Madison-Plains High School Principal Matt Unger accepts a Global Excellence Education Award from Virginia Kendall (center) of EF, an organization that places foreign exchange students with host families. Also on hand was Emilie Klit Stephansen (right), an exchange student who attended Madison-Plains this year. Kendall said she is looking for host families for two exchange students at Madison-Plains next school year.
(Posted May 24, 2017)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
Madison-Plains will have a new elementary school principal starting next school year.
On May 23, school board members voted to award a three-year contract to Brad Miller to replace Kim LeGault. Miller has served as assistant principal for the past couple of years.
LeGault is leaving the principal position to become the district’s special education director. The board approved a four-year contract for LeGault.
Matt Unger the high school principal, received a two-year administrator contract and Karen Grigsby a three-year administrator contract to continue as curriculum director.
The board’s decision to award a classified contract to Joe Stewart did not come easily. In this new position, Stewart would serve as an aide for 40 hours a week. However, should he get into coaching, he cannot exceed 40 hours a week in the two positions. He also has to resign as intervention specialist by June 1.
In the time he has been with the district, Stewart has served as basketball coach and an intervention specialist.
“I appreciate everything he has done with basketball,” said board member Mark Mason who voted against the new position for Stewart.
All contracts awarded at the May 23 meeting will be paid in accordance with a new administrative salary schedule to be approved at the June meeting.
Meanwhile, two employees have announced plans to retire but asked to be considered for re-employment. Mary Sparrow’s retirement as food service coordinator becomes effective May 29. Patty Anthony’s retirement as an aide became effective May 18.
Todd Mustain, the district treasurer and CFO, will publish notice of a public hearing for both employees’ retire/rehire request. The hearing is set for July 18.
Superintendent Tim Dettwiller also announced he will deliver the “State of the District” address on that date.
Board members approved an increase in breakfast and lunch prices for all students. Breakfast will go up 5 cents and lunch 10 cents. Breakfast for K-6 students will be $1.15 and lunch $2.65. For students in grades 7-12, breakfast will cost $1.35 and lunch $2.90.
“Mrs. Sparrow wanted the meals to stay affordable,” Dettwiller said. “There was no increase last year.”
He added that food service operations must run in the black.
The district received a Global Excel-lence Education Award from EF, an organization that helps place foreign exchange students. This past year, Madison-Plains hosted one student, Emilie Klit Stephan-sen, who received a certificate of attendance at the recent graduation.
“Next year, Madison-Plains will have two foreign exchange students, if I can find the host families,” said Virginia Kendall in her award presentation.
Board members held an executive session in the middle of the meeting to discuss personnel matters, prepare for negotiations with public employees, and discuss matters required to be kept secret by federal law or state statutes.
At the close of the meeting, members returned to executive session to discuss personnel matters.
