Houghton-Portage holds reorganizational meeting
Houghton-Portage holds reorganizational meeting
By GARRETT NEESE, DMG Writer
HOUGHTON — In kindergarten activity terms, the Houghton-Portage Township School District Board of Education’s reorganizational meeting was one part musical chairs, one part freeze dance.
The board voted former Vice-President Brad Baltensperger in as president, leading a completely new slate of officers.
Superintendent Bill Polkinghorne said the board usually switches assignments every two years as a balance between getting fresh blood in and having expertise at the position.
“This is an experienced board,” he said. “They’re very well-versed. They have their finger on the pulse of the community.”
Mary Pachmayer replaced Baltensperger as vice president, while Dan Crane took over for Susan Donnelly as secretary.
Buck Foltz, who Baltensperger replaced as president, was picked from among three nominees as treasurer.
“It’s all your fault if we run out of money,” said erstwhile treasurer Nels Christopherson.
Elsewhere, the board:
• stayed with Superior National Bank in Hancock as a depository for most school funds, including the general fund, debt retirement and tax deposit. For internal accounts, such as yearbook funds, the board will use River Valley State Bank. The Michigan School District Liquid Fund is the depository for general fund and state aid and debt retirement monies.
Polkinghorne said the district had consulted with all area banks before deciding to return to Superior, which he said still offered the best rates.
“We gave them our accounts and said, ‘Can you match this?’ They came back and said ‘No, we can’t,’” he said.
• set meeting times for the current 5:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.
• designated Debby Guilbault and Shirley Belej to post meeting notices.
• designated Randy Ricchi as election official.
• continued its organization memberships: Michigan Association of School Boards, Copper Country Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of School Administrators, National Association of School Boards and the Legal Trust Fund.
• retained the firm of Thrun for school elections, the law firm of Vairo, Mechlin, Tomasi, Johnson & Manchester as counselors, and LaPointe & Associates, P.C. for special education matters. Bruce A. Rukkila, CPA, PC as school auditor.
• voted to continue participation in the School Bond Loan Fund.
• approved travel for NSBA, CCASB, MASB, MASA, Governor’s Summit and the U.P. Educational Summit.
• selected Crane and Foltz as CCASB representatives.
• set elementary school principal Doreen Klingbeil as next-in-charge in Polkinghorne’s absence.
Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com
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