Rochester School Budget

Must Be Revoted

Passing a Rochester school budget is not as easy as it seemed a week ago, when the $3,233,864 budget passed on a voice vote at the annual school meeting May 7.

It took just a week for opponents to get up a petition with 79 signatures calling for a re-vote.

Meeting this Tuesday, May 14, the new school board agreed that the petition is valid. It scheduled a revote at a public meeting Monday, June 18 at 7 p.m.

Like the first one, the revote would not be an Australian ballot vote. It would either be by voice vote or by ballot at the meeting.

In discussion of the budget Tuesday, board members stressed that information on the school's finances has to be more clearly presented, and all officials must come to the same understanding about finances before going back to the voters in June.

To that end, the board decided to ask business manager Ollie Jakobs to start attending Rochester School Board meetings and to have a monthly joint report from the superintendent's office and the school treasurer.

Crowley Is Chair

The new board organized itself by electing Tim Crowley chair, Peter Riley vice chair, and Beth Frock secretary. Other members are Barb DeHart and Greg White.

The contributions of outgoing chair Becky Donnet were praised.

After his election as chair, Crowley spoke about how he intends to operate the board.

He said many issues will be handled by standing committees of the board. Important topics, he said, include academic assessment and student performance, the financial questions, the role of the supervisory union, consistent reports, and a clear understanding about the public communication part of the meeting.

He also said a personal priority is to have the school cleaned more thoroughly with better lighting.

Other Business

Beth Frock on behalf of the PTO asked the board to sponsor a social over the summer for the new principal. She will organize the event.

The Alumni organization is celebrating its 100th year with the alumni banquet on June 9. Greg White and Peter Riley will help with this.

There is some confusion about the end of the school year. Principle Bob Gray recommended to end school June 15, but because of contract issues, the board decided on a June 20 ending day. However, Supt. Tim Mock will poll the rest of the supervisory union board to see if there is agreement.

Education Commissioner Richard Cate will be in the school May 24, it was announced. He will meet with the teachers about "high schools on the move."