School board to hold special meeting March 23

The Tea Area School Board met March 9.

Business manager Chris Esping presented information on the Reliabank line of credit for emergencies. She noted they have never had to use it in the past.

The board tabled the five-year capital outlay plan until a special meeting on March 23.

The board approved the membership agreement with the LTTW Co-op of South Dakota food buying group for foodservice.

The board approved the resignations of Samantha Smith from the autism program at Venture, Darla Henriksen for foodservice, Morgan McKellep for English, speech and drama, Amy Lynch for seventh and eighth grade math, Michael Bullis as middle school principal and Brooke Palleschi as one-act play director.

They approved the new hires of Ashley Jamros for high school math, Curt Hauff for junior varsity girls soccer, Kelly Kleekamp for ninth grade girls soccer and Mallori Heidinger for ready to start testing assistant.

Superintendent Tonia Warzecha presented information on TASK rates. She said the district is the lowest rate in the metro area. They implemented an activity fee last year to cover the cost of field trip expenses. TASK usually has 115 enrolled in the summer program. 

She asked the board to consider a $5 per week increase. Board president Jason Bennett said he did not want to undercut any business in the district. Warzecha said they still have a long waitlist. 

Esping said some repairs need to be done on the TASK buildings.

Warzecha asked for a special meeting on March 23 at 5:30 p.m. to approve negotiations with the teachers union.

In her report, Warzecha said they have 57 University of South Dakota students who will be student teaching next year. Those students heard from CSI teachers this week.

In his report, operations manager Wayne Larsen reported that Xcel Energy increased their rates 19 percent. This is a larger increase than normal and requires PUC approval. 

The PUC has six months to act on the increase and will hold public meetings. In the meantime, Xcel will collect the 19 percent increase and if the PUC rejects the increase, the district will be refunded.

The board went into executive session for employee contract negotiations and superintendent contract.