PALOUSE SCHOOL DISTRICT #301  -  GARFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT #302

JOINT BOARD MEETING - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001

The Garfield school board and the Palouse school board meetings were reconvened at 8:07 p.m. by Palouse board chairman John Leendertsen.

Present: Garfield board members Warren Neal, Mike Cronk, Pam Shelden and Bill Broughton. Palouse board members John Leendertsen, Mike White, Dave Tharp and Paula Echanove.

Also Present: Principal Bill LaMunyan, Principal/Superintendent Beverly Fox, Business Manager Patsy Dunning and Recorder Cindy Kimberling.

Guests: Richard Leinweber, Marv Pillers, Craig Cochran, Sue Redman, Ron Rosebrook, Mickie Sell, and Patty Kent.

Excused: Palouse board member Jerome Schwartzman and Garfield board member Roger Pennell.

Thank you for years of service to Dave Tharp and Pam Shelden.

FCCLA fundraisers, FFA Activities, and Emergency Snow Closures were added to the agenda.

The minutes of the September 27, 2001 meeting were approved by consensus.

Bill Broughton and Mike Cronk made a motion to accept the resignation of Sandy Boone as the Palouse cook. Mike White and Paula Echanove made the same motion for the Palouse board. Both boards passedthe motion unanimously.

The following personnel have contract changes. The board will sign new contracts for them.

Bruce Pemberton - increase in educational hours, Stacey Peppin - updating to current education, Suzanne Bull Pelfrey - updating to current education, Sue Martin - contract correction, Phil Weagraff - increase in educational hours. The new hires were tabled until after the executive session.

Bill LaMunyan reported that the elementary has been holding their bake sales at lunchtime. The Missoula Children's Theatre will be here November 5-10. They will be performing Sleeping Beauty. Winter sports will begin on November 12. The first aid classes for staff were held last week with good attendance.

Bev Fox shared a written report with the board.

The districts' bus drivers salaries were compared with many area schools and presented to the board. Our salaries for trips and wait time are lower than the average. The board will look over the information and revisit this at a later date.

The state no longer funds the traffic safety classes. The requirements of the instructor have increased. Thestate will pay up to $204 for each low income participant. Mrs. Fox reported that because of budget cuts the program needs to be self-sufficient. The cost to run the program last year was $9500.00. This will be revisited next month.

Patsy Dunning has been gathering information for the board on cost sharing the administrative salaries. The information was shared with the board. This will be visited in upcoming work sessions.

Mrs. Fox will be requesting in a letter to the key communicators, what questions the public has about the budget. Her goal is to educate the public about the budget.

Paula Echanove and Mike White moved to approve the fundraisers for FCCLA. The motion passed.

Bill Broughton and Mike Cronk moved to approve the FFA Activities for the 2001-02 school year. The motion passed.

Emergency bus routes for 2001-02 were approved by a motion from Bill Broughton and Pam Shelden.

Mrs. Fox has been communicating with WSSDA about a workshop. They have a person that does come to districts for $125 for 6 hours with the board members.

The newly formed curriculum committee met Wednesday in Palouse. Of the13 active members, 8 were present last night. Tasks were assigned for the November 7^th meeting. The goal of the committee is to have by the April meeting a majority written decision and a minority opinion.

The meeting entered into executive session at 9:30 p.m. to discuss personnel. The regular meeting reconvened at 10:31 p.m.

Dave Tharp moved and Paula Echanove seconded a motion to approve the following applicants. Pam Shelden and Mike Cronk made the same motion for the Garfield board. Both boards passed unanimously.

Patty Villa - Palouse Preschool Aide, Louanne Deerkop - Garfield Preschool Aide, Rex Kaser - Palouse Custodian, Jan Valdes - HS Cheerleader Advisor, Roger Guiney - HS Head Girls Basketball Coach, Stacey Peppin - MS Head Volleyball Coach, Debbie Mitzimberg - MS Cheearleader Advisor, Randy Campbell - HS Evening Tutor (I-728), Kim Anderson - HS Girls Basketball Assistant Coach.

The board chooses not to accept the application of any individual during the term of a leave of absence by a motion from John Leendertsen. Dave Tharp seconded the motion. Garfield board members Pam Shelden and Mike Cronk made the same motion. Each district passed the motion unanimously.

Pam Shelden moved to accept the request for a leave of absence from Craig Brantner as high school girls basketball coach for the 2001-02 basketball season. Bill Broughton seconded the motion. The motion passed with two yes votes, one no vote and one abstention. Paula Echanove and Mike White made the same motion for the Palouse board. It was passed unanimously.

Mrs. Fox reported that according to the classified personnel contract, the district does not have a choice whether to grant the 3.7% raise and the steps can not be frozen. The raise and the steps were budgeted for. The union representatives sent a letter stating that they are in agreement and would be willing to accept the freeze of steps. John Leendertsen made a motion to reinstate the 3.7% and the step movement with an apology to the union for the oversight, and thanks to the employees for their willingness to accept the freeze. Paula Echanove seconded the motion. Warren Neal and Mike Cronk made the same motion for Garfield. Both boards passed the motion unanimously.

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 p.m.