Ontonagon Area Schools on verge of making days up

By JAN TUCKER

jantuck@jamadots.com

Ontonagon — If the stormy winter weather does not calm down now, Ontonagon students will be going to school in the summer.

Ontonagon Area School District Superintendent Jim Bobula told the Ontonagon School Board Monday the district is “all out” of snow days.

“As of this week, we have had nine snow days,” Bobula said.

He explained that the state permits six snow days, or emergency days of school closure, each school year. The district can ask for forgiveness for three more.

“That’s nine and any more emergency days and they must be made up,” Bobula added.

The Ontonagon district is not alone in the boat as Ewen-Trout Creek had an equal number of emergency days along with several other Western U.P. districts.

Business Services Manager Linda Karttunen reported about the school general fund budget. She noted the proposed 2018-19 budget is $3,012,285, with an excess over revenue of $41,685. Karttunen added that the projected general fund balance in June is expected to be $100,547, the largest in several years. But Bobula cautioned that although the financial condition of the district is better than past years, “we need to use caution and not eat away at the general fund.”

Bobula said the district had a “clean” audit and the auditors were very pleased on the audit and records kept by the business staff.

In other action:

—The board hired Ray Bramlett as the new head varsity football coach but first accepted his resignation as assistant varsity football coach. The position of assistant varsity football coach will be posted in both Ontonagon and Ewen-Trout Creek.

—The board also approved the overnight trip request from Tim Nelson to take students to Washington, D.C. for the 2021 Presidential Inauguration, Jan. 17 to 22. Fundraising is currently underway by the students.

—The board heard from Bobula that Matt Stafford is currently holding a math lab on Thursdays, 7th and 8th grade girls will attend the 25th Science and Engineering program at Michigan Tech, Strong Dental staff will hold a program March 1 at the school, there will be an elementary boys basketball tourney March 15-17 and winter recreation day for 4-6 grade students will be at the Porcupine Mountains.