It was all about gearing up for the new school year Monday, Aug, 2, at the meeting of the West Liberty Community School District Board of Education held at the District Administration offices on Elm Street.
Hoping for the final phases of the new 10-classroom/music room Middle School addition to be completed by construction workers when doors open Aug. 23, the board said a meeting is planning on Monday. Aug. 16, to decide whether any of the classrooms will be ready for students, including a large fifth-grade class that is moving from the West Liberty Elementary School into the building.
Regardless, Principal Vicki Vernon and her staff have a temporary plan to include the expanded number of students should the classrooms not be ready, workmen from Peak Construction in North Liberty trying to meet the deadline on the $2.3 million project on the northwest corner of the school property.
The board did approve another change order on construction, which was documented by architects FEH Design of Des Moines, adding $5,240.15 to total costs, bringing the amount of change orders on the project to over $31,000. The work includes the addition of data lines for camera locations at the property, costing an additional $3,613. It also included the addition of a new structural lintel to support the roof joist load in a new office in the building, costing $1,626.
After some discussion and explanation from new Superintendent Shaun Kruger, the board also approved the job description and hiring of an Edgenuity Mentor for the district, taking on a liaison role between the district’s new virtual learning platform, Edgenuity, and families in the district.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the district was forced to offer virtual education platforms to students in all grades from one through 12, taught by the district’s staff, but, because of the pandemic, families are being offered the virtual learning platform as an option to in-classroom education, utilizing monies made available through the federal government.
Kruger said 18 of about 900 students signed up for virtual education with registration earlier this month and while Edgenuity supplies teachers for the daily learning process, an Online Learning Mentor is needed in the district. Kruger was cautious in hiring for the new position, noting he wasn’t sure of the time needed to facilitate the position, noting it would begin as a part-time role that may develop into a full-time position.
He said the position would require training and the person would be the district contract for Edgenuity teachers. The person would monitor student attendance, help students and parents set up classes and take on other aspects of the position. Kruger said he did not want to add a full-time position if it wasn’t necessary and hoped to hire “in house,” but said, “We may need to go elsewhere.”
The board also approved the second reading of a revised board policy regarding physical restraint and seclusion of students, noting the district is simply trying to put “safeguards in place” should there be such behavior problems.
The board also looked over the 2021 Iowa Association of School Boards Legislative Platform explaining statewide policies and defining priorities.
In personnel matters, Nichole Bradley resigned her position as the high school special education instructor. New hires included Annie Gerstbrein as the Middle School secretary, Karen Jedicka as an Early Learning Center Paraprofessional and Lori Brooke as a Middle School Summer school instructor. Early Learning Center Summer School teachers also hired included Amanda Wulf, Alicia Herman, Lori Hudson, Jackie Buysse and Stephanie Mckillip.
The board set their next meeting for Monday, Aug. 16, beginning at 6 p.m. at the District boardroom when they will be provided an enrollment update and report from Superintendent Kruger.