The Webster City school board approved the revised contract for the Riverview Early Childhood Center at its regular meeting Monday night.

The revised contract agreement restructures the loan by reducing the remaining balance to $27,381.80 with a zero percent annual interest rate. Monthly payments on the loan will total $232.77 and began in September. The term of the loan will be for ten years. The school district currently owns the building and has been working with Riverview Early Childhood Center and the City Council of Webster City to help address child care options in the area.

In other business, the board approved the motions for the PPEL levy and the resolution of the election language for the November ballot.  To help develop a news release, Superintendent Dr. Mandy Ross told the board that the district will be working with the Donovan Group, a school district communications firm that focuses on communication planning for public education entities.

Last month, the board had approved the levy question for the November ballot which calls for an increase in the existing levy from $0.67 to $0.77 in order to generate $68,000 in additional funding.  Primarily, the funds would be used to install air conditioning throughout the district’s facilities.

The tax cost to homeowners would be an additional $10 for each $100,000 of assessed valuation and the levy would be locked in for ten years.

Ross thanked the board for attending the high school facility walk-through on Sept. 5.  The high temperatures in the building helped to illustrate what students and teachers experience during the warmer months, noted Ross.  She suggested the district host an open house for the community to better understand why the PPEL issue will be on November’s ballot.

In developing the message to the public, District Director Rich Stroner asked that the ten year lock-in rate on the levy be emphasized.  Director Chuck Bonjour also requested a breakdown of the reorganization tax benefits which may further reduce the levy total for district patrons.

In other business, the board approved an interfund transfer of $1,378.23 for the purchase of protective equipment.  The funds will be transferred to the athletic department budget and will be used for the purchase of football helmets.

The board approved lane changes for 12 staff members for a total of $20,987.  Ross noted that the board has agreed to a chain of command in regards to approving lane changes.  The chain of command now begins with the building principal, then is forwarded to the superintendent and then to the board for consideration.

Ross commended teachers who have shown students the importance of education by furthering their own education by earning advanced training.

In personnel, the board approved a full time appointment for music instructor Elizabeth Schwake.  Schwake is currently the part time music instructor at Northeast Hamilton Elementary School and will now also teach band at WC Middle School.

The board appointed Rich Stroner as the Webster City CSD Iowa School board delegate for the upcoming IASB convention in November.

Fundraising requests for the WC cheerleading squad and the softball and volleyball teams were approved.

Board Secretary Cathi Hildebrand informed the board that NEH’s final ending balances have been transferred to the Webster City CSD accounts.

The next regular board meeting will be Monday, Sept. 23 at 6 p.m.

]at the School Administration Office board Room.