Schools agree to work together

Tempers flared and accusations flew for about an hour Monday evening during the April meeting of the McCook Public Schools board of education before cooler heads prevailed and McCook board members and District 8 board members and patrons decided they really have no choice but to work together if state law -- LB126 -- says they have to.

LB126 -- which become state law in June 2005 and requires the assimilation of Class I school districts into K-12 school districts for the 2006-2007 school year -- has been hotly contested across the state, and its retention or repeal will be decided by voters in November. However, the state school reorganization committee voted unanimously on Dec. 1, 2005, to issue orders dissolving all 200 Class I schools effective June 15, 2006.

The McCook and District 8 boards had agreed to meet in February to discuss District 8's future, although that meeting was canceled and not rescheduled -- on the advice of the McCook board's attorney, according to McCook board president Greg Larson.

District 8 board member Ron Fritz said he has been very frustrated with the "lack of cooperation" from McCook's board when it "reneged" on the February meeting. "Our parents don't know what's happening because you won't talk to us," he told McCook board members.

District 8 board member Richard Klein agreed, saying, "You won't talk to us. That's a bad way to treat people who pay taxes."

McCook Superintendent Dr. Don Marchant said he, the board and the McCook administration need more information from and about District 8 before the McCook board can proceed with its discussions about the future of the school.

Klein claimed he has had "no contact with Dr. Marchant," "no response from Dr. Marchant," although Dr. Marchant asked him pointedly if he, Klein, had indeed signed the letter in Dr. Marchant's possession that Klein sent to the McCook board in response to questions from Dr. Marchant. Klein then admitted that he had gotten a letter from Dr. Marchant and had responded to it. The letter included information about teachers that enabled the McCook board to offer contracts by the April 15 deadline.

Dr. Marchant reiterated that the McCook board needs more information on teachers and their credentials, students and their grade levels and option-enrollment students. "I do know we need more information from District 8," Dr. Marchant said.

District 8 patron Gary Power asked if the McCook board had addressed its definition of an "elementary attendance center" -- "only grades kindergarten through grade four at any such building" -- in open meetings. District 8 offers kindergarten through eighth grade, and its patrons want to continue that way; McCook's definition may restrict it to K-4.

While the file -- 502.04 "Designation of Attendance Centers" -- addresses the definition of elementary attendance centers and applies to all buildings in use upon adoption of the policy, and to any acquired "through lease, purchase, school reorganization or assimilation under the terms of LB 126," it does not mention any Class I school district by name.

McCook board member Tom Bredvick defended the McCook board, saying that the first reading of 502.04 was discussed and approved in open session at the board's March 13 meeting. "There has been no hidden business here, Mr. Power," Bredvick said.

McCook board member Diane Lyons said that although the file was discussed, it was not read in its entirety, which is allowed by McCook policy. Perhaps people were not aware of its contents, she said.

Dr. Marchant explained that although McCook policy defines an elementary attendance center as K-4, the board has the authority to go above and beyond those parameters if the board so desires. McCook board member Michael Gonzales said, "The board has the flexibility of going K-8 at District 8."

Power asked McCook school board members if they are aware that a clause in contracts they are offering to District 8 teachers would make their contracts with McCook null and void if LB126 is repealed. Power said the clause would "cause a lot of lawsuits." Klein said the clause is "a detriment" to District 8 teachers who would be without jobs if LB126 is repealed. He asked, "Is this any way to treat your teachers?"

Bredvick, of the McCook board, said he and the McCook board see the clause as a opportunity for District 8 teachers to end their McCook contracts within the contract year without penalty and return to their former positions at a pre-LB126 K-8 District 8 if that is what they want to do. The clause is a protection for those teachers, Bredvick said.

Dr. Marchant added, "If the law is repealed, McCook won't have anything to say about it. District 8 will revert" to its former status.

Larson said he will send the letter requesting information from District 8 to Klein again -- tomorrow -- and then the two boards, or representatives of the boards, will meet before the McCook board's May meeting.

It is possible, Larson said, to operate District 8 school with kindergarten through eighth grade for one more year, and wait for the results of the November election, but discussions between the two districts must proceed soon.

The McCook board amended File 502.04, the designation of its attendance centers, to indicate that an "operating council" -- a council formed by a Class I school district for that district's elementary attendance center, on or before June 14, 2006 -- will be made up of six (not three) members, and they will be appointed by the school board, (not the superintendent or his/her designee).

A motion to table discussion of the file until May failed on a 4-1 vote, as McCook board members were concerned that would delay talks with District 8.

Another reading of the file will be included on the May agenda.