Herald Journal,
June 23, 2003
LP board hears from Kielkucki; approves 03-04 budget
By Ryan Gueningsman
The Lester Prairie School Board passed its 2003-04 budget last Tuesday night.
Longer budget discussions took place at a special meeting June 10. See the graph for the numbers.
"The 2003-04 budget is on track," said Supt. James Redfield at the June 10 meeting. Expenditures look to be about the same as last year, with a slight increase in revenue from the general fund mainly from equity from the state, Redfield said.
Kielkucki visits
State Representative Tony Kielkucki was on hand at the Lester Prairie School Board meeting last Tuesday to discuss the recently ended legislative session and other concerns from the board members.
The main concern was the "No Child Left Behind" law that is going into effect for the state.
"There are some people, even in our own legislature, that think it is unconstitutional," he said. "One or two kids can throw off the whole results in a small district it's difficult on smaller districts."
Kielkucki encouraged the board to be in touch with him throughout the summer and upcoming school year if they have any concerns, and he also reminded the board that he is the vice-chairman for k-12 education.
Official newspaper designation
Herald Journal Publishing owner Chris Schultz was on hand to discuss the recent change to the Prairie Ad News, the school district's official newspaper.
The Ad News has been consolidated into the Herald Journal Shopper, therefor disqualifying it from being able to serve as a legal newspaper.
The school board designated the Winsted- Lester Prairie- New Germany Herald Journal as the new official newspaper for the remainder of the year.
Odds and ends
In other matters, the board:
· renewed membership in the Minnesota State High School League for the 2003-04 school year.
· also renewed membership in the Schools for Equity in the amount of $1,373 for the 2003-04 year.
· accepted one ninth grader to come to Lester Prairie school as an open-enrolled student.
· directed Supt. James Redfield to write a letter of appreciation to legislators who protected "equity funding."
· approved contracts for head custodian Pat Fogerty, high school principal Joe Miller, and elementary principal Pam Lukens.
· heard from Lukens on her work with the International Conference for Future Problem Solving. Lukens was one of the international evaluators for this program.
She has been evaluated at the state level for about 15 years and at the international level for three years.
"It's a chance to meet with some of the brightest and best students that these countries have participating," Lukens said.
· noted that the first phase of roof repairs is scheduled to begin this week.
· set a special meeting to discuss referendum proceedings with TSP Architectural Firm Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.
The regular school board meeting will be Monday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m.
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