School business office seeing staff changes

The Staples-Motley School Board took care of a couple of personnel items along with canvassing the recent election results at their meeting Nov. 14.

Patricia Vacek was hired as the new business manager effective Nov. 16. Marci Lord’s resignation as the business manager was approved with an effective date of Nov. 11. 

In other business office personnel issues the board approved adding a half time accounts receivable position on the recommendaton of the finance committee. 

Bryan Winkels explained that the business office had four full time equivalent employees before a recent reorganization, which reduced the number to three full time equivalent (FTE) positions. The retirement of Bonnie Thoele brought the business office staff down to the three FTEs.

“This was the only budget cut we had last year,” said Superintendent Mary Klamm, in a later conversation. “We consolidated duties and were working to streamline with technology.”

Between the retirement of Thoele and the resignation of Lord, that put new people in the business office extending the training and transition time for learning new duties. 

Jackie Engebretson had been hired to handle both accounts receivable and accounts payable, as well as other duties. Her resignation as a full time employees was also accepted at this meeting.

It was noted that she was expected to apply for the half time accounts receivable position, which would better fit her personal schedule.

The board approved posting both the half time accounts receivable job and the full time replacement for Engebretson. That job would now handle accounts payable plus other business office tasks. 

Klamm noted that with the training required for the new staff, there would be no savings to the district this year. 

Canvassing the election

The school board certified that 10,186 votes were cast in the Nov. 8 school board election. 

Chad Longbella received 3,025 votes; Bryan Winkels received 2,769 votes; Greg Frisk received 2,298 votes; and Creig Dobson received 2,039 votes. 

Longbella, Winkels and Frisk will begin their four-year terms of office the first Monday in January, 2017. Their terms will expire the first Monday in January, 2021.