District 84 board hires finance director

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- The District 84 School Board unanimously approved hiring Sue Radel as the district's accountant/finance director for the 2002-2003 school year Thursday.

Radel will replace Cindy Seifert, who will assume a business services coordinator position with Region 5 in Mankato. Seifert will work part-time in Sleepy Eye during a six-month break-in period with Radel whose salary is $35,000 the first year plus benefits.

Seifert said the district will be required to change health insurance plans as of July 1, 2002, because the group participation rate dropped below 50. The district insurance committee met and will be presenting options for a staff vote later this month.

District taxpayers may face property tax increases next year\. The Minnesota Department of Revenue notified the district that the local (home) sales ratio was set at 76.7, compared to 78.6 last year.

Seifert said the district incurred a $1,800 utility deposit for public utility connection at the proposed cultural center in the former Palace store building on Main Street. The cultural center, set to open this summer, is part of the district's 2002-2003 Integration Collaborative Program Budget that received a $90,000 grant.

The cultural center will be geared to enhance community awareness of cultural diversity and increase acceptance of all people, provide educational events and cultural opportunities to help people of all ages welcome, accept and involve each other in community life.

Integration goals 3 and 4 include $10,500 for cultural center rent and utilities, $10,000 for cultural center supervision, $3,000 for art activities, $2,000 for International Day (June 8), $1,000 for soccer, $800 for Heritagefest tickets, $273 for the Cindo de Mayo picnic and $200 for the folklore dancers for a total of $27,773.

Bruggeman said she met with Palace owner Dave Vosbeck about what the building needs to open as the school district's cultural center. Bruggeman will take the list to the Sleepy Eye City Council's May 14 meeting.

Bruggeman sees the building used for arts, technology, recreation. Art and foreign language supplies, computers and foosball tables have been ordered. Some of the equipment has already been placed in the building.

Integration goal 2 will provide $43,000 to provide K-12 educational programs to address cultural and language barriers in education. It includes a full-time elementary Spanish teacher ($35,000), cultural diversity class and supplies ($5,000), language cultural camp ($1,000) and $2,000 to increase the graduation rate.

Goal 1 of the program funnels $11,300 to increase understanding of racism, prejudice and attitude barriers in individuals and the community by providing positive interactions among students, school staff and community. It includes anti-racism workshops ($4,000), a diversity student council ($2,000), school and community immersion in another culture ($5,000) and focus groups ($300).

The board also:

* Heard from Bruggeman that the district received $120,000 for its summer migrant program.

Bruggeman will meet with eight seniors that skipped classes earlier this month. Students will lose senior privileges and receive detention.

* Heard from home construction trade instructor Bernie Wenner that he will host an open house, 1-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19.

Wenner said the district invested $83,000-$86,000 in building the house. Minimum bids should be around that figure. Bids will be opened, and an auction called for at 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 28 in the elementary school library.

* Approved the Class of 2003 Senior Class trip to San Francisco, Calif., March 26-30, 2003 at a cost of $730 per student. Fund-raising requests must be completed by the end of the school year.