Milne to resign as Bulldogs' football coach

Posted on Friday, December 11, 2009

By CHUCK CLEMENT, Staff Reporter

The members of the Madison School Board will consider the resignation of Tom Milne, the Madison Bulldogs' head football coach since 2001, during their Monday night meeting.

The board members have moved their monthly meeting which starts at 6:30 p.m. to the library at Madison Elementary School. They will hear the personnel actions just after the start of the meeting.

Milne arrived in Madison in 1993 when he accepted a position at Dakota State University as the Trojans' offensive line and special teams coach. He came to DSU with head football coach Gary Roach from where they both taught at Spring Valley, Minn.

In 1994, Milne accepted a position as the offensive and defensive line coach at Madison High School. Before succeeding Jerome Garry in 2001 as the Bulldogs' head coach, Milne worked as the team's offensive line coach and defensive coordinator for several seasons. He has also been the powerlifting coach for many years.

During Monday night's meeting, the board members will also consider hiring Jacob Aus as middle school wrestling coach, replacing Matt Barrick; and hiring Jeni Appelwick and Christy Wittstruck as gymnastics program assistants.

Superintendent Vince Schaefer will review the school district's four-year tax opt-out which will expire when taxes are collected for the 2010 payable period. If it approves a new opt-out period, the school board has options in obtaining public support. The members could vote for the measure and wait to see if a petition is filed from the public to hold a referendum vote, or the board could itself refer the measure to a public vote.

Schaefer will present the newest district profile and speak on a Madison Education Association-related topic.

Marsha McVey requested time to speak to the board members about open-enrollment policies during the public comment period.

In other business, the board members will:

• Consider revisions to a policy on nonresident student open enrollment.

• Approve the second reading of a policy for residency status.

• Authorize bid advertisements for the replacement of the middle school roof.

• Consider performing a study on post-employment benefits and the district's liability.

• Consider approving $10,000 for the supplemental budget to purchase an activities bus.

• Consider approving a contract with Professional Security for drug and alcohol testing.

• Declare surplus property that includes 24 Buffalo wireless points to transfer to DSU for $5 each, two freezers for sale by sealed bid, and disposal of a binding machine.

• Consider changing a copier lease agreement with Elite Business systems.

At the end of the meeting, the board members will hold a closed session to discuss student matters and return to open session to consider approval of returning open-enrolled students after the fall enrollment date for state aid.

Afterward, they will review a resignation notice, go into a closed session to discuss personnel issues, consider approving the resignation in open session and then approving actions to fill the position.

©Madison Daily Leader 2009