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The contract becomes effective July 1 and expires in June 2010.Miller was hired May 22 to replace Superintendent Dr. Chuck Smith, who is retiring.

Miller's salary will be $115,000 his first year, with annual raises commensurate with those approved for other administrators. He will have a $6,000 annuity and the same health, dental, vision and disability insurance provided other district administrators.

His contract includes a $115,000 life insurance policy. The district initially will loan him 30 sick leave days, which will not reimbursed in case he leaves the district. He will begin to accumulate sick and personal leave days based on length of service thereafter.

In other business, the board approved a contract with Watson Brothers Plumbing not to exceed $5,745 to equip two classrooms in Geiger Elementary with sinks, so the classrooms can be used by young children.

It is hoped that the Head Start program, now located in Fremont Township Hall will consider leasing space in Geiger next year.

Leasing space in the partially empty school is part of the district's plan to shift fifth graders to the middle school. In a cost savings move, the board recently voted to keep fourth students in their current schools instead of moving them into Geiger.

One empty classroom in Geiger will be used for the Young Fives program. Two will be used for a planned all-day Kindergarten. One will be used for the Michigan School Readiness Program Preschool.

The board also discussed making at least one classroom available to a private childcare provider interesting in leasing the space from the school district. The district will advertise that the space is available. Leasing space for a private preschool will help pay the cost of custodial services and utilities

"I've had two individuals who have called, expressing interest. We are excited about it, because we have had many requests from parents," said Assistant Superintendent Jackie Huepenbecker.

"We are not planning on this to be a money maker for the school district, but we have to at least break even," she said.

Board member Michelle Shell said, "it needs to be made clear that even though they will be in a school building, the private programs will not be run by the school."