By Marcy Knaack

Correspondent

Thursday evening the Gladbrook-Reinbeck School Board approved the purchase of technology switches to enhance the technology wireless project at the middle school and high school the board approved at their April meeting. Board member Doug Rowe said the switches would allow the wireless system to work more effectively and efficiently.

In April the board looked at replacing or repairing the boilers and decided to have Waterloo Boiler do the repairs for approximately $5,600. Supt. Tim Kuehl said it would be unlikely to have new boilers installed and functioning prior to the next heating system. Alliant Energy conducted an energy audit but were unable to attend the board meeting but will be in attendance in July.

Board member Matt Wyatt spoke on behalf of the Reinbeck Daycare and said they wish to build a storage shed to house freezers, outdoor toys and office supplies and to install air conditioning in the preschool room. To provide shade for the students, installing awnings are an option. Kuehl said there is approximately $30,000 left of the $300,000 the district committed. The Gladbrook Daycare opened last Monday with an open house planned Saturday, July 24th in conjunction with the Corn Carnival community breakfast. Students participating in Jazz Band will receive 1/2 credit. Jazz band meets every other day opposite of concert band. Beth Trulson said students would also study jazz artists and the history of jazz.

Kindergarten and 2nd grades will each have two sections at the Reinbeck Elementary. Both class sizes are anticipated to have 26 students. Kuehl will offer Lindsay Erickson the opportunity to return to the elementary as a teacher, under her recall rights. Kyla Kiburis was hired as 1/2 time TAG instructor. Her salary will be $21,318. She will need to get a provisional license while she completes work on her TAG endorsement.

The board approved $600/day additional for on-site work for the district videographer. $2,000 was received from Grundy County Economic Development. Appliances from Grundy County REC will be purchased for the middle school FCS room. Five smooth top ranges, washer/dryer stack unit, garbage disposal, refrigerator and 5 microwaves will cost $5,137. Karen Eggers was hired as Gladbrook campus cook and will work 5.5 hours/day. Eggers will replace Barb Walton who retired at the end of the 2009-10 school year. Marvin Hamann’s resignation as bus driver was approved and was then re-hired for the 2010-11 school year. He will not drive during July so his IPERS could be recalculated. Cathy Westwater and Lisa Swanson were appointed to serve on the district’s advisory committee. One more member is needed. Jill Dilly, Dave Grunklee and Tracy Eifler went off the board. The G-R Boosters donated $3,000 to the general athletic fund. A Special Education Agreement with Woodward Granger was approved. A student from G-R attends there.

Jennifer Wrage thanked the board for allowing her daughter Angela to attend the National Future Problem Solving Convention. Angela and her team had to do an on site scenario writing and the team placed 1st. Angela received 3rd place individual overall. The 2nd reading of board policies series 1000 was approved. All job descriptions will include Fair Labor Standards Act status and employment status, such as half or full time. The board approved the Mid-Iowa School Improvement Consortium Membership agreement. MISIC provides the district with an alternate assessment, the MAP test and do a great deal of work with Standards and Benchmarks, development the crosswalk with the Iowa Core Curriculum.

The board approved the Iowa Core Curriculum Implementation Plan as presented by Supt Kuehl. Middle School elementary and high school handbooks were approved as presented by Principals Bill Parker and Garrick Teckenburg. $16,355.21 of pool equipment assets were transferred from the pool fund to the general fund. Post Secondary classes for students at the Western Outreach Center and Angela Wrage’s request to take post secondary classes at UNI during the 2010-11 school year were approved. Kuehl gave an update on summer project that included the FCS room, concrete work at the Reinbeck elementary and high school as well as general summer cleaning.

The board meeting in July has been rescheduled for July 13th at 6:30 p.m. in Reinbeck.