No soccer,

competitive

cheerleading

next year

$580,000 of cleanup awarded in contracts; staff realigned

NEW ULM -- The District 88 Board of Education Thursday declined requests to sponsor soccer and competitive cheerleading in 2003-2004, citing financial concerns.

The board left the door ajar for sponsorship next year, expressing willingness to re-examine the requests when, to quote Superintendent Harold Remme, "the financial picture becomes more stable."

In making his recommendation to deny the requests, made before the board in past meetings and not reiterated Thursday, Remme referred to a recently developed policy for adding and subtracting after-school activities. Both soccer and competitive cheerleading meet some policy criteria and fail to meet others, Remme said. "The bottom line is, given the unsettled financial situation, it would not be in our best interest to sponsor the activities at this time."

Commenting on the matter, Board Chair Sue Ullery stressed the relatively high start-up cost for soccer -- some $25,000-$30,000. In turn, board member Tim Babel remarked that preparation for the introduction of an activity takes time -- which the district currently does not have. "It would be too late (to prepare for soccer), even if we had the money," Babel said.

* In another matter, the board awarded a $260,000 contract for microbial and asbestos cleanup to a specialized company, Envirotech, and a separate, $320,000 reconstruction contract, to Brennan Construction. The contract amounts ended up somewhat lower than the conservatively budgeted $630,000.

Implementation of the contracts will start May 6 at staff and mechanical areas across school buildings, said Facilities Director Scott Hogen. Work in student areas will begin on the first day of summer vacation, with the intention of being completed Aug. 15. That timeframe will leave staff two weeks to prepare buildings for the next school year after the cleanup and reconstruction are finished, Hogen said.

When questioned about the contractors' reputation, Hogen said the district conducted background checks, which yielded good results.

Hogen and Business Manager Donna Luhring referred to bid bond and final payment provisions when board members, anxious to ensure the work gets completed in time for the start of school, asked the administrators about possible recourse in case the contract deadlines are not met.

* The board also voted not to renew the contracts of four probationary teachers and to realign various staff responsibilities, shifting or increasing contracts across school buildings.

The non-renewals and realignments were driven by three factors: requested or completed teachers' leaves of absence, enrollment declines and registration patterns at the high school, explained Curriculum Director Bill Sprung.

The changes would result, roughly, in the loss of one full-time-equivalent contract.