Posen board adopts budget for coming school year

The Posen Board of Education adopted a budget, recognized retiring personnel and accepted the resignation of the head varsity football coach and his assistant coach in Monday?s regular meeting. After a budget hearing, the board approved a budget calling for $2.359,761 expenditures compared to the amended budget for 2007-2008 of $2,348,288. Revenues are expected to fall $121,275, due to a decrease in state aid. Enrollment is expected to be 260 students, off from the final count of 267 for the last school year. There were 20 graduates in the Class of 2008 and 14 are expected to enroll in kindergarten in the fall. ?We decided to do this budget based on a zero increase in state aid, which I think is a smart thing to do. You never know what the state is going to do,? said superintendent Dru Milliron.

VARSITY football coach Glenn Budnick submitted his letter of resignation to athletic director Wayne Karsten last month, but it became official with the board?s acceptance, with regret, of his decision. ?There is no single reason for resigning at this time other than I feel the timing is right both personally and professionally,? Budnick said. The Vikings had some powerhouse teams in Budnick?s 14-year tenure, capped with the Vikings? district title in 2004. Budnick thanked Karsten, former athletic director Clifford Kelly, and all his former assistant coaches. The board also accepted, with regret the resignation of assistant football coach Howard Madsen.

Gary Bisson resigned his post as junior varsity boys? basketball coach and was hired as junior varsity girls? basketball coach. John Dietlin, who coached both the JV and varsity volleyball teams last season, resigned the JV position. That job will be posted.

In another sports-related matter, the board discussed the possibility of changing the busing policy for away games, as a cost saving measure. Board president Ken Wozniak said busing would be made available for the longer trips on the schedule only, should the board decide on the idea. ?It is something that we are tossing around and we will get our athletic committee together and maybe ask a coach and maybe expand our committee a little bit before we make that decision,? Wozniak said. A savings of $10,000 to $15,000 could be realized, Wozniak said.

The board also approved one-year contracts for administrators Alletta Misiak

and Lucia Bruski at an increase in pay of two percent. ?Those two do a great job for us, as does our entire staff. They are very well organized and they do a great job,? Wozniak said. Milliron was granted a one-year extension of his contract at an increase of 1.75 percent.

In other personnel matters, the position of custodian, to replace the retired Art Pszczolkowski, has not been posted as of yet, Wozniak said. A committee has met several times to clarify the board?s plans regarding filling the post. The board also accepted the resignation of bus driver Mary Jo Opie, who had served the district for 31 years.

The first day of school will be September 2 with in-service days for teachers on August 27 and 28. Board member Doris Ponik was thanked for her eight years on the board. She attended her last regular meeting after choosing to not run for re-election.