An update to the public about Wednesday practices for junior high was published September 22 had an error in it, and a bad sentence. This bad sentence came to my attention by watching the video of the October 3 Paullina City Council meeting.
Just prior to calling the meeting to order Jay Jones took aim at Richard Radtke, in attendance to film the meeting. Jones launched into a spit-screaming tirade at Radtke for several things Jones didn’t like, including a single sentence in a September 22 story giving overview of the events of a school board meeting.
Jones wasn’t wrong that the sentence can be described as poor reporting. After meeting with Wade Riley, South O’Brien Superintendent, that sentence was also factually incorrect. It was about which school fund was paying for the additional 20% costs to the junior high school Wednesday practices.
Here are the facts provided by Riley:
• Each junior high school coaching contract is increased by $400.
• The cost of paraprofessionals staying after the early outs to provide supervision for a study hall or other non-athletic activity is estimated at $30 per week.
• All of the costs come from the general fund.
• Following discussion between Riley and Heath Reichle, Athletic Director and the Ministerial Association, a compromise had been reached that the practices would occur right after early out, 2:00pm until 3:30. The teacher/coaches affected would be required to make up the Professional Development on their own.
That’s it. Instead of a calm and respectful question or statement that the sentence was really weak, R. Radtke endured a public outburst from an elected official over an error.
The tirade can be seen on our Youtube channel at belltimescourier. See for yourself.