The New Hampton Community School Board approved several employee contracts at Monday night’s meeting.
    They ratified a two-year contract with the education support group comprised of non-teaching employees, cooks, janitors, bus drivers, etc. The board and the union negotiated a 4.5 percent increase for each of the two years.
    The board also granted a 4.5 percent increase to school administrators and non-union employees. They included principals, office personnel and department heads.
Personnel
    The board dealt with several personnel issues, including retirements, resignations and new employee contracts.
    Long time cook, Anneta Katz announced her retirement.  The board accepted the resignations of part-time custodian Joy Brummond and half-time vocal music/accompanist Sarah Deutsch.  A request to resign as the Middle School activities director by Don Kubesh was rejected.
    Contracts were awarded to Ryan Klein, high school special education and Nick Hemann, high school special education/head wrestling coach.  Kady Christensen was appointed high school special education instructor plus high school cheerleader sponsor and band corps director.  Paul Burkhardt was hired as eighth grade boys track coach.
Student relocation
    In light of hiring the three special education teachers, the board voted to discontinue transportation of special needs students to out of district locations. These students will now be taught locally, thus saving a substantial amount of transportation costs.
    It was also decided to move classes for the Alternative High School from the present location on North Linn Avenue to the main high school campus.
Board policy review
    The third and final reading of Policy Code 411.1 - 415 and also the second reading of Code 501.10 - 508.4 were approved.
Musical staff
    Members of the Music Boosters Club met with the board to request raising the vocalist music/accompanist position from a one-half to a three-quarters position. The board tabled the request for further consideration.
Odyssey of the Mind
    The board approved $1,250 and use of two school vans for students to attend the national convention of Odyssey of the Mind at the University of Maryland, College Park, Md.
Technology plan
    Following a presentation by technology director Mary Frese and technology technician Jeremiah Cantu, the board approved an expenditure of $71,023 to update computer needs for 2008-09. Approximately $39,000 will be received from the government to offset part of the cost.
    In a related matter, a computerized time clock will be installed at the high school to test the viability of adopting it for the entire school.
Budget modification
    May 27 is the date for the board to meet for a budget modification hearing. The changes are necessary because of increased fuel and maintenance for transportation and increased costs of commodities for the food service. The additional costs will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted. There will be no tax increase in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008.
No change items
    No changes were made in two items the board reviewed. They considered possible changes in existing non-staff coaching contracts and the school calendar for 2008-09 which was previously adopted.
Discussion items
    Three subjects were discussed and will be placed on a future agenda. The topics were lunch price possible increase, a possible raise in annual student parking fees and consideration of possible changes in disbursement of local option sales tax revenue.
    A work session for the board was set for May 19 and the date of the next regular meeting is June 9.