BLAIRSBURG - The Northeast Hamilton school board approved potential class sharing, coaching contracts and set a date for a community meeting at its regular meeting on June 9.
Superintendent Andrew Woiwood reported that NEH and Webster City have developed a class sharing plan for science, family consumer science and band.
As outlined by the plan, high school physical science, physics and chemistry would be taught daily for four periods at NEH and four periods at Webster City.
Consumer family science would be taught three periods at NEH with eight periods of instruction at Webster City.
Band will also be offered for three periods on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for middle school, high school and private lessons. Northeast Hamilton students will have the opportunity to take part in the Webster City High School marching band, Woiwood said.
"This is a great opportunity for our kids," said Principal Patrick Hocking, who added that the NEH pep band would continue to play at Northeast Hamilton home games.
Contracts with the Webster City school district will be presented for final approval at the regular July board meeting.
Woiwood also announced that the School board will host a community meeting on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the NEH gym. The purpose of the meeting is to gather community input concerning future sharing with other schools in the district.
Board President Kim Schaa and board member Nate Palmer reported on a meeting with two Webster City CSD board members on May 31.
"It was a really good meeting," said Schaa, who added that Webster City was willing to work with Northeast Hamilton.
In other contractual business, Sally Greenfield resigned as quiz bowl sponsor but offered to serve without pay and compensation with the stipulation that the school district continue to provide transportation.
Also, the board discussed the propriety of hiring assistant softball and baseball coaches when teaching staff has been terminated.
State regulations require a second adult supervisor be added to staff if a school activity has more than 20 participants.
"I question the feasibility of having a softball team in light of our financial problems," said board member Nate Palmer.
"Do we start now or do we begin next year?" asked Bret Schutt about limiting the number of additional staff hired for activities.
"We have to start somewhere," said Kathy Pruismann.
Woiwood read the state regulation which states contracts cannot be offered to staff if there are not 20 participating students after two weeks into the session.
Woiwood recommended the board continue the current policy and establish the new policy for the 2011-2012 school year.
"That kind of thinking gets us in trouble," said Bruce Mark, who felt the district should not hire additional coaching staff. "Sometime things have to change."
Board members agreed to be consistent in the enforcement of the new policy and would inform coaching staff prior to the beginning of the new school year and each activity season.
Natalie Ostheimer was approved as the assistant softball coach on a 3-2 vote with Palmer, Schutt and Kim Schaa voting yes and Mark and Pruismann opposing. Brandon Frohwein was hired as the 2011 assistant baseball coach on a vote of 4-1 with Mark voting nay.
For his part, Woiwood said he will not submit staff additions to the board unless the activity meets the participant threshold.
The board approved the resolution to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support program and set the public hearing on the matter for June 23 at 7 p.m. in the elementary media center. Following the public hearing, the board will take action on the resolution.
The board also voted to raise student fees by $5 and meal prices by $.05 for the upcoming year.
The board approved the lease agreement with AEA 8 with a stipulation that the AEA be responsible for its own insurance coverage. The three year lease will allow the AEA to rent the former elementary media center for $7,500 per year.
Bids were accepted and approved for: bread - Sara Lee; milk - Roberts Dairy; gasohol - United Coop; diesel - United Coop; and propane - Prairie Land. Schutt abstained from voting on the propane issue as he is a member of the Prairie Land board of directors.
In housekeeping, the board approved the first reading and waived the second reading when it approved the government accounting practices and regulations GASB statement which deals with accounting procedures. The board also approved the audit proposal as submitted by Burton E. Tracy and Company of Clarion. Approval for the purchasing programs agreement with the Iowa Association for Education Purchasing was passed. The board also approved membership in both the Iowa School Board Association and the Iowa School Finance Information Service.
Teacher Quality Funds were approved from the Teacher Quality Professional Development Funds account. Brandon Frohwein, Beth Heller, Brandon Kelly and Jeff Meyer were reimbursed for curriculum manager work. Ashley Davis, Leslie Keehn, Sherry Leksell and Kim Schimp also received per diem for curriculum manager work. Regional meeting expenses of $100 and the $75 registration fee for the Technology Integration and Instruction for the 21st Century Learner Conference to be held June 21-23 at Buena Vista University were paid.
Hocking distributed the 2011-2012 student handbook and noted updates in attendance policies and graduation requirements, staff assignments, early-out requirements and a new dress code. He cited the new government regulation which required physical education three days per week and reported that students will receive additional credits for the class.
The board approved the donation of $500 from the Spirit Club for the Kansas City Music in the Park trip expenses.