Dist. 84 expels three students
Supt. finalist interviews March 19-20By Fritz Busch — Staff Writer
SLEEPY EYE - The District 84 School Board unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to expel three students allegedly involved in a fire and vandalism incident Feb. 18, 2009.
Three male students - two juniors and a freshmen - are believed involved in the early-morning locker room fire that closed the school for a day.
They were caught on surveillance cameras, according to Superintendent. Arla Dockter.
Nobody was hurt in the fire that was contained to a basement locker room.
Fire fighters found smoke throughout much of the building, according to Sleepy Eye Police.
Fans blew smoke out of the building before carpets and walls were cleaned and dried.
Pry marks were found in several parts of the building. Some computers were damaged.
Dockter said the cost of the incident has risen past $16,000. More costs are being tallied as they are known.
A State Fire Marshall's report and final costs will be forwarded to Sleepy Eye Police as part of a complaint expected to be forwarded to the Brown County Attorney's Office, Dockter said.
Keith Klein of the ADM Group, LLC superintendent search firm told the Board that 6 superintendent finalist candidates will be interviewed from 3:30-8:45 p.m. in the school on Thursday and Friday, March 19-20.
The finalists are superintendents Wayne Olson of Comfrey, Tony Boyer at Le Center and McLeod West, John Fulton, Lac Qui Parle Valley, Madison and John Cselovski of Round Lake/Brewster.
Other finalists are Fergus Falls Assistant High School Principal Greg Winter and Windom Area Schools Middle/Elementary School Principal Tom Farrell.
The Board went into closed session for 20 minutes to discuss allegations against an employee.
Dockter said the closed meeting included information protected by the Data Practices Act.
The board unanimously approved:
The resignation of high school principal Elia Bruggeman and elementary principal Adam Kluver, who stated in a letter that his daily 200-mile commute from his Buffalo home was too difficult on his family for him to remain in Sleepy Eye.
Kluver said he enjoyed his time in Sleepy Eye and will be a better educator because of his time spent there.
A review and comment period for a proposed $4.13 million air handling system replacement project to relace unit ventilators, air handling equipment, aid dehumidification, upgrade or replace controls, repair steam traps and bring the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system to code.
A final design and project manager are expected to be determined by next fall.
During a budget work session after the regular meeting, the Board considered staff suggestions for budget adjustment.
The list included supply reductions, turning off lights, removing electrical items the school doesn't own, cutting printing, printing, colored paper, laminated film and fewer board meetings.
Other suggestions included larger high school classes, K-12 principal, shared superintendent, combined administration, Q-Comp pay, retirement incentives, a 4-day school week, grant writing, more on-line classes, fewer athletic events and computer and art classes.
The board holds at budget workshop at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 26.
Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.
