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Board OKs policy update

FAIRMONT — Traci Lardy, dean of students at Fairmont Jr./Sr. High School, discussed the 2018-2019 school handbook with the school board on Tuesday.

Lardy said several meetings were held during the spring that included administrators, students, teachers and parents.

“This year, you won’t notice any big changes but we did combine parts, reword areas and add links,” she said. “By doing this, we hope for clearer communication and to shorten it up a little bit.”

Lardy noted three changes that can be found in the handbook. Detentions will be given for unexcused absences in order to stay consistent. FAST (Fairmont Academic Support Time) time and Flex time were new this year at the high school and were added to the handbook, along with expectations and consequences. Finally, Lardy said Standard Based Grading, also new this year for junior high students, was added.

The board approved the revised handbook.

In other business, the school board discussed employee contracts for Education Minnesota paraprofessionals. The 2018-2019 school year will be the first year this group of paras will be employees of Fairmont Area Schools. In the past, they were employees of Southern Plains Education Cooperative.

Changes in the contract include reducing the probationary period from three years to one year and front-loading 10 PTO days (75 hours) in lieu of all other leaves. There will be an increase in term life insurance from $10,000 to $50,000. Advancement to new salary schedule will be based on 94 percent attendance, beginning with the next school year. The board approved the two-year contract that will span 2018-2020.

The employee contract for custodial/maintenance personnel also was discussed. Changes made in this contract include reducing the length of time an employee must work before qualifying for a step advancement, from six months to four months. The inclement weather language was updated so that any employee who does not report to work on an inclement weather day must use vacation or personal leave. The shoe and clothing reimbursement was changed from $500 per contract period to $250 per year. A salary increase of 50 cents per hour for 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 was added. One full-time custodial position was added as the board approved the hiring of Ryan Majeske. The board approved of the contract.

The board also approved increasing the district’s substitute teacher rate of pay from $115 per day to $125. That’s the rate that most schools in the South Central Conference are paying. Given the teacher shortage and high demand, the board believes it is important that Fairmont’s rate of pay is competitive with other schools.

In other news, the board accepted the following donations:

o $2,500 from the Fairmont Rotary Club to purchase apple trees for the Agriculture Academy.

o $300 from Illinois Tool Works donated to Fairmont CER for volunteer hours served by Fairmont Weigh-Tronix employee Dave Adams.

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