Gilman School board’s opinions differ on transportation budget
EMILY GOJMERAC
REPORTER
When the bus drivers reconvened for their annual transportation committee meeting on Monday night before the scheduled school board meeting they had high hopes for the upcoming school year.
Drivers wanted the same one-time payment of $2,500 to help assist with the cost of parts and equipment.
Differences of opinion rose among board members at the school board meeting of how much the drivers should get for their one-time payment when a 5% increase was already being applied to the base pupil transportation cost. Last year the base pupil transportation cost was estimated $442,548. This year’s proposal would be an estimated $464,676. A $22,000 increase from the previous year.
During the transportation meeting Darrell Thompson proposed that the drivers not ask for more money, but get paid based on miles driven throughout the day. That would be a substantial savings to the district.
Bruce Ewings Sr. countered his comment when he asked who was going to be in charge of checking their mileage every day.
Thompson said “A daily log would have to be filled out.”
Through the district, drivers get paid $125 for license physical fees annually and liability insurance. Extra curricular field trips are paid at the rate of $3.62/mile and $15.63 per hour from the time the driver leaves the bus garage, until the bus returns to the bus garage. Due to the 5% mileage rate increase drivers will now get paid $3.80/per mile for the 2022-2023 school year.
Through some discussion, the ultimate decision had to be reviewed by the school board.
School board members went back and forth expressing their feelings about the best possible way to make the drivers happy, yet stay within their means.
Thompson proposed that the 5% increase in the services remain, yet go from a one-time $2,500 payment to a one-time $1,000 payment instead to use towards parts and equipment. After three calls for a second motion, that never happened, the motion failed.
Cheryl Ustianowski felt torn because she understands that maintenance needs to happen to vehicles. She felt that it would be best to give them the $2,500 payment, yet ensure that it won’t be a “gimme” every year in the future.
Ewings said “They would still ask again next year.” Chris Skabroud suggested that instead of a $2,500 payment, to make it a $1,250 payment.
Ewings made a motion to give a 5% increase to the base cost of pupil transportation services and that the drivers receive a one-time $1,250 payment for parts and equipment.
Ustianowski seconded that motion. A roll call vote was done with Yes-4; No-2; with Valorie Kulesa abstaining due to her substitute bus driver position.
In other business:
• Hires include: Joy Nowak as Interventionalist teacher, Lisa Leasum as HS Special Ed teacher, Abby Quinnell, as Special Education Paraprofessional, and Bobbi Marion as C-Team Volleyball Coach.
• Resignations include: Mackenzie Estes as Middle School Language Arts Teacher, Polly Newman as Special Education Paraprofessional, and Phil Tallman as JV Boys Basketball Coach.
• The LP Gas bids for heat of $1.54/gallon was proposed by River Country Co-op [who bought out Heartland Co-op].
• Five shirts for each kitchen staff member will be supplied to give them uniformity.
• A green gator will be purchased through the district for miscellaneous maintenance needs. There is an attachment for a ball field finisher but fundraising efforts will be done to cover some of this cost.
• The employee handbook changed due to the grievance policy following a state statute change.
• The long range roof replacement quote from Mauer’s Roofing of Marshfield was approved by the board in the amount of $242,800. This project won’t start until the spring, but the price estimate would be honored.
• Track is completed and the lines will be put on next week.
• A bus route will be rerouted to go from CTH G and then back to Hwy 64 to remain on a blacktop road and enhance child safety.
• Student enrollment is at 240 students for the 2022-2023 school year.
