LOWER LAKE — The Konocti Unified School District”s board of trustees held its only April meeting Wednesday night. The board issued a proclamation, entertained a proposal, discussed a personnel matter and approved an interim budget report.
Superintendent Bill MacDougall asked the board to create the director of student services position at the district office to help alleviate some of the work he does and to allow him to appoint a person to the position.
Board member Hank Montgomery said there wasn”t enough discussion about it and the district couldn”t afford the new position. Board president Anita Gordon said MacDougall has been working 10 to 12 hour days six to seven days a week, so he should be allowed to have some help.
Teacher and Konocti Education Association (KEA) representative Angie Siegal asked the board to consider the interview process. The board unanimously approved the creation of the position and the assignment change to allow Pomo Elementary Principal April Leiferman to take the new position at the start of the next school year.
Chief Business Official Laurie Desimone asked the board to approve the second interim budget report with a positive certification. The budget report provided a picture of the district”s current budget as of Jan. 31, including revised projections through the end of the current year and multi-year projections as well as an in-depth breakdown of the district”s cash flow.
Much of the discussion focused around how the district will pay for the projected retirement of many teachers in the next few years and how to keep the district in good financial standing.
The district is facing a minimum of $600,000 in cuts to balance the budget. The board unanimously approved the budget with a positive certification.
During community comments, Mark Graham presented a proposal as part of a campaign called 25 Teachers” Salaries. The campaign is aimed at school boards, asking the boards to lobby the state legislature and Congress to approve the campaign”s proposed America”s Weapons Rebate to Education Act.
The bill states the federal government spends $1 million each on bombs and missiles, which costs the equivalent of 25 teachers” salaries, at an average of $40,000 per year. Gordon thanked Graham for the presentation and said the bill may come back at a future board meeting.
The board issued a proclamation declaring May 11 as Day of the Teacher and May 9 through 13 as Teacher Appreciation Week.
The board will meet again on May 4 at 6:15 p.m. in the Carol McClung Conference Center at the Konocti Unified School District office.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
