Approval of three staff contracts, acceptance of a bid for signage in the new construction areas at Becker High School, approval of a resolution to discharge an employee and a tour of the new auditorium and pool facilities were among the items on the agenda at the regular meeting of the Becker Board of Education Monday night. The BHS media center was again filled with union members in Becker blue shirts, many of whom stayed for the facility tour after the meeting.
Contracts
Based on the recommendations of board negotiation committee members Jason Kindred, Mark Swanson and Lori Molus and Dr. Stephen Malone, the board unanimously approved new contracts for the activities director, transportation director and the network manager.
The activities director position will see an increase in salary of 7.3 per cent in the period 2014-15 thru 2017, the transportation director position will see an increase in salary of 2.44 per cent through 2014-15 and the network manager position will see a salary increase of 10.8 per cent from 2014-15 thru 2016-17, according to documents presented at the meeting. A complete breakdown of salary and benefits for these positions is posted in the school board section of the district web site.
Negotiations are ongoing with district office staff and the building and grounds director, Kindred said.
Contract talks with the Becker Education Association are continuing. A closed session with district and union representatives was held Thursday night, which did not include the presence of a mediator, according to Board Member Bryan Olson.
Construction/Signage
The final inspection of the new pool has taken place, Swanson said, and the area is now ready for use. Construction in the new auditorium is expected to be completed shortly, he said, with the district taking possession of the facility later this month after final inspections.
The board approved a bid for signage in the new construction areas from Sign Art for $102,105, which posted the low bid among four competing companies. The next-lowest bid was $117,727, with the high bid coming in at $146,899.
Employee Discharge
The board approved without discussion a resolution to enact the discharge of a district employee, who was identified only as “Employee A” in the meeting documents. The resolution lists “incompetency and misconduct” as the reasons for dismissal, and directs the administration to notify the individual by written notice regarding the proposed discharge, “as provided by law.”
Because the individual is a military veteran, the case will be handled under the terms of the Veterans Preference Act, which will include a hearing under the auspices of the Bureau of Mediation Services. Because the matter is still in litigation, Malone declined to speak further about the details of the case Monday night.
Election
The board approved a resolution calling the school district general electio0n for Tue., Nov. 4, 2014.
Three school board terms will be filled in the Nov. 4 election. As of Thursday afternoon, incumbent Board members Olson and Swanson had filed election papers with the district secretary. Board Chairman Aaron Jurek had not filed for re-election at press time.
District officials said that no candidates who are not currently board members have come forward as yet. The deadline for filing is Tue., Aug. 12 at 5 p.m.
Other Business
After a discussion which included questions on steps the district could take to counter “cyber bullying” of students off campus, the board unanimously approved adoption of Policy 514, Bullying Prohibition. The board also conducted first readings of Policy 521, Disability Nondiscrimination, and Policy 709, Transportation Safety.
Malone then provided a report and video on current policy governance and board-superintendent relations before the board suspended the meeting and embarked on the facility tours.
Once those were done, the board went into closed session to consider labor negotiation strategies.
