March 28, 2024

Personnel, technology and Superintendent search are talking points by school board

Several shifts in personnel are happening at Nodaway Valley in the future, as is typically decided this time of year. The school board approved these resignations, hires and shifts as part of a lengthy regular meeting they held last Thursday at the high school library.

The board approved contracts for Taylor Wilkins as a agricultural sciences teacher for the middle and high schools, Clairissa Thompson as a second grade teacher, Mariah Martin as a second grade teacher, Sarah Jensen as co-student council sponsor, Derrick Schaull as transportation director and Tina Phillippi as junior high softball assistant coach.

The building principals in the district were given a 2.8% increase in their salary and Michael Dale, currently the assistant principal for the middle school and high school as well as activities director, was reassigned to become solely the middle school principal for next school year, spending all of his time overseeing sixth through eighth grades.

“Mr. Dale has been the assistant principal/activities director. This year he has really served as the principal in the building,” Superintendent Dr. Casey Berlau explained after the meeting. “It was my decision, after talking with Mr. Dale and Mr. [Lanny] Kliefoth that we remove the assistant from his title and put Mr. Kliefoth back full-time at the high school. That is where the whole thing started.”

Resignations accepted by the district were from Berlau as superintendent; Jodi Berlau, third grade teacher; Bill Yount, bus driver; Brenda Thaden, speech coach; Katelyn Swearingin, second grade teacher; Timber Woosley, middle school secretary; Brett Groves, junior high wrestling coach; Jill Frederickson, middle and high school art teacher; and Taylor Ashman, teacher and coach.

Technology purchases made

Technology instructor Jane Woodside brought a technology request to the board, and after discussing it, the board approved it in the amount of $128,467. The main items in the request are newer laptops for middle and high school students. Because of cost and other reasons, Woodside recommended and the board approved switching to Google Chromebooks instead of MacBooks, as have been used in the past.

Removed from the requested list of items brought before the board was an electronic sign similar to the one FNB Bank or Orient-Macksburg Schools have in the amount of $30,000. The board seemed to agree that a sign would be a nice asset for the purpose of sharing information with the community but they seemed to want more information before going forward with a costly project like that.

Kindergarten section added

The board received a request from administration to add a third section of kindergarten next school year, which would require the addition of a teacher and rearranging of elementary classrooms.

The incoming kindergarten class is projected to be at about 54 or 55 pupils and Berlau reminded the board that the chart he has shared with them and the public recently regarding the school’s financial state now and in the future included a possible third kindergarten section in it. The board seemed to agree that the amount of students projected would not fit in two sections, especially at that crucial grade level. They approved the request and the district will proceed with hiring someone to teach that class.

Facilities

There were a number of facilities projects that are in need of attention and the board discussed which ones need tackled most. Items included new carpet in the middle school, the elementary playground, cement repair around the high school as well as the windows in the middle school.

In the end, the group identified sealing and filling cracks in the cement around the high school and the windows at the middle school as the projects that should be worked on this summer. The north driveway at the Greenfield school complex is being explored as well but more information was needed for the board to proceed with a plan of action on fixing the north driveway this month.

Activities

A big point of discussion has been the availability of school-provided transportation for students involved in activities to and from the three communities in the district. The board decided to begin transportation this summer for students to and from all three communities daily so that students can more easily get to and from summer weights programs or games and practices that are held during the day. The program will likely be started and monitored for usage for eventual report back to the school board.

On the activities front, the board authorized the signing of a Classification Equity Resolution that would end up in the hands of Iowa High School Athletic Association and Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union leaders to let them know that something should be done to level the playing field between public and private schools in activities. The board asked Berlau whether signing such a resolution would make a difference and he reported that if enough schools sign one it may put pressure on decision-makers.

Superintendent search

The board discussed several items pertaining to the superintendent search that is underway. The board met with Trent Grundmeyer of Grundmeyer Leader Services in a meeting held last Tuesday, May 7, as well. The board is in the stages of determining how to form interview groups who will assist in the superintendent search.

A stakeholder survey was dispersed via social media recently and community members are invited to take part in that. The online survey can be accessed by computer or mobile device at https://tinyurl.com/NVCAMSuptSurvey, according to a Facebook post by the district. The survey will be open until Sunday, May 19.

The entire process will also include the review and screening of candidates and formal interviews with finalists, which are, as of now, slated to take place Thursday, June 6 in open session. Other aspects of the process will be in closed session as the situation calls for it.