LA PORTE CITY – Dysart-Geneseo Elementary School moved another step closer to building a ‘playground for every child’ last Tuesday following the school board’s approval of bid documents for the project.

Since last spring, D-G Elementary led by Principal Derek Weber has been fundraising to replace its more than 30-year-old playground equipment and create a more inclusive space in the process.

Three companies provided bids for the project during the March 19 school board meeting held at the high school in La Porte City, including Boland Recreation of Marshalltown which both Superintendent John Howard and Weber recommended over the other two.

“[Boland’s] design emphasizes access,” Howard told the board.

The board eventually approved Boland’s bid with the condition that the total cost not exceed $175,000 – the project’s limit. As part of the bid, Waterloo-based Cardinal Construction was approved to work with Boland.

Before board approval and as part of discussion following the motion, board president Corey Lorenzen expressed concern about Cardinal’s “viability in the near future.”

Cardinal, Lorenzen explained, was recently terminated from a renovation project at the Isle of Capri Casino and Hotel Waterloo.

“They were removed from that project for inability to meet deadlines,” Lorenzen, an attorney, said. He added that the company was facing a rough financial future as a result.

The goal for D-G’s playground project is to have it installed and ready for the start of the 2024-25 school year.

The board approved the Boland bid as-is but acknowledged Lorenzen’s concerns. Lorenzen abstained from the vote.

Other business

As part of his report, Supt. Howard addressed the recent mandatory water conservation order issued by Poweshiek Water Association which serves the Dysart community, telling the board the order “does not affect the school … so we’re good to go.”

The board has yet to hire a new boys varsity basketball coach following Corey Lorenzen’s resignation from the position this past winter.

Howard told the board that during the upcoming April 1 board meeting, a closed session would take place with Grundmeyer Leadership Services regarding the new principal hire for La Porte City Elementary. He said the district had received approximately 20 applications so far. When asked how the pool of applicants was looking, Howard replied, “Not bad.”

The board approved a motion to eliminate the district’s full-day transitional kindergarten (TK) program due to both the current teacher’s decision to leave the district (for family reasons) and low enrollment for next year. By eliminating the position the district will save $65,000 annually to the general fund, Howard said.

The board also approved the following quotes and invoices: $84,375 for Chromebooks from BlueAlly; $20,285 for Capturing Kids’ Hearts for the 2024-25 school year; a purchasing agreement for nutrition with the AEA for next school year; setting substitute teacher pay for next school year at $125 per day (no change) – the NICL Conference average is $124.14 per day; $8,500 agreement with Denovo Construction for long-range facility planning; a bid for $650 to sell van #31 which “essentially doesn’t work,” Howard said; $32,500 for Young’s Plumbing and Heating to replace the hot water heater at the middle school – the district received a competitive bids waiver for the project from the AEA due to time.

Before adjournment, the board entered into closed session. The closed session ended at 9:48 p.m. and the board subsequently approved Supt. Howard’s contract for next school year.