Jerry Gallagher, a partner in the Donovan Group, a communications firm hired by the Webster City Community School District’s board, talked about the proposed WCCSD board’s communication roadmap at its meeting Monday night.

“We have created this communication roadmap for the coming school year based on best practices for communications deliverables,” he said. “One of the keys is, why did families choose Webster City? Education is competitive today. As families shop for schools, what kind of curb appeal does your school have? We are not manufacturing anything, we are just doing surveys finding out why people choose Webster City and accentuating those assets.”

Gallagher continued, “A key feature of the plan would be to have teachers video themselves and re-cap the week and tell what was achieved in the classroom. People attend the ball game on Friday and maybe the concert or play on Thursday. We find there is an appetite for what is going on in the school and the classroom. This pulls the curtain back and lets the public know.”

He recommended creating a branding video that helps define the school and gives people a reason to choose your school.

The Donovan Group is paid a flat fee of $2,000 per month for districtwide support for a contract from March 1, 2022, to March 1, 2025.

Also at the meeting, the board approved following the Iowa Association of School Boards 2023 legislative priorities: teacher recruitment and licensure, mental health, unfunded mandates, and supplemental state aid.

Facility goals, which had been created during a meeting of the board last week, that were adopted by board include the following:

By Dec. 1, 2022, the district will have in place a roof replacement plan that includes determining whether to change the pitch of building roofs.

By Dec. 1, 2022, the district will have in place a boiler replacement plan.

By Sept. 1, 2022, the district will fix the hot water issues at the outdoor concession stand.

By the first home football game, the speakers at the football field will be replaced and operational.

By June 1, 2023, caulking and tuckpointing will be done at Northeast Hamilton, Pleasant View, Sunset Heights, the middle and high schools, and the Administration Building.

Replace at least one porcelain drinking fountain on the second floor at Webster City High School with a water-bottle filling station.

Develop a plan to move Hamilton High in order to sell the Lawn Hill building by the 2023-24 school year.

By June 30, 2023, repair the Pleasant View entry, including railings and ramp.

Repair staff parking lot at Sunset Heights.

Improve ADA — Americans with Disabilities Act — accessibility at football bleachers.

Add curb cuts for ADA accessibility at the tennis courts.

Add vape detectors at WCHS.

Correct the roof drain at the southeast entrance at the Administration Building.

Infill the drop box at the Administration Building.

There are currently no estimates as to the cost of these projects.

In other business:

The board voted to dispose of outdated textbooks.

Approved the Art of Education 7-Year Licensing agreement for the K-12 Art Team for art for $22,282.75 and will be paid in one payment.

Accepted 2021-22 pCard Rebate in the amount of $1,515.32.

Designated the following financial depositories and limits for District Funds: ISJIT $10,000,000, First State Bank $8,000,000, Availa Bank $8,000,000, WCF Bank $8,000,000.

Set the price of adult meals for 2022-23 at $4.15.

Approved a $1,000 increase in the annual AEA Lease for the Beach St. property. The lease agreement is $4,000, according to Supervisor Dr. Mandy Ross.

Approved the 28E for Project Earlybird Concurrent Enrollment Course and Placement Testing for Iowa Central Community College. Costs are paid by the district based on the number of students who participate. The cost per student was not available at press time.

Approved the 28E Agreements with Stratford — Dr. Mandy Ross, superintendent; Kathy Biere, business Manager; Cindi Sweedler, school nurse; Evan Mossman, P.E. teacher; Kathy Houck, media specialist; Patsy Brock, TAG; Ted Larson, transportation director; and Molly Westrum, social worker.

Approved the 28E Agreement with Hubbard-Radcliff for Kathy Houck, media specialist, for one day per week; each district gets state operational funding for sharing employees. Additionally, WCCSD bills each district for actual costs.

Approved education contracts for student services with Des Moines Independent Community School District and Mason City Community School District Educational. These arrangements are determined by each child’s special education team at the annual meeting.

Approve a fundraising request for the middle school to host Kona Ice once each month that school is in session for 2022-23. Ross expressed that Kona Ice would be making accommodations for students unable to financially participate.

The board accepted the following resignations: Rachel Daum, high school band teacher; Cole Nokes, head middle school wrestling coach; Dennis Dilly, bus driver; Kacey Pruismann, guidance secretary; and Wendy Bryan, elementary paraeducator.

The board approved the following hires and transfers: Kyle Kaine, high school band teacher; Pat Farley, head seventh-grade football coach; Ben Rasmussen, JV boys basketball ; Zane Williams, assistant eighth-grade football coach; Alysha Heue, transfer from paraeducator to 25% paraeducator/75% secretary; Quintin Meldrem, elementary paraeducator; Sandy Ausenhus, Lego League coach; Elizabeth Morgan, family and consumer sciences; Kacey Pruismann, elementary paraeducator; Stephanie Turpen, curriculum secretary; and Tehra Brim, guidance secretary.

Mentors: Sandy Ausenhus, Diane Bahrenfuss, Lynn Ehrenberg, Laura Fisher, Rachael Hansen, Mary Jane Hinderks, Sonjia Johnson, Heidi Kayser, Danika Klaver, Lisa Lyons, Janelle Oakland, Julie Pagel, Marta Paukert, Natalie Petersen, Kala Thury, Leah Rachu, Brad Van Deer, and Michele Veldhuizen.

Site-based TLC Council Members: Karen Daniels, John Seiser, Craig Signorin, Ryan Stone, and Brandy Williams.

Building Leadership Team members: George Artley, Danyell Artley, Ben Baker, Lauren Blaisdell, Jaime Davis, Alexis Draeger, Michelle Dyvig, Lynn Ehrenburg, Laura Estlund, Laura Fisher, Kristin Hammitt, Jeri Jass, Sonjia Johnson, Danika Klaver, Heather Knox, Michelle Lovelace, Doug Marks, Beth Meyer, Erica Miller, Paige Moberly, Lora Osthus, Susan Peters, Katie Peterson, Cali Peterson, Laura Seiser, Kim Schimp, Amy Steen, and Kurt Veldhuizen.

Board Member Sally Greenfield was absent from the meeting.