May 11, 2025
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Lundy reports Phase 1 of elementary playground almost started

By CALEB NELSON

This playground at the elementary school in Greenfield was not updated when the new school opened at the start of the 2017-18 school year, so school leaders are hopeful that work will progress quickly on a Phase 1 of a playground update that was set to begin this week. This part of the project includes an all-inclusive playground area that school children and the community can both enjoy. (Photo by)

Nodaway Valley Elementary School Principal Connie Lundy reported to the school board at their meeting last Tuesday that Phase 1 of the building's playground remodel is almost underway.

The building opened at the beginning of the 2017-18 school year but the playground, located on the southwest side of the building, was not updated with the building. Many of the pieces of equipment there are quite aged, meaning they're in need of replacement.

The school district found a grant from the Hight Fund that covered the approximately $48,000 it needed to complete Phase 1 of the project and the school board has committed to footing the remainder of the cost, which are the installation fees.

This first portion of the project means the elementary will have an all-inclusive playground where anybody can come and play whatever their needs are.

"One of the things we felt we needed was to put in a more inclusive playground for all of our students," Lundy explained. "We're adding in some panels that our kids in wheelchairs can roll up to and play with. We're adding an omni spin spinner that has backs on it where students can be taken out of their wheelchairs and put in [kind of like a merry-go-round]. We're also adding a roller table where they can lay down, pull themselves across on it, and it moves.

"These are for all kids. It will be good for all kids, to give them something new. I'm excited because this is the start to a new playground," Lundy said. "We're looking at other avenues down the road."

Lundy reported that Phase 1 won't take long to install at all. It's likely that work will begin this week on that portion of the project, and later this school year, Phase 2 will be discussed.

Other items discussed included, but weren't limited to:

- High School Principal Lanny Kliefoth reported that the high school was unable to fill its open art position, so Melissa Dean, elementary art instructor, will be teaching a few blocks of high school art classes to fill that void this school year. She will also teach yearbook and photography at the high school this year.

- Resignations accepted included: Angie Williams, special education para; John Bruns, part-time custodian; and Allen Marnin, assistant baseball coach. Hires approved were: Lee Ann Warrior, full-time custodian; Cody Hagle, bus driver; David Tann, assistant varsity football coach; Jeff Fahrenkrug, seventh grade head volleyball coach; Danelle Cooney and Shaela Brown, co-prom sponsors; Sam Schwartz and Melissa Schwartz, play director and assistant play director; Lori Wallace, high school paraeducator.

- The replacement of hot water piping at the middle school was approved at a cost of approximately $31,000.

- Work will begin next week on a roof repair at the middle school at a cost of approximately $26,800. The fix is more expensive than originally though, but Superintendent Paul Croghan stated he rather "it cost a little more and be done right."

- Atlantic Pest Control was awarded the pest control bid for the school district; Country Bloom and Gardenscapes and Gary Finck were each awarded snow removal bids and Grantham Sanitation was approved for the school's trash removal.

- Green Hills AEA and Nodaway Valley are entering a social worker agreement at a cost of $17,242 for 38 days of service. The school district will receive a credit from the Iowa Department of Education for operational sharing, meaning the district will actually make money on the arrangement.

- The school board's next meeting will be Thursday, Aug. 22, a work session in Greenfield. Their next regular meeting will be Sept. 12 at the Bridgewater Fire Station at 6:30 p.m.