Boyceville school board approves staff compensation for 2021-22; lease of three new propane buses
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
BOYCEVILLE — During its May 19 regular meeting, the Boyceville School Board approved the 2021-22 staff compensation package and authorized the lease/purchase of three new propane buses.
Following a closed-door executive sessions, the board reconvened in open session and acted on a proposed compensation package for next year that gives wage increases to all employees of the Boyceville Community School District.
According to a report from superintendent Nick Kaiser, the board approved teachers to move up one step on the compensation scale with increases ranging from $750 to $1,500. Hourly support staff will be awarded an additional $1.58 per hour for the coming school year. Administrative staff will receive a three percent increase while bus drivers are to receive the largest bump, an eight percent increase in their annual wages.
Several items were discussed and approved during the half-hour meeting including personnel moves, administrative reports, 2021-22 school board meeting dates, open enrollment applications for next year and the lease/purchase of new buses.
Kaiser reminded the board that they had discussed the district’s transportation need over the past couple of months.
He told members that buses had been purchased on an every other year rotation but said they had recently run up against something a little different.
“Back in 2009 the district purchased three new buses that year and have been in rotation since,” stated Kaiser.
“All three have 150,000 plus miles so we are starting to get to the last few years of their lives and need to be replaced,” he added.
That, however, cuts into the district’s bus rotation plan and budget.
“So it really kind of cuts off our rotation a little bit by doing that,” noted Kaiser of purchasing three new buses in one year.
“So we looked at other options,” continued Kaiser. “How can we purchase more buses and get them on time without spending all that money right up front? And we looked at a lease option, and what we landed on was a lease option that’s at least five years with the buses under warranty.”
Kaiser said the district could take this year’s payment for a new bus and put that toward a lease option instead.
“It is a lower payment and lower interest,” added Kaiser. “It really ended up being a pretty decent deal for us.”
Kaiser noted that the lease payments were very manageable.
Although the district has the money to make the deal during the current fiscal/school year, it cannot because buses are difficult to get right now.
“We will not be able to get a bus until the end of August or early September,” stated Kaiser.
“We have to take the money that had been designated for this year and put that estimate in our fund balance and then it can be used next school year.”
Board members were told that getting three new buses would get the district back on track and with the anticipated reduction of one bus route this coming school year, the new bus rotation/replacement plan would be every two or even three years.
Kaiser also informed the board that all three of the new leases would run on propane which would give that district an addition $2,000 rebate per bus.
After some more explanation and discussion the board unanimously approved a $100,000 down payment for the lease/purchase of three new propane-fueled buses.
With the addition of those units, Boyceville’s bus fleet will included six that run on propane.
TCE principal DeeAnn Thompson, in her report to the board, said that state testing had been completed and that a variety of end-of-the-year activities are planned for the final two week of school.
It was a refrained echoed by Tyler Moy, high school/middle school principal who said it’s been very busy in his building as the culmination of another school year means senior awards ceremonies and graduation which is slated to take place in-person this Friday night, May 28 at 7:00 p.m.
The board also approved the open enrollment in and out applications with the exception a of request for a Menomonie School District resident to attend freshman classes in Boyceville. The request was denied due to a lack of space and service to meet that student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) needs. In all, 28 students have requested to open enroll in the Boyceville School District with 16 opting to enroll in other area districts, for a net gain of a dozen students.
In other business, the board:
•Accepted the resignation of Mollie Perrenoud as Spanish teacher.
•Approved the hiring of Elizabeth Stolte as the new Spanish teacher.
•Approved the retirement request of Brenda Dean as a custodian.
•Approved board meeting dates for the 2021-22 school year. Regular and working session dates will remain on Wednesday evenings.
