School Board meets for October meeting

The Broadus School Board met Monday evening for their October meeting, with all members present.

Mike Richards, Activities Director, informed the board of the HS Football game forfeit to St. Labre, due to a minimal number of players able to play the game (check out the football article for further details).

The board accepted the resignation of Ernie Reaves as a bus driver. He is expected to return later in the month, but had to take a leave of absence in order for his PERS retirement to kick in.

The board hired Heidi Terrett as a substitute teacher, and Ashley Emmons as the Junior High Girls Basketball Coach, with Board Member Patrick Emmons, husband of Ashley, abstaining from the vote.

Several volunteer positions were also accepted, including Kacey Stanley, Jacy Collins, and Chelsea Holmes as volunteers to help Ashley with Junior High Girls Basketball. Ashley Emmons was also accepted as a volunteer for High School Girls Basketball. Kristie Lanke will work as a volunteer for the Junior High and High School Boys Basketball teams. All volunteers were hired, pending background checks.

The board then considered the recommendations of the Negotiations Committee, which has been working with the Broadus Education Association (the teacher’s union) to discuss the teachers’ contract.

The committee noted that the meetings had been positive, and recommended the board accept the contract, which included a 2% raise for teachers, and a boost in their insurance premium.

After some very brief discussion, the board approved a motion to accept the contract for the 2020-21, and 2021-22 school years.

The board then discussed the status of the high school roof replacement, and how the grant application to help pay for the roof was progressing. Superintendent Jim Hansen said that the grant process was coming along, with results hopefully coming out by the end of the year. The school plans on replacing the roof in 2020.

Reports from the clerk, principal, and superintendent were heard. One subject that came up was the potential for teacher recruitment, with Board Member Waylon Billing commenting that the school should possibly think about looking at smaller schools, such as Black Hills State University, where students often come from small towns and would like to return to a small-town upon graduation. The proximity of Black Hills State to Broadus is also a bonus – a hundred miles distant from the graduate’s friends and alma mater, instead of the three hundred miles to Bozeman, or further to other large schools.

The board closed the meeting, and will hold their November meeting on November 11th at 7 pm.