Culbertson ready for school vote

Monday, April 25, 2005

CULBERTSON -- Culbertson resident and school board member Linda Koch said this morning she is upset by an anonymous letter that arrived in her mailbox -- and the mailboxes of most other Culbertson school patrons -- Saturday morning.

"The letter isn't signed," Linda said, "and some of his information is incorrect."

Linda said she wants the correct information provided to Culbertson -- district pat-rons before an "advisory vote" Tuesday, when patrons will be asked whether they want to merge their school district with McCook's or continue a unification with Trenton and Stratton schools.

"I'm not telling people how to vote," Koch said. "I just want them to vote -- using the correct information."

"It's so important to vote on this," she continued. "I believe it's going to be close."

In response to the anonymous letter, Koch explained several points using criteria that Culbertson board members felt were priorities:

1. Maintain a grade school as long as possible in Culbertson.

McCook -- The new District would sustain a K-5 attendance center in Culbertson for a minimum of five years, as long as an average of 40 students is maintained over a two-year period, or unless a petition vote of Culbertson patrons requests closure.

HCUD (Hitchcock County Unified District) -- All sites presently maintained will continue to be maintained at the entry of the unification period. No changes will be made to a current structure until it becomes financially insolvent. At that time, patrons of all boards may vote to give HCUD patrons the option of voting for a levy override. If the levy is unsuccessful, then the boards of Education may look at other options such as restructuring or at other opportunities outside the HCUD. Note: The initial reunification would be for a three-year minimum, with differing legal opinions as to whether a district could legally withdraw prior to that time.

2. Board Representation.

McCook -- The Culbertson District would be guaranteed to have two nonvoting board members until the time when Culbertson patrons could run and be elected to the McCook Board of Education and seated in January, 2009, or one nonvoting member for as long as the Culbertson attendance center is open.

HCUD -- The Culbertson District will have equal board representation with the Stratton and Trenton districts. Note: Two members from each local board make up this unified board. Each local board meets monthly (Trenton and Stratton together, and Culbertson separately) to discuss and give guidance

to their representatives regarding issues before the unified board. Additionally, each local board can make decisions regarding its building and cooperative funds. However, decisions such as approval of possible staff reductions, superintendent, principal and staff salary negotiations, spending of general funds (such as the purchase of new sports uniforms, etc.) and a possible four-day school week are decisions of the unified board, not individual district boards.

3. Job security for teaching staff.

McCook -- Teachers would automatically be covered under the McCook negotiated agreement. Teachers would also be eligible for McCook's retirement program, including early retirement, and other benefits. Note: This would result in a raise for many of Culbertson's teachers.

HCUD -- The teaching staff will meet the needs of the district. If it is determined that HCUD is overstaffed in an area or areas (as determined by the unified board, not the Culbertson board), the district's Reduction in Force policy may be enacted. At the present time, HCUD does not offer an early retirement benefit.

4. Tax Levies for each district.

HCUD -- $1.0412; example -- $521.00/year on a home valued at $50,000.

McCook -- $1.0931*; example -- $547.00/year on a home valued at $50,000.

*The '04-'05 levy certified by McCook was $1.1916. The McCook school board has informed us that we would not be responsible for the lease purchase agreement of $.0985; therefore our District's tax levy would presently be projected at the above level.

Koch said she urges patrons to vote and vote carefully. "It has been my experience that the citizens of Culbertson care deeply for their children and their children's futures," she said. "Now is the time to speak out -- please vote."

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