Red Wing School Board briefs

Wettern named interim community ed director

The board unanimously approved hiring Dawn Wettern as interim community education director, effective March 1. Wettern is the current assistant community education director.

The board did not set Wettern’s salary for the interim position. The personnel committee had met directly prior to the board meeting, but did not reach an agreement on Wettern’s pay.

The Community Education Advisory Council had recommended hiring an interim director, specifically Wettern, to help with the transition after current Community Education Director Kathy Radmer retires in June.

The council also recommended hiring Wettern as director after the interim position ends June 30. The board determined it would follow procedure and advise the permanent position.

Board Chairman Mitch Boldt said Tuesday night that naming Wettern as interim director “will allow us to move forward with the posting of the position.”

District budget revised

Changes to the district’s fiscal year 2012 budget were approved Tuesday night, increasing the general fund by about $300,000. The extra funds come from increased revenues and an uptick in enrollment, Finance Director Brad Johnson said.

The original budget was set in June, when the district still didn’t know how much aid would come from the state.

“This is a normal process,” Johnson said. “The adjustments just make the budget run tighter.” The district can continue to make adjustments to its budget until the end of the year, Johnson said.

Teacher responds to school board comments

A high school teacher responded to comments made at the Feb. 6 board meeting about teachers showing films during early release days.

“(Other teachers and I) agreed that we shouldn’t be a punching bag again,” eighth-grade social studies teacher Scott Bender said during Tuesday meeting’s public comment period.

Bender went on to say that he uses films as one educational tool to show students different parts of the world or historical events, and he doesn’t show movies just because he can’t get his students to focus on short days.

“We are instructing students in a number of ways,” he said. “We use a variety of instructional methods.”

Bender asked board members to visit classrooms and see issues for themselves before making public comments.

Board member Mike Christenson, who had originally commented on the films, apologized. “What I said wasn’t appropriate. It was more off the cuff,” he said.

Personnel changes

New hires: Carianne Roschen, special education assistant at Colvill, effective Feb. 9; Jennifer Johnson, educational assistant at Burnside, effective Feb. 8; Catherine Buss, special education assistant at Sunnyside, effective Feb. 6; Catherine Smith, cook at high school, effective June 1.

Reassignment: Judy Hammes, long-term special education assistant substitute at high school, effective Feb. 6; Merri Claridge, special education assistant at high school, effective Feb. 15.

Retirement: Marie Schumacher, cook at high school, effective April 15.

Correction of resignation date: Mary Kelly, long-term social worker substitute at Sunnyside, effective Jan. 27.

Meeting watch

Tuesday evening’s meeting lasted about one hour. Board members Mike Christensen and Steve Anderson arrived late, and Board member Dennis Porter was absent.

— Compiled by Sarah Gorvin, staff writer