HOUGHTON - In its annual reorganizational meeting, the Houghton-Portage Township Board of Education elected a new slate of officers.

The new positions are: Dan Crane, president; Buck Foltz, vice-president; Brad Baltensperger, secretary; and Nels Christopherson, treasurer.

In other action, the board:

approved a schedule for monthly board meetings: August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15, January 19, February 16, March 16, April 20, May 18 and June 15, to begin at 6 p.m.

approved the designation of Superior National Bank to hold the general fund and debt retirement monies, and federal tax deposits; River Valley State Bank as the depository for the internal account; and the Michigan School District Liquid Fund as the depository for general fund, state aid and debt retirement monies.

designated Deb Guilbault and Shirley Belej for posting public notice of meetings.

designated Randy Ricchi to attend to all election duties.

designated the district as a General Powers School District.

approved memberships in the Michigan Association of School Administrators, Michigan Association of School Boards, National Association of School Boards, Copper Country Administration of School Boards and the Legal Trust Fund.

approved participation in the MASB Legislative Relations Network and designated Foltz as their LRN representative.

approved the annual retainer contracts. Vairo, Mechlin, Tomasi, Johnson & Manchester will serve as their counselors; LaPointe & Associates will handle special education matters; Thrun will serve as school attorneys for school elections and matters pertaining to school law, and Bruce Rukkila as school auditor.

approved carriers to transport students, including the buses of the Houghton-Portage Township School District, the Copper Country Intermediate School District, and Michigan Technological University.

approved participating in the School Bond Loan Fund.

selected Baltensperger as the representative for Copper Country Association of School Boards.

approved member travel to MASB and MASA functions and seminars, the U.P. Legislative Summit, the Governor's education summit, NSBA meetings and local CCASB functions.

designated Doreen Klingbeil as district representative in the absence of the superintendent.

designated Superintendent Bill Polkinghorne as the district's owner's representative for the energy project and any new construction.

discussed committee assignments.

Garrett Neese can be reached at gneese@mininggazette.com