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The board passed a resolution to negotiate a joint agreement with Winona State University and the Morrie Miller Athletic Foundation on the estimated $2 million project, which would renovate the existing property, owned by the district, to hold facilities for a track, along with soccer and softball fields and supporting facilities. Mark Winter, WAPS activities director, said the plan is a culmination of almost two years of work to improve a dilapidated facility.
“We have three of the most successful track programs … yet we don’t have an adequate facility to practice on, and we can’t even host a home meet,” said Jeremy Miller from the Morrie Miller Foundation.
Winona Area Public Schools would contribute $500,000 to the project, funded by a levy on residential property. The anticipated increase, which would last for 14 years, would cost tax payers with property values of $100,000 an additional $1.95 per year, and range up to those with property values of $250,000 an additional $4.80. The board will need to approve the agreement in two weeks.
Cotter High School would use the facilities as well, but will not be included in the joint powers agreement after concerns were raised over Constitutional issues if Cotter were to receive a disproportionate benefit from the arrangement. The Morrie Miller Foundation agreed to increase its contribution to cover Cotter’s anticipated payment.
The passage of the resolution was met with a chorus of applause by a crowded Council Chambers, as members of WSU, Cotter and WSHS sports teams had attended as a show of support for the plan.
Sports Co-ops Axed
Another athletics related board vote was met with a polar opposite reaction by another group of sports teams that attended the meeting. The district accepted recommendations by the athletic advisory committee to grandfather out all sports co-ops with schools outside of district boundaries, despite several parent comments at the beginning of the meeting imploring the district to not cut the program.
Girls hockey participants from St. Charles and La Crescent school districts, and boys swimming participants from Cochrane-Fountain City will no longer be able to compete with Winona teams as they have been. Winter presented the recommendations to the board, expressing concern that the relationships negatively affected WAPS students.
“We feel an allegiance to Winona based students,” said Winter.
The vote elicited emotional responses from some of the parents and athletes, who abruptly left the room, some in tears. Tim Borkowski, a board member of the Winona Area Youth Hockey Association, whose daughter is a co-op participant on the girls hockey team, said the decision unfairly punishes area youths outside of the district who have nowhere else to play.
“Kids playing hockey don’t just start at high school,” said Borkowski, adding that there has been an understanding in the WAYH that youth participants would be allowed to advance to the high school.
Enrollment decline anticipated
The board approved a 2008-2009 staffing plan that would eliminate approximately five teaching positions, due to a projected enrollment decline of an estimated 139 students. The board also approved the termination of eight probationary teachers, though director of human resources Patricia Blaisdell said some of those teachers may be rehired. The district annually gives notice to some probationary teachers if they feel their position will not be needed the next school year, she said, because state law automatically extends probationary contracts if they are not terminated.
The board also approved an increase in substitute teacher rate of pay from $85 to $100, at an anticipated cost to the district of $90,000, a new labor agreement with its office professionals, and a wage adjustment for union employees of 2.5 percent for the 2007-08 year. The adjustment will be made to employees future contracts this school year to reflect owed pay.
