School board approves increase for busing, hires new business manager, middle school AD

At its Aug. 8 meeting, the Rice Lake Board of Education approved a request by the Rice Lake Bus Service for a 5.5% increase for all routes, mileage and extra hours for the 2022-23 school year. The increase is necessitated by the current job market and increased costs due to inflation.

It also approved a dozen employment recommendations including Victor Drost as director of finance and operations. He will work full-time through this school year with longtime director of finance and operations Pat Blackaller, who will work part-time through this school year after which he plans to retire.