Lake Holcombe School Board - Tow truck crash into building finally wrapped up
Lake Holcombe School District administrator Kurt Lindau shared June 17, what’s happened at the school since regular classes got out for the summer, including how the $40,000 in damages were paid to the district, from when a tow truck was driven into the building last November. The driver, from out of the area, has been cited with multiple charges. Photo by Joy Dain
By Ginna Young
It took until the June 17 Lake Holcombe School Board meeting, but at long last, the district has satisfaction from an incident when a tow truck was driven into the school last November. Hitting just north of the main entrance, the crash caused $40,000 worth of damage.
The driver of the tow truck was from out of the area, and has since been cited for hit-and-run, failure to notify police of an accident, resisting an officer and a fraudulent insurance claim. The person who was suspected of picking up the driver from the scene, has also been cited, for knowingly assisting a person fleeing an accident and obstruction of an officer.
Damages were paid, in full, to the school, by the tow truck company’s insurance. District administrator Kurt Lindau asked that any questions about the matter be directed to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department.
The board also heard an update about the general liability renewal, with workman’s comp up 3 percent, through CIC. The costs for that are dictated by industry standards.
“The only thing we can control on it, is trying to keep a safe workplace and no accidents,” said district accountant Lisa Spletter.
If the district had gone with their previous property insurance agent, they would see a significant hike in rates, so they went with MPIC.
“What they agreed, was to maintain the rate…our rate is going to stay the same, there’s a slight increase for insured value,” said Spletter.
Both insurance quotes were approved by the board. The board also approved the resignation of co-middle school Student Council advisers Jeff Milas and Morgan Milas; and co-middle school boys basketball coach Kyle Johnson.
In addition, they approved the hire of speech/language teacher Elizabeth Slack; middle school teacher Alison Spindler; L-T business ed substitute Paige Flater; middle school volleyball coach Pam Luethi; co-middle school girls basketball coach Angie Johnson; middle school assistant football coach Matt Stewart; and head boys basketball coach Dave Engel.
Members also accepted $100, from Eastbay Lodge, to the band and football programs; $2,600, from the Lake Holcombe Education Foundation (LHEF), for summer music camp; $1,200, from the LHEF, for elementary memory books; $750, from the Lake Holcombe Lions Club, from Maria Andres’ fishing contest winnings; and $60, from the Holcombe Area Veteran Memorial, to the Angel Fund.
During the meeting, principal Chris Stahlheim shared the achievement gap reduction (AGR) report, saying the students have progressed since the fall, from where they were. It’s far from where Stahlheim would like to see the progress, so staff is working on a priority list and how to address needs during intervention.
“We still have work to do,” he said.
