Board bypasses lawsuit discussion, talks about new Web site contents
Board bypasses lawsuit discussion, talks about new Web site contents
By MARVIN BAKER
EDITOR
More than 25 patrons including guests from Tioga and New Town, crowded into a meeting room in Makoti High School Feb. 10 for a school board meeting that had a much different outcome than what was expected.
After school board member Lee Brandvold was among a group of Ryder-area residents who filed a lawsuit against the Lewis and Clark district prior to the meeting, it was anticipated the suit would be discussed during the future planning ideas agenda item. It wasn’t, and the meeting ended 30 minutes after it began.
The lawsuit filed by Brandvold, Dwight Johnson, Nikki Johansen and Bruce Peterson, calls for dissolving the Lewis and Clark district and returning to the old North Shore District that included Ryder, Plaza and Makoti.
The suit follows a motion Brandvold made during a Jan. 14 meeting in which he called for a committee to be formed to look into allegations that the old Berthold school board misrepresented its debt when the districts were consolidated.
Specifics of the lawsuit weren’t immediately available, however, it was learned the group is hoping to stave off the predicted closing of the Ryder Elementary School at least until the lawsuit can be settled.
Brandvold nor board member Kent Janz discussed the lawsuit and Supt. Brian Nelson would only confirm that it has been filed.
In other business:
• A major discussion took place regarding a Makoti Web site that Bette Wold created to help get patrons of the south side of the Lewis and Clark district informed about what is happening within the district and the school board.
