At the Jewell School board meeting Monday evening the first three applicants were interviewed by the three sitting board members. Chair Alan Foster, Vice Chair Tania Skinner and member Cathy Rozenik interviewed applicants Kristin Kuhnly, Matt Samuelson and Karl Meiers.
Meiers had been recalled in the May elections, however, according to the elections division there is no law that prohibits a recalled official from applying for the vacated position.
Matt Samuelson has sat on the board in previous years and said that his strength is that he can hit the floor running as he is familiar with how the board operates which is helpful at this time of the year when the budget is about to be voted on and a superintendent is to be hired. Samuelson said the other qualities he adds to the board is the fact that he works in the timber industry and is familiar with the market and has ready access to the information the board could need in the planning process (in regards to funds/taxes and timber dollars, etc). When asked how he would act if the board voted to do something he opposed on something he actively campaigned on Samuelson said that although it would depend on how strongly he felt on the matter overall he would support the board’s decision.
Kristin Kuhnly stated her strong point was her communication skills. She owns an in home business but feels she has enough time to serve the community on the board and looks forward to the opportunity to do so. She has been working in service industries since she was 14 as well as volunteering her time in various organizations. She worked in the banking industry before starting her own business and is knowledgeable in keeping records and balancing a budget. Kuhnly said her vision for the board would be to be able to say that it did everything possible to provide the children with the life skills necessary to survive in society. By the end of her service on the school board she hopes the board will have accomplished bringing extra-curricular activities to the school, having ongoing training seminars and hired a permanent superintendent.
Karl Meiers believes his greatest strength that he brings to the board is his ability to analyze the information well to the benefit of the children of the school district. He believes that the school boards job is to look out for the best interests of the kids while making sure that the administration follows state laws and proper procedures. Meier stated that it isn’t as easy as it sounds. The biggest challenge the board currently faces is to get an acceptable, state sanctioned curriculum completed so that a superintendent is able to be hired that doesn’t have to design one of his own. Meiers believes the focus needs to be on the kids, without the kids there is no other purpose. His vision for the board is that it excels in maximizing achievement so that students become productive citizens in society. He hopes he is remembered for helping to bring the community back together.
The remaining candidates will be interviewed at a special meeting to be held later in the month. Rozenick’s resignation becomes effective June 30th so at least one director must be appointed before then.
For other board consideration the salary schedule was discussed as was the Jewell Education Association compensation for provided health benefits. Because of inaccurate accounting practices in the past the salary schedule had been paid out causing additional cost to be drawn out of the contingency fund this year. Because the contract has been signed through 2010, and because a provision of the contract states that economic issues will not be discussed before the next contract negotiation Interim Superintendent Jones has to proceed with caution on how to address the verbiage being used.
At this point there will not be cost of living increases included in salaries for the next year because the contract states that salaries will only increase if the financial goals are achieved and “The District will have achieved its financial goals if, as of June 30 of each year, its total operating expenditures for the fiscal year just completed do not exceed the Total Revenue under State’s Equalization formula and the interest on its Investment Fund.” This financial goal has never been met, however last year’s agreed obligation had to still be met. The appropriate money was approved to be moved from the contingency fund to support services to pay for the short fall.
The Board accepted the resignation of Physical Education and Health teacher, Ryan Hendrickson. The position was declared vacant and Interim Superintendent Jones was asked to begin the hiring process for a new teacher.
The Board also had a presentation made by Betsy Miller-Jones and Steve Lamb with Oregon School Board Associations’ Executive Search Services. Miller-Jones and Lamb described the process that OSBA would be able to help the Jewell board in their task of hiring a permanent superintendent, from placing ads to giving screening trainings, the OSBA would be able to walk the Board through the process as well as coach them on the qualities they are looking for and participate in visioning session that Board Member Skinner said the board had discussed having with the community on the direction the district would like to be moving in. The board has not yet made a decision regarding which search service to use but told OSBA they would have their decision soon.
In other Jewell news: George Finch, Coordinator of Professional Practices with the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission issued the following statement: On May 16, 2008 the Commission considered reports regarding John and Laura Seeley. The Commission voted to charge both with violations of standards. Following the meeting Mr. and Mrs. Seeley will be notified of the charges against them and afforded an opportunity for a hearing.
Should an educator request a hearing, the matter will be referred to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). OAH will be scheduled the hearing at a time mutually agreed upon by the Administrative Law Judge assigned to the case, counsel for the Commission and the educator and their attorney.
It is not yet known whether or not the Seeleys have chosen to request a hearing.
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