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New London School Board Has a Big Agenda and a Late Night
By Gina Anderson
May. 30, 2024 12:00 am
The New London School Board met in regular session on May 20, 2024 with all members present.
Members were lauded for their work on the NL School Board, on this, School Board Recognition month. Superintendent Wahls thanked the men and women volunteers who serve locally. They play a crucial role in providing direction for educating our future leaders.
Austin Burns, Sixth Grade Campout Director, then gave a recap of the very successful Sixth Grade Campout. He thanked staff and volunteers for giving their time and talents to make it a great success and hopes it is always provided to sixth grade students. He was publicly thanked for his work by school board members Mike McBeth and Lindsay Porter.
The Board then approved the agenda and the consent agenda. No one addressed the Board in open forum.
A donation and a fundraiser were both approved. The Orr family made a donation to the MS/HS student councils in recognition of the students’ assistance in cleanup of their home that was destroyed by the recent tornado. The second was the fundraiser for state golf apparel.
In Board business, they took the following actions:
- After a presentation by Adam Kerns from Hub International Insurance, the school’s property, casualty, and worker compensation insurance, to explain why rates have gone up, the Board approved 2024-2025 premium without the cyber quote which is stable and two deductible changes as presented in the package.
- After a presentation from Curriculum Director Allison Lair and Guidance Counselor Jackie Housman, the Board approved the District Career & Academy Plan. This is a plan for each senior to have a post-high school plan in place before graduation. This covers college and/or career options. New London ranks first in SE Iowa for the last five years for college and career readiness.
- Approved contract between NL School District and Ahern Consulting for literacy support for teachers for 64 days in the amount of $26,476.80.
- Approved Anderson Larkin engagement letter to provide the District’s Auditing needs.
- Approved Hazard Mitigation Action plan for the county. This is necessary if the District is ever involved with FEMA. It must be approved every five years.
- Approved adult lunch prices at $4.70 instead of $4.84 SY 2023-2024.
- Approved door replacements for the District’s buildings at $54,322.00 to Doors, Inc. This is through the Safety Grant. Although Barngrover’s bid was a little less, their work putting in the new windows was less than satisfactory.
- Approved 2024-2025 District calendar.
- Approved 2024 — 2025 Board meeting dates & times that are the third Monday of the month at 6 p.m. and will adjust if needed.
- June 17, 2024 is approved to work on the Superintendent’s evaluation and establish new goals for next year.
Next up was reports. Elementary Principal Todd Palmatier reported on the success of the PTO Carnival and upcoming pre-school graduation. Secondary Principal Scott Kracht’s last activity of the school year is Eighth Grade Promotion.
In personnel matters, the Board approved the following resignations: Jaime Griffis, English teacher and Connie Norton, Special Education Associate. Approved appointments: Melissa Jacobs, MS/HS Secretary and Makenna Mullin, English Teacher.
- Approved Bridget Swailes — Class Overload (Sp. Ed.). — $1,921.62.
- Approved Sara McCollum — Class Overload (Sp. Ed.) — $2,006.10.
- Approved 2024-2025 TLC funded positions.
- Approved 2024-2025 Fall/Winter Schedule B positions.
- Approved Boden Pickle, weight room supervisor.
The board then went into exempt session pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.9 to discuss strategy concerning employment conditions of employees of a governmental body who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement under Iowa Code chapter 20. After the Board came out of exempt session, the Board approved 2024-2024 non-certified staff & administration salary increase.
The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting of the New London School Board will be June 17, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the north campus boardroom.
