Pierz School Board Briefs

Pierz School Board

Below are summaries of actions from the Wednesday, March 27 meeting of the Pierz School Board. They were compiled by Sheila McCoy.

Donations

The Pierz School Board accepted eight donations in the total amount of $6,190. Of those, the Pioneer Student Council received $590 from the Walter Stumpf Family Christmas; and $1,000 from the Harding Sportsmen’s Club. The Pierz Firemen’s Relief Association donated $600 each to the Clay Target League, boys golf and band (music). The Clay Target League also received $2,000 from the Buckman Trailblazers. Lastly, the Harding Sno Duster donated $500 to music.

Personnel

The Pierz School Board accepted the retirement request of Elementary Paraprofessional Bob Kummet and the resignations by Elementary Paraprofessional Storm Knutson and Elementary Teachers Elizabeth Lefebvre and Chelsey Klockl. The Board also approved hiring Lauren Ojanen as an elementary special education teacher and Rylee Rochel as a long-term substitute elementary professional, all pending criminal background checks. In addition, the Board accepted resolutions not to renew the teaching contacts of probationary teachers, Brooke Hanlon and Stephanie Otremba.

Spring coaches

The Pierz School Board approved four additional spring coaches, which included Kyle Hastings (JV/JH golf) Cara Herold (JV/JH golf) Ethan Matvick (JH baseball) and David Fischer (JH baseball). The reason they were not included when the Board approved the assigned spring coaches at a previous meeting was that these four were not available at the time.

Mid-State Education District

The School Board approved the recommendation of Superintendent George Weber for the District to withdraw from the preschool support programs with the exception of special education services from the Mid-State Education District, effective the start of the 2025-26 school year. The reason for the withdrawal is that Pierz School District has its own preschool program.

School buses

The Pierz School Board was informed by Superintendent George Weber that the administration has reviewed the status of all the buses in the district to determine the district’s most significant needs when it comes to student transportation. One bus (#2-14) has been set aside as a spare this year as it has such a challenging engine that the District determined to take it apart for parts. Another bus (#3-09) has also been set aside as a spare, with the plan to remove it from the spare fleet and trade it in. The intention, Weber said, is to purchase a full-size gas bus and move a current route bus that was purchased in 2011 to a spare bus. “You are aware that the companies that provide gas buses are limited,” he said. As the District has nearly exclusively purchased Blue Bird buses the last five years since that company can provide a gas bus, Weber said International has announced that it will have some coming in about a year or so. Meanwhile, the District is evaluating costs of completing some bodywork on one of the spare buses in order to retain its capacity to pass inspections and delay the need for another new bus, Weber said.

Day at the Capitol

Superintendent George Weber told the Board that he and six other superintendents from the Region participated in meetings with various representatives and senators at the Capitol and Senate and House Office buildings throughout the day on Tuesday, March 12. Weber said that since this is a bonding year, it usually means there are fewer significant education issues being discussed. “We brought forth our concerns with some of the legislation that became law last year that have created some challenges for schools in terms of how we operate and the dramatic changes to our costs. We do not expect those items to be addressed this year,” he said.

Behind the Wheel services

Superintendent George Weber said while the District will continue to provide its Behind the Wheel services program this summer and into next year, the District will continue to evaluate the program. Effective Sept. 1, the fee will also increase from $275 to $300, which is consistent with the fee Mille Lacs Driving School charges the Pierz students for that same service. Community Education Director Sarah Funk also shared more in depth with the Board how the program is currently managed and the various tasks she performs.