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•The board approved a teacher contract for Denise Beckstrand as a media specialist for the elementary school for the 2003-04 school year.

•The board set a special meeting for Tuesday, July 29, at 7:30 p.m. in the media center at the middle school to discuss intermediate and long-range planning for the school district.

•The board approved a budget for the 2003-04 school year. Story

2003-04 Budget Fund Revenue Expenditures

General $8,567,236 $8,411,982

Food Service $380,200 $398,044

Comm. Ed. $220,735 $239,073

Debt Redemption $858,245 $818,709

2002-03 Budget Fund Revenue Expenditures

General $8,217,708 $8,486,300

Food Service $379,529 $383,405

Comm. Ed. $209,862 $262,142

Debt Redemption $855,453 $823,754

•The board approved the low bid from CIBC World Markets of New York City for a $2,210,000 general obligation aid anticipation certificate. Their bid was the lowest of four received by the school district and has a net interest rate of 1.17 percent. v

For a general obligation aid anticipation certificate, the school district basically borrows against future aid payments. Getting this money in advance will be even more important this year, said superintendent Howard Caldwell, because of delays in aid payments and shifts by the state.

The school district offers the maximum it can for the general obligation aid anticipation certificate. It tries to defray the interest expense in borrowing by investing the money throughout the year, but while low interest rates make borrowing relatively inexpensive, it does not help in earning money from interest, noted Caldwell.

•The board approved a teaching contract for Rachel Nelson as an elementary teacher for 2003-04. This item was pulled from the consent agenda for discussion.

Nelson, who has four years of teaching experience, most recently in Minnewaska, has a master"s degree in education, which concerned board members Stanger and Dingmann, who left before the meeting started due to the weather but made his concerns known to board chairman Flanders.

The elementary school hiring committee received 230 applicants, interviewed six, and spent 90 minutes deciding among the top three candidates. Elementary principal Todd Burlingame told the board that the committee picked the top candidate and that he would be comfortable hiring all three finalists.

With the candidates so equal, Stanger said the district should look at the financial impact of hiring someone with a master's degree, around $1,700 in the first year. While that salary difference might disappear later, through continued education, Stanger said that with the district having tight finances the financial impact of hiring should have been considered.

Flanders said that, while unpopular, the school board could put a board member on hiring committees to insure that the board was comfortable with the process.

Nelson's contract was approved on a 3-1 vote, with Dosdall, Flanders, and Schmidt voting in favor, and Stanger voting against.