Bus replacement schedule discussed by Mondovi Board

by Beth Kraft

The Mondovi School Board and administrators tackled a fairly short business agenda at the Board’s regular monthly meeting on Monday, Sept. 28, and discussed the district’s current bus replacement schedule.

Past practices have called for the replacement of one bus each school year, but school leaders have wondered if tweaking that plan could offer financial benefits.

Conducting an inventory of the district’s buses to identify those that have had repeat mechanical issues and possibly putting them in line for earlier replacement instead of simply swapping out the oldest buses or those with the most miles was one idea brought forth. No final decisions were made on the subject.

The concept of bringing seat belts to Mondovi’s buses was also raised for discussion, but school leaders agreed installing them isn’t practical due to the up-front expense and other issues such as monitoring for proper student use of the seat belts.

The Board also approved hiring Johnson Controls for technical support services for the 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years. The company handles boiler and air handler maintenance in the district’s buildings.

In other business that night, the Board approved the following:

• retirement for middle/high school secretary Jan Moe, effective Dec. 31, 2015

• individual contracts for Dan Linse and Chad Brieske, high school Student Council co-advisors

• .375 FTE custodial position

• donation from Viola Myers of a canoe to the Outdoor Adventures class in memory of her sister

• second reading of 2015-16 employee handbooks for teachers, support staff and exempt staff

• second reading of Board policies concerning selection of students to an office or position; graduation exercises; transportation of students to child care locations within school district boundaries

• out-of-state field trips: middle school to Washington D.C.; History Club to Europe; Eighth grade to Minnesota Zoo and IMAX Theater; Second grade to LARK Toys in Kellogg, Minn., and National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minn.; high school art classes to Walker Art Center or Minneapolis Institute of Art or Minnesota Marine Art Museum; high school track team to Winona, Minn.; middle school PBIS to Coffee Mill Ski Area; Summer School to Underwater World