Austin Daily Herald

Results of a survey about the possible construction and renovation of Lyle School were presented to the school board Monday at its meeting.

The survey was sent out after voters turned down an $11.1 million building proposal that would have improved, among other features, science labs and computer equipment, but raised property taxes in the district.

The school board and Superintendent Jerry Reshetar would like to propose the bond issue again after hearing what residents want for the school.

Two surveys a piece were sent to 384 households in the Lyle School District, Reshetar said. The surveys did not reach all residents, but Reshetar has requested the complete list of Lyle School District residents from the state.

Of the 768 surveys sent out, about 350 were sent back, Reshetar said.

Seven statements were listed on the survey and residents could check however many applied to them.

The statement, "We need to find a way to keep our school for the long term at a price we can afford. The plan presented to the public was too costly" received the most marks with 142.

"That's going to be the main point," said board member Dwight DeBoer.

A statement reading "I voted 'yes' on the bond issue in November and will vote 'yes' again" has the second-most checks with 129. Thirty-four people checked they voted "no" on the school bond issue last November.

Another 108 people said they are concerned with how the state budget deficit would affect how much the state would chip in for school building costs.

In last year's proposal, the state would have paid about 38 percent of the total cost of the new construction.

Reshetar said he didn't think the state would take away that money.

With the survey results back, Reshetar said he is willing to go over more options and get the planning committee back together to discuss them.

"Times a-wasting and I want to get going again, personally," Reshetar said.

The board members had discussed some options with other school boards at a state convention two weeks ago. The members agreed that the residents should be involved in the planning process with the architect.

Reshetar said he would be willing to propose some dates for residents to come and discuss options.

In other business, the board:

n Decided on disciplinary action for a Lyle School student. The board, Reshetar and Principal Royce Helmbrecht declined to say what the student's punishment is or what rule the students violated. Helmbrecht said at other schools he has worked, the board has said what punishment it has given the student. However, DeBoer and Reshetar said the board has never made that decision public and only informs the parents and students of their decision.

n Agreed to allow Lyle student council members to proceed with looking into to changing the Lyle/Pacelli mascot. Lyle/Pacelli co-council members have agreed they would like a change. Currently, the joint sports teams are called the Athletics. Reshetar said the process to change it might be long, but he said the students have a right to do so.

DeBoer said it was time for the students to make a decision on the mascot. Lyle/Pacelli has been called the "Athletics" because the Minnesota State High School League needed a nickname once the schools sports programs merged.

n Approved participation in a Smoking Cessation study with the Mayo Clinic. Students can volunteer to be a part of a study, which is testing a drug to help smokers quit.

n Approved the resignation of Jennifer Rohne, a preschool teacher.

n Approved the contract of Brian Boysen, who has been hired as a preschool and special education teacher.

n Approved a 3 percent raise in Reshetar's salary from $60,000 to $61,800 for the 2002-03 school year.

The Lyle School Board meets next at 7 p.m. Feb. 24.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com