Ashwaubenon Superintendent Kurt Weyers, center, speaks during the Wednesday, Aug. 8, school board meeting in the Performing Arts Center while Business Director Keith Lucius, left, and Board President Jay Van Laanen look on. Kevin Boneske Photo

Handbook change, new staff also approved

By Kevin Boneske
Staff Writer

ASHWAUBENON – The Ashwaubenon School District will have $3 million available to borrow during the 2018-19 school year prior to receiving aid and property tax payments.

School board members agreed Wednesday, Aug. 8, to obtain that revolving line of credit from Huntington Bank.

The interest will be variable, set on a 30-day London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 1.4 percent with a maximum rate of 7 percent.

There is also a $5,000 commitment fee in addition to the interest.

Business Director Keith Lucius noted the line of credit would only be used if/when the district needs to, and is repaid upon receiving aid and property tax revenue.

Lucius said the district is able to save about $25,000 annually by having a line of credit, which minimizes the days that interest is paid on borrowed money, instead of issuing a Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note (TRAN).

He said the district in 2017-18 only needed an advance of $1 million, which was borrowed Jan. 3 and paid off Jan. 23.

Employee reviews

District employees considered exempt, for which non-union employees not licensed as administrators are included, won’t be required to have a formal evaluation at least once every year.

Board members approved a change to the evaluation section of the exempt employee handbook, which now calls for those staff members to be evaluation at least once every three years.

Lucius said the 13 exempt staff positions currently include the instructional technology coordinator, child nutrition coordinator, Performing Arts Center executive director, pupil services program coordinator, district literacy coordinator, facilities and maintenance coordinator, information and communications coordinator, human resources coordinator, payroll manager, administrative assistant for the superintendent and school board and two desktop support specialists.

“They were the only group that the handbook required them to be evaluated every year,” he said. “All the other groups have a three-year evaluation cycle. When I say that, I don’t want you to think that we don’t evaluate them in between. There is that constant feedback… The formal evaluation is more of just a summation of what’s led up to it.”

New hires

Board members also approved two new staff hires.

Keith Bloss has been hired to a night custodian position at the high school, effective Aug. 6, at $18.81 an hour. The position was available due the retirement of Mike Zelzer at Pioneer Elementary School and an internal transfer.

Jane Yells will begin Aug. 23 as a speech and language pathologist instructor at the Cormier School and Early Learning Center at Step 14, Lane 1, on the wage scale for a salary of $73,004.45. The position became available because of the resignation of Beth Hibbard.