders has been working part-time as the G-T coordinator since she retired from her full-time teaching position several years ago.
The board also approved the resignation of Transportation Director John Shepherd. His contract expires June 30.
Summer projects
Interim District Administrator Duane Braun presented a list of proposed summer projects.
Total cost is projected at $59,889. Some of the projects qualify for Focus on Energy rebates totaling $2,833.
The larger projects include: lights (elementary gymnasium, I-S Community Fitness & Aquatic Center, wood shop, bus garage) over $15,000; concrete work (high school frontage and curb and gutter, elementary sidewalk) about $8,000; refinishing gymnasium floors in high school and FAC, $4,518; asphalt seal and repair (bus garage, shop FAC, both school buildings and running track) $18,546.
“Not everything will be completed this year,” said Business Manager Jon Novak. “Some will carry over into next year.”