School Board holds September meeting

The Broadus School board met Monday evening for their monthly meeting. The meeting was relatively brief, with a light agenda. The board also had a training session scheduled that evening, which is a yearly event where board members are educated about various issues important to their positions. Following the meetings, the Homecoming coronation was held at the high school.

At the board meeting, a motion was passed to hire three substitute teachers – Kristie Lanke, Charlanne Lemke, and Hattie Arithson. The board also accepted Stacy Hagedorn as a volunteer to help the Volleyball program, as well as accepting the resignation of Jacy Collins as JH Girls Basketball Coach. The board approved the tentative hiring of a new JH Girls Basketball Coach – that position is still open, but will need to be hired before the next board meeting, as the JH basketball season begins the day of the next meeting, October 14th.

The board then considered replacement of the high school roof, pending an incoming grant. The current roof, which has been in place since 1993, had a projected lifespan of 20 years, and is now coming up on 30 years and is need of replacement. The projected cost to replace the roof with a EPDM black synthetic rubber membrane roof is expected to be over a million dollars, once insulation is factored into the cost. A grant to cover $750,000 is being sought to cover a large chunk of the cost; the school will then be on the hook for around $512,000, which the school currently has in its building reserve fund for just such a project. If the grant comes through, the school will not have to go to the taxpayer for any funds to pay for the roof. A motion was made and passed to proceed with the roof replacement, pending grant status.

The board then passed a motion to consider student loan assistance for a staff member, pending the staff member’s inclusion in a program from the state which also could provide assistance.

Brief reports from the clerk, principal, and superintendent were heard by the board, and the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the board will take place October 14 in the high school student lounge, at 7 PM.