(Skip Schulz/For the Gazette) Linda Karttunen was given a new, revised contract to be the Ontonagon Area School District business services manager/transportation and food services director. The board also renewed the contract for Jim Bobula as principal/superintendent.

The Ontonagon Area School District Board voted unanimously to renew the contract with Jim Bobula to be the K-12 principal/superintendent for the 2019-20 school year. The board also renewed a revised contract with Linda Karttunen.

Karttunen will be the business services manager/transportation and food services director for the 2019-20 school year. She was recommended for the position by Bobula and unanimously supported by the board.

Bobula also recommended and received the unanimous support to approve the revised contract of Bob Clark as building and grounds supervisor for this school year.

“We waited till we were comfortable after audits made, just like we were with teachers and support staff,” Bobula said about his own contract.

Both the teachers and support staff contracts were agreed upon by both the administration and the respective unions at the start of this school year.

Regarding the financials, the board approved the payment of the September/October General Fund invoices, totaling $51,940.75. The payment of the October General Fund in the amount of $64,508.98 was approved as was acknowledging the October Sinking Fund invoices to the amount of $1,412.98.

The topic of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s line-item veto dealt with the district losing over $30,000 in different areas of education. Examples given were “virtual student,” and the “at-risk” programs.

“Her (Governor Whitmer) cuts affect small districts like ours. Ontonagon was not the hardest hit, but it will have an effect on us,” said Bobula.

Discussion took place on the Ontonagon-Gogebic Intermediate School District contract and working relationship with the district in regards to Career-Technical Education contract. Board members asked about specific building trades and vocational careers.

Bobula alluded to how there was a trend years ago for schools to get students prepared for a four-year college degree. He stated that the trend recently has gone to vocational and technical careers. He stated that the numbers of students in these programs fluctuate and how the district has had success in some programs, such as welding.

The GO-ISD is the primary funding source for these programs and that the OASD provides the rooms and property for the programs. During the meeting, the board brought up ideas for CTE courses, but they would have to come under the GO-ISD funding or that the district would have to come up with the money to have these programs.

The board heard about the recent Professional Trades Day at Marquette County Fairgrounds. Ontonagon had 32 students participate.

“The students got the chance for hands-on experience, including working a Bulldozer and Excavator,” Bobula said. “We will have Manufacturing Day Tour in the Ironwood area this Wednesday. This includes tours at Jacquart and Ironwood Plastics.”

On the subject of classes, the Board was given a handout as to this year’s Curriculum Handbook revisions and the new classes being offered. Many of which are online programs.

Bobula went over the Michigan State Standardized Assessment results. While the result graph was not handed to the media, Bobula stated that the district is doing well when looking at the dollars invested.

The district had 270 students in October of last year, and has 271 this October. The 2019-20 budget was set at 267 students.

The board unanimously supported Bobula’s recommendation to hire Pestka Construction for snow removal for this winter. Bobula stated that they did received another bid, and that bid was lower.

“For 10 years or more, he (Norm Pestka) has always been there for us,” said Bobula. “For the amount the other one was, I don’t feel we should go anywhere else.”

The board unanimously supported Bobula’s recommendation and Pestka was given the contract.

The board also approved a girls softball cooperative agreement with Baraga High School.

“Our girls have been with them for little league and all star teams, so they know each other,” he said.

The spring home games will be in Baraga, with the possibility of some games being played in Mass City.