School Board ups lifeguard pay, gives update on athletic field

The Rice Lake Board of Education, which met for a half hour on Monday evening, approved rate increases for its lifeguards, lifeguard supervisor and assistant supervisor of the pool as recommended by its finance committee.

District Administrator Randy Drost asked that the wage increases be retroactive to July 1.

In an effort to keep a quality pool of lifeguards, wages for those with up to one year of experiences go from $13.01 to $15, those with one to three years of experience from $13.59 to $15.50 and those with three or more years of experience from $14.61 to $16.

In addition the lifeguard supervisor wage increases from $16 to $17, and the assistant supervisor of the whole facility increases from $17.19 to $18.

Those who are Water Safety Instructor certified receive an additional 40 cents an hour.

In other business, the school board:

• Heard from Buildings and Grounds Committee Chairman Keven Jensen that with the new turf installed in July the athletic field is now wider and is a state level size soccer field. Jensen said additional finishing touches have yet to be made on both ends of the field outside of the playing area for football, and damage done by heavy equipment on the driveway near the concession stand when installing the turf will be repaired.

• Gave a shout out to the All Sports Booster Club for organizing the watch parties during the Olympic events and to Rice Lake High School graduate Kenny Bednarek on his winning of a silver medal.

• Was informed by Drost that the district is seeking a logger who would be interested in removing the dead pine trees along Cameron Road. The topic came up when Board Member Dianne Koser asked for an update on what is being done with them.

• Accepted a first reading of Warriors on Wisconsin student informational booklet. Board Member Don Cuskey asked how many students are expected to participate in the alternative program. Assistant Principal Mark Beise said 22 students are committed for the coming school year with eight additional expressing some interest.

• Approved the 2023-24 Seclusion and Physical Restraint Data with no discussion.

• Accepted the resignations of Susan Olson, cook/kitchen assistant at Tainter Elementary School; Nicole Murawski, lead cook at the middle school; and Jennifer Davis, Iris Wickman and Caitlin Jones, all paraprofessionals at Tainter.

• Approved the hiring of Robert Buxton, high school custodian; Michele Millerman, cook/kitchen assistant at the middle school; and Brandon Mincoff, lifeguard at the pool.