By Maragret Hopper

The Aldo Leopold Governing Council met at the school on August 4, 2016 at 5:35. All members were present; Mary Gruszka, Shauna McCosh, Jose Herrera, Dale Lane, Ken Stone and David Peck, Chair.

Catalina Claussen, staff, informed the board of new staff persons and told them about middle school orientation happening Thursday and Friday, August 4 and 5. She mentioned several staff openings and how they were being filled. A student gave information on how the student body was creating opening activities for new students.

Harry Browne, business manager, passed out papers on revenue and expenditures reported for fiscal year 2016, through June 30 for the present year. The operational budget of $1,545,622 had become $1,587,518 with the addition of activity fees, $21,580; donations, $19,916; and $400 of interest. After additional federal sources, donations and miscellaneous local funds the actual total rose to $1,824,679 for the year.

Expenditures included instructional costs, support services, administrative, physical plant, community services and capital outlay costs. He also reported on the July budget, now finished, for which he had not made copies to distribute. There was discussion of certain incomes, such as property taxes, which were variable, before the report was accepted.

A few committee reports were mentioned, mostly anticipating when they would start meeting. Old business included the evaluation tool for the director, which Stone said he had just located, and which would be given more attention shortly, and the lease purchase agreement, which was still being discussed, needed attention. New director Wayne Sherwood turned that discussion over to Browne, saying he still lacked the experience to lead this discussion.

Alex Ocheltree, owner of the building in question, anticipated to become the new Middle
School, was present to ask the directors for a firm commitment on that issue, saying he had been waiting about a year, now, for a more formal agreement. They had discussed the work that should be done and the timing to do it. Meanwhile, circumstances had been changing and his personal needs had to be considered. The lease purchase agreement, as presently written, did him no favors, he said, and the delays were definitely a problem for him.

He said he had promised to do what he could to save the school money, and on some of the things, like curbing, sidewalks, dropped ceilings and such, he could be a great help to Aldo financially, but that GǣwindowGǥ of benefit was changing and the benefits he could offer would not be available indefinitely. He needed their input now as his own circumstances were changing.

The directors followed with over an hour of discussions. Some asked for clarification of the roles of various groups involved, especially the PED (Public Education Department) and how its regulations would affect the proposed work. Browne assured them that PED approval on all the work was absolutely essential for opening the building to students in the future.

They also talked about the timelines and the lead-time necessary to meet state conditions. Ocheltree told them in detail which improvements would be mutually beneficial to Aldo and himself, and how these should be implemented first. He also told them which, of the more specialized changes, should be delayed to nearer the end, which would benefit only Aldo but not be of general interest to other potential tenants, should the school fail to perform.

Sherwood said it would be a great benefit if some interested party would just come up with the entire loan and make it easy for them. Ocheltree countered that things had changed enough during the months of waiting that it might be better to go for a straight lease, rather than the terms put in for the present lease agreement they had. Directors then considered what the attorney who had written the agreement would do at this point. More discussion followed.

Dale Lane said he had consulted with another retired contractor about the early stage work Ocheltree had discussed, and he had information to share with the group, in writing. He thought they might consider it in their explorations at another time.

As the council suggested it was necessary to confer with legal counsel again, they decided to set a date for another special meeting, to be held on August 23 at 5:30 to come up with a solution. They had enough time to advertise the session and would set it up shortly. Ocheltree said they should do their consulting with the lawyers, but that this present lease agreement was very unfavorable to him.

In his report to the council, Sherwood mentioned some changes that had been made recently in this present building, and he said the teachers seemed to be happy that all the kids would be here at the beginning of school. They would be tight (pressed for space), but just fine. A new IT person had been hired to help with the Power School program. The person would work half time, but be permanently employed.

There were two action items approved before the council went into closed session. They moved to approve the revised salary schedule for educational assistants effective immediately, and they approved the student handbook for the 2016-2017 year. In the closed portion they discussed compensation for additional workdays for the director. At its conclusion, they said no decisions had been made, and adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

The next regular meeting is scheduled for September 8 at 5:30.

After the meeting, this reporter contacted David Peck about the lease purchase agreement and the difficulties it might present. Peck said it protected the state over Ocheltree, and it might be fair to call him about it.

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