School board approves staff changes, vendor contracts

Fairfield Community School District Board of Directors approved several personnel recommendations along with a few vendor contracts for services at Monday?s regular school board meeting.

It also has a full schedule lined up for next week; several representatives from architectural or engineering design firms are scheduled to present proposals or recommendations about the Fairfield High School facility to the board. Work session meetings with these presentations, open to the public, are scheduled from 5:45-9 p.m. June 26; 6-8 p.m. June 27; and 6-7:30 p.m. June 28, at the district?s Administration/Curriculum/Technology Center.

One of the board?s goals is to have a plan by September about what upgrade/renovation/new building for FHS is most likely to be approved by the community.

Monday, with board president Jennifer Anderson absent, the board unanimously approved hiring for the 2012-13 school year:

? Nohema Graber, with a master?s degree, as half-time Spanish teacher at FHS, at $20,133.

? Janet Rauenbuehler, with a bachelor?s degree from Iowa Wesleyan College, as kindergarten teacher at Pence Elementary, at $33,911.

? Hillary Juran, with a bachelor?s degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb, Ill., as second grade teacher at Pence Elementary, at $33,911.

? Ashley Flynn, with a bachelor?s degree from the University of Iowa, as third grade teacher at Pence Elementary, at $33,911.

? Rachel Meyers, with a bachelor?s degree from the University of Northern Iowa, as second grade teacher at Libertyville Elementary, at $33,911.

? Jodi Cross, with a bachelor?s degree from Grand View University, as first grade teacher at Libertyville Elementary, at $40,559.

? Deanna Wilson, FHS special education associate at $10.65/hour. Superintendent Art Sathoff said this was replacing another employee who left.

? Timothy Mickels as FHS second shift custodian, at $11.91/hour.

A hire approved for this summer is Hannah Weiland, as teacher for a special education student during the end of July and early August to comply with the student?s Individualized Education Plan. Weiland will work with the student at the summer school location for 150 minutes per session for a total of nine sessions, at $22/hour.

The board accepted the following resignations:

? Naomi Terbetski from the district?s English Language Learners teaching position. Sathoff said having only one ELL teacher for the district makes it a hard position to fill.

? Gwenith Mitchell, middle school and high school family and consumer science teacher, retiring.

? Antoinette Wittrock, FHS English teacher and Troy Banner sponsor, is taking a position in Pekin Community School District.

? Tricia Slechta, FHS teacher librarian and sponsor of FHS yearbook, is taking a position in Southeast Polk School District.

?Tricia has been earning her master?s degree and was offered this job that uses peer integration a lot more than we do,? said Sathoff. ?She?ll get to work on a project in her area of study.?

? Kelsie Roland as one of three co-sponsors for the Fairfield Middle School yearbook.

? Brian Dunlap as ninth grade boys basketball coach.

? Amanda Heckart as FMS cheerleading coach for both first and second basketball seasons. She will continue to coach middle school football cheerleading.

? Sam Collora as assistant FHS wrestling coach.

? Jane McMahon as head coach, FHS girls swimming.

? Marilyn Turner, food service worker at FHS. She would like to continue as a substitute.

? Janet Smith, food service worker at Washington Elementary. She would like to continue as a substitute.

Ten teaching contracts for 2012-13 for current teachers, originally submitted for board approval in May, had incorrect dollar amounts listed in an ?Additional Day Pay? column in the May board notes. Individual contracts issued to employees were correct; the recommendation at Monday?s meeting was to include the correct dollar amounts in the board?s records. The board approved.

A correction also was made to Marvin Thacker?s placement on the support staff wage scale, giving him credit for 21 total years of service, and an hourly wage of $20.08. Eileen Pickard was given credit for her 16 years of service and wages amended to $15.20/hour.

The board approved a list of non-summer coaching and supervisor contracts. At May?s board meeting, board members had objected to approving new contracts for 2012-13 when the summer coaches had not played this year?s seasons or been evaluated.

Coaches for softball and baseball, and summer strength coaching positions were left off of Monday?s list and will be addressed in July, after seasons end.

The board approved the following transfer requests for the 2012-13 school year:

? Deirdre Bachar from kindergarten teacher at Pence Elementary to second grade teacher at Washington Elementary.

? Patricia Rhinehart from third grade teacher to second grade special education teacher at Pence Elementary.

? Sheryl Greiner from first grade teacher at Libertyville Elementary to first grade teacher at Pence Elementary.

Auxiliary services director Fred McElwee recommended accepting a quote from Waste Management for garbage and waste removal beginning July 1. The board approved hiring Waste Management, with summer rates of $488 per month; school in session rate of $1,665 per month; and any extra ?on call? trash bin emptying at $40 each.

?Connelly Inc. also submitted quotes,? said McElwee.

Connelly?s rates were $535 per month in the summer; school in session, $1,720 per month; and on call trash bin emptying, $35.

Only one bid was received by the school district for pest control. All American Pest Control that the district has used before bid $325 per month, up $25 per month from last year, and $45 for hourly service, the same as last year.

?They haven?t raised their rates in several years,? said McElwee.

The board approved the contract with All American Pest Control.

It also approved McElwee?s recommendation to accept the only bid received for carpet and tile installation at the three elementary schools.

V.I.P.S., a previous vendor contracted with the district, bid $8,231.88 for carpet and $4,899.97 for tile.