MCDONALD SCHOOLS Officials dismiss letter

Two open forums are scheduled on the 4.9-mill permanent improvement levy.
McDONALD -- McDonald school board members said Monday that they give little credibility to an anonymous letter circulated in town Aug. 11 opposing passage of a 4.9-mill permanent improvement levy.
The board put the levy on the November ballot this month. It would generate $248,462 annually, with the funds designated to pay for a new high school sports complex, locker rooms at the high school, gym improvements and a new bus garage.
Resident Richard Martin of 809 Oregon Ave. said that he was concerned about the letter and that he thinks the 4.9-mill levy is going to be hard to pass.
He added that he thinks the district needs the improvement levy.
Schools Superintendent Michael Wasser said he never saw the letter.
Wasser said he will answer questions about the levy at two open forums, the first of which will be at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 at the high school auditorium.
He added he will be able to show the tentative plans for the projects at that time.
The second forum will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at the school.
Wasser said he is inviting the community to attend. "The more the merrier," he said.
Other action
In other business at its meeting Monday, the board:
UGave one-year limited certified contracts to Samantha Rozzo, detention at the high school; and Carl Eaton, detention at the elementary school. Both will be paid $16.50 an hour. Rozzo will work five hours a week, and Eaton as needed, but less than five hours weekly;
UHired Kristin Gray as study hall monitor at $7 an hour and Cheryl Politano, copy room aide/study hall monitor, at $7 an hour for both positions. The jobs require about two hours a day, and were instituted in the 2004-2005 school year so teachers wouldn't have to cover study halls;
UAccepted a donation of $900 from the McDonald Sideliners to buy a tackling shed, and $349 for a "water boy," a drinking system, for the football team.