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Starmont board approves insurance increase, raises substitute pay and appoints Katie Taylor as secretary/treasurer
Summary
At its July 8 meeting the Starmont Community School District board unanimously approved raising the district's excess liability limit, increased substitute pay to $150/day, appointed Katie Taylor as board secretary/treasurer and adopted five 2025 legislative priorities.
The Starmont Community School District board met July 8 in the high school conference room and approved a series of routine business items, including an increase to the district's excess liability insurance, a raise in substitute teacher pay and the appointment of Katie Taylor as board secretary/treasurer.
Board President Tony Recker called the meeting to order at 6:35 PM. On a motion by Jacob Moellers, seconded by Julie Uhlenkamp, the board approved an EMC Insurance quote that increases the district's excess liability limit by $10 million. The motion carried 5-0. Pam Vaske of Smith Insurance was present to explain the quote and answer questions.
The board also approved the 2024–25 fee schedule on a motion by Uhlenkamp, seconded by Moellers; that motion carried 5-0. On personnel and compensation matters, the board approved a motion by Jason Gearhart, seconded by Vicki Althoff, to raise substitute teacher pay to $150 per day; the motion carried 5-0.
On governance, Julie Uhlenkamp moved to appoint Katie Taylor as board secretary/treasurer; Jason Gearhart seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Taylor then took the oath of office.
The consent agenda — approved earlier in the meeting — included approval of the agenda, minutes (with a correction to the June 10, 2024 minutes), monthly financial reports and bills, multiple personnel recommendations (including hires for paraeducator and several coaching positions), two resignations (Brenda Hach, daycare para, and Kari German, girls wrestling coach), volunteer coach approvals and several contracts and agreements for the coming year. The minutes record details of those recommended hires and resignations as presented to the board.
The board completed a first reading of numerous board policies (policy numbers were listed during the meeting) but took no final policy adoption action at first reading. The district approved its safety plan on a motion by Gearhart, seconded by Althoff; that motion carried 5-0. The board discussed, but took no action on, a proposed agreement with Fullmind for a virtual/remote teacher and an option to share the School Business Official position with West Central.
On its legislative agenda, the board adopted five 2025 legislative priorities on a motion by Vicki Althoff, seconded by Jason Gearhart. The priorities are: 1) mental health, 2) area education agencies, 3) teacher recruitment and licensure, 4) supplemental state aid, and 5) student achievement. The motion carried 5-0.
The meeting concluded with Superintendent Robert Busch's report (content not specified in the minutes) and the board adjourning at 8:09 PM after a motion by Althoff, seconded by Moellers.
Next steps noted in the minutes include implementation of approved items and follow-up on informational items (Fullmind agreement and SBO sharing) as staff bring additional details to the board.
