Wolf Point School Board Makes Coaching Decisions
Some coaches were rehired and new teachers were hired to highlight the Wolf Point School board meeting on Monday, May 24.
High school head coaches recommended and hired included Troy Blount for boys’ basketball, Nellie Garfield for cheerleading, Dan Horsmon for tennis, R.C. Page for track and Rodney Paulson for golf.
Hired as teachers were Frank Benson for physical education, Amy Benson for kindergarten, Andrea Baker for fourth grade, Callyn Wagner for Southside teacher/EAE and Cristina Moore for junior high/ high school English.
Frank Benson was then hired as the new high school head girls’ basketball coach. He is a graduate of Malta High School and MSU Northern. He has taught in Hinsdale, Rocky Boy, Harlem, Hays/ Lodge Pole and Dodson. He was the boys’ basketball coach in Dodson this past season.
He guided the Coyotes to the Eastern C divisional tournament and a first-round victory this year.
The hirings were approved unanimously by the board. The school district still hasn’t made a decision regarding the head wrestling coach or the cross-country coach positions.
Also during the meeting, trustees approved receiving a Delivering Local Assistance grant for the parking lot improvement project at the high school. The grant is for $750,000. The total project price is $1,034,143. Century Companies anticipates starting construction work on June 7. The project will include removal of the existing asphalt, removal of some of the concrete, putting in a new storm drain, redoing the sidewalk and having a handicapped ramp. There will be stripes for about 60-80 spaces.
Trustees approved the bid of $265,590 for new IP bells, clocks and paging systems at all the schools. “It’s a lot of money, but it needs to be done,” trustee Corey Reum said.
By a 4-2 margin, trustees approved the recommendation to not renew the contract of Angela Swenson, a non-tenured teacher, without cause. Trustees Reum and Lawrence Hamilton Jr. voted against the motion.
Patricia Toavs, president of the Wolf Point Education Association, reminded trustees that in order to receive new state funds available to recruit teachers, the base pay must be at least $33,350. She said new teachers will need to be allowed to start at step 2 of the school district’s salary schedule.
Toavs also said she sent an email to trustees requesting a $500 payment for employees because of COVID challenges. “You told us to come back, so we’re coming back,” Toavs said about making the request. Board chair Linda Hansen said the issue will be discussed at next month’s board meeting. Reum said his opinion is that the payment should be $1,000.
Sarah Chambers, curriculum director, said the staff has been requested to make nominations for employees of the year. A ceremony will be held to honor those individuals.
Resignations accepted included Greg Moniz as district technology administrator, Kristina Moniz as non-instructional para, Jennifer Dyas as English teacher, Cody Larson as activities director, Vicky Boysun as Southside teacher and Heidi Kent as Northside counselor.
