Strasser sworn in on Ontonagon Area Board of Education

By JAN TUCKER

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Ontonagon - The Ontonagon Area Board of Education has a new member. Monday, the board elected Tammy Strasser, of White Pine, to serve the term vacated by the resignation of Heather Beck. Beck resigned when she was hired by the Ontonagon Area District as an instructor. Strasser previously served for two years on the board. Her term will last until the November election in 2018. Board member Karen Jackson was selected to serve as treasurer, a position held previously by Beck. The board accepted with regret the resignation of Kirsten Menigoz. Menigoz has accepted the position of Guidance Counselor at the Hancock School.

Superintendent Jim Bobula thanked the voters of the district for passage of the sinking fund and commended the many who worked to get information to the public about the election. As part of the election the board approved using the sinking fund for ADA compliant ramps for the band room, boiler re-tubing and a new security system with wireless access points in all classrooms. The board authorized contracts for those improvements.

With the opening date of school on Sept. 5, the board took several actions in relation to the year:

-Student worker wages were set at $5 per hour.

-Substitute staff rate of pay was set at $78.75 per day for substitute teachers with $119 a day after ten consecutive days for the same teacher, $9 an hour for substitute support staff and $13 per hour for substitute bus drivers.

-Lunch prices were increased by 10 cents.

-And the Jr. and Sr. High school and elementary handbooks policies were approved.

John E Roberts, Executive Director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association, congratulated the Ontonagon Area District athletes. He noted the Association has received no negative officials reports of concern, ejection or sportsmanship during the previous year. He called this a "credit to your student-athletes, coaches, administration, staff and community for demonstrating such positive sportsmanship throughout the entire school year."

State Superintendent of Schools Brian Whiston also sent a letter congratulating the district on the passage of the sinking fund, noting this "speaks to your community's desire to improve educational opportunities for your students." Bobula noted that studies show that a number of schools in the Upper

Peninsula are struggling to obtain teachers and there is a teacher shortage. He said it is difficult to recruit teachers when the pay scales make it difficult to pay off school debt, vehicle debt or buy a house. He said the legislature needs to recognize this will become a struggle for everyone. Bobula announced the school district has signed up for a new fundraiser. It's called School Fund Center and allows parents, students, relatives, friends and community members to go on the school website

http://www.oasd.k12.mi.us and do online shopping. He said with every click of the mouse while in the School Fund Center a donation will be made to the OASD school supplies and equipment for students.

The Superintendent also announced that parents with students enrolled in the Ontonagon District may stop in the main office and pick up a backpack for the upcoming year. The backpacks are suited for all students in grades K-12 and will be handed out on a first come first served basis.

In other action the board heard:

-The Robotics team went to Duluth, Minn. for a summer competition and placed fourth.

-That school starts at 8:30 a.m. with elementary dismissal at 3 p.m. and Jr., Sr. High School at 3:13 p.m.

-And the board will again send letters to local businesses and individuals to solicit financial sponsorship for extra curricular events related to the curriculum.