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IM selects Wonders to temporarily head school district

IMKCS director will serve until new superintendent hired

IRON MOUNTAIN — Julie Wonders was named interim superintendent for Iron Mountain School District on Monday until a new superintendent can be hired.

Wonders, director of Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Schools, takes over the role from Jennifer Huotari, who had to return to her job as Dickinson Iron Intermediate School District finance director.

The school board has interviews for a new superintendent set to start at 9 a.m. Saturday. A meeting at 5 p.m. today will narrow down the number of candidates.

The board also hired Mary Beth Brown as an elementary teacher. Teresa McMenamin was hired as an assistant pre-kindergarten teacher through the community schools.

In other business, the board:

— Heard from Ed Mattson, director of police and fire services in Iron Mountain, about efforts to restore the police department liaison office in the school.

Mattson believes not having an officer at the school has been detrimental to students. Board member Scott Celello said a liaison officer is the first contact many younger children have with law enforcement.

A millage to fund the officer will go to city voters Nov. 5. The five-year proposal calls for an annual levy up to 0.55 mills, or 55 cents per $1,000 of taxable value. On a home worth $90,000, with a taxable value of $45,000, a tax of 0.55 mills amounts to $24.75 a year.

The city hasn’t had a school liaison officer since voters in November 2014 rejected a similar millage.

— Approved Harvey Johnson’s resignation as head junior varsity football coach and added him as a varsity assistant coach. Ty Thomann was hired to head the JV football program. Sharon Ducat was approved as varsity girls tennis coach.

— Agreed to a 1.5% raise for food service workers and to allow the accounting portion of the food service manager’s job to be done by the business manager.

— Approved an estimate of up to $5,000 by Classic Carpet Cleaners of Iron Mountain to clean and restore carpets at the schools. The problem was caused by a leaking roof which will at addressed in the future.

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