School Might Purchase House For Teachers
The Wolf Point School District is conducting research of purchasing a property on Wolf Point’s south side to utilize for teaching housing.
The house on the corner of Dawson Street and Fifth Avenue South already is the home for several local teachers. The house’s owner, however, wishes to sell the property.
“We don’t need to lose teachers because of lack of housing,” Wolf Point Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Perkins said at the meeting held on Wednesday, March 18. “The offer to the district is basically what they paid for it.”
Trustees reported that the house needs some improvements.
Perkins said a professional house inspection would be performed before closing on the house.
Asking price is $170,000. The superintendent said the school district doesn’t need voters’ approval for the purchase because the house is right across the street from Southside Elementary School.
“If we’re going to do it, we probably need to do it by the next board meeting,” Perkins said.
Trustees approved the motion to have Perkins pursue a price for the house.
Trustees have also toured some other available houses in the city.
During the meeting, Perkins also discussed having teachers with H1B Visas.
Perkins said schools aren’t exempted from President Trump’s $100,000 fee for employers having Visa workers.
He explained the benefit of H1B Visa workers compared to J-1 Visas is that employees can continue to work for their green cards if they keep working for their same employer.
Cost for the school district regarding H1B employees who are already in the country will be about $5,000 per individual. Wolf Point has less than 20 staff members under the program.
“I think it’s a great cause,” board chair Roxanne Gourneau said. “We benefit, they benefit.”
Trustees authorized Perkins to pursue H1B Visas to attract foreign teachers.
Trustees approved spending $105,750 for new internet connection switches.
Resignations were accepted from family and consumer science teacher Kayla Messerly and Northside family school coordinator Cheryl Taylor.
Flower Mae was hired to be a Southside special education teacher for next school year.
Two student discipline hearings were conducted. One student was expelled for the rest of the school year, but the student will receive assistance to complete third quarter work. The student needs to reapply for readmission in the fall. The other student was expelled for the rest of the school year, but the student will receive assistance to complete third quarter work. The student can return in the fall.
