MPCSD officially owns IW central campus

MT. PLEASANT — Despite snowfall beginning Monday evening, Mt. Pleasant Community School District board opted for an abbreviated January school board meeting for a report from Superintendent John Henriksen and to approve needed business items.

“We were going to have a presentation and kids coming in and those kinds of things,” Henriksen said.

In consideration of the weather, Henriksen stated the board’s focus for the meeting was strictly business items that needed done.

During the board meeting, which lasted just shy of an hour and a half, Henriksen updated that board on a number of topics including district’s Iowa Wesleyan property purchase.

According to Henriksen, the school district’s $1.135 million purchase of the Iowa Wesleyan central campus property officially closed January 5.

This purchase includes everything in the central block of the IW Campus including the Howe Activity Center, Howe Student Union, P.E.O. building, chapel, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, and the parking lot south of the activity center.

The specific use for this new property acquisition still is under discussion by the school board at this time.

Part of the needed business to address at the meeting included approval of Austin Mixer as a temporary high school social studies teacher, Kathryn Ridinger as a high school second semester long term sub for Spanish, Kevin Hold as a long-term second semester sub for middle school Project Lead the Way, and Derek Coleman as head varsity girls softball coach.

They also approved the resignations of Middle School Instructional Strategist Paige Newman at the end of the school year, food service employee Hayley Lewman at the beginning of winter break, and Eight-grade Girls’ Basketball coach Madison Williamson.

The board approved the first reading of a change to Policy 502.02 which expanded the Tobacco or Any Controlled Substance policy to specifically include vape-type products and other controlled substances.

Other business included approving $13,600 of services needed for the bus/maintenance/central receiving project at 1515 E. Monroe Street. These expenses include $5,100 for a site survey and $8,500 for soil testing.

All board members approved these expenses except Sarah Donnolly who was not present and Josh Maher who voted no.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com