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Home / New London Journal News
New London School Board Readies for Fall
By Gina Anderson
Jul. 3, 2025 12:00 am
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
The New London school board met in regular session on June 16, 2025. Kyle Helmerson was absent. No one addressed the board in open forum and they approved the agenda without changes and the consent agenda.
In reports, Superintendent Wahls addressed the board. He told them that they have been contacted by the state food service. During COVID, the school was reimbursed for the cost of lunches and they now need to spend down the money that it generated — $88,000. All the kitchen equipment is old. They would like to spend the money on new equipment, enhanced food items, and a yogurt machine.
Summer work is going well. Clark is done until school is ready to start. He then apprised the board on new room assignments for next year.
On personnel items:
- Resignation: Haylee Porter-Special Ed. Assoc. — approved.
- Appointments:
- Various PLC positions — approved
- Joe White — extended contract for elementary art — approved.
- Tina Garrett — math consultant K-8 for two days a week — approved.
- Luann Martin — summer credit recovery — approved.
- Aaron Brown — volunteer MS baseball coach/weight room supervisor — approved.
- Marcel and Dominic Lopez — wrestling clinicians /weight room supervisors — approved.
The board approved the following:
- Sharing agreement: 9-12 HSAP (Home School Assistant Program) with Mt. Pleasant School District.
- Food service plan not to exceed $88,000.
- Elementary student handbook 2025-2026 school year with minimal changes.
- Four-year old preschool student handbook 2025-2026 school year.
- MS/HS student handbook 2025-2026 school year with a revision to the cellphone policy.
- Becky Ahern, LLC consulting agreement for 50 days.
- 2025-2026 SRO (School Resource Officer) agreement for one year. Becky Hays voted “nay.”
- Freedom Counseling services.
The board then heard from the school’s insurance agent. Adam Kerns of Hub International Insurance. He discussed the property, casualty, & worker compensation insurance. The insurance premium has gone up with an 8.6% increase. The board approved this insurance.
He also discussed the SPF (storm protection fund). There will now be a deductible for wind and hail of 1%. Kerns feels it would benefit the school and will save the district money over several years. It is specific to wind and hail. It is renewable year-to-year. They approved joining the SPF.
The board went into closed session for an evaluation. Coming out of closed session, the regular meeting was adjourned.
The next regular meeting of the New London school board will be July 21, 2025 at 6 p.m.
