The Jefferson C-123 Board of Education met in open and closed session on January 18 to discuss the following school district business:
Jefferson School Board of Education members are, front: President Laura Galbraith, nine years, Sherri Redden, one year, Veronica Luke, one year, Melissa Wilmes, two years, back: Jared McQueen, five years, Travis Angle, three years, and Vice President Jeff Farnan, nine years.
The board discussed expanding the joint Platte Valley athletic teams co-op with South Nodaway R-IV to include both boys and girls basketball. Board members decided by acclamation not to co-op on basketball for the 2017-18 school year. All other athletic team co-ops will remain in place.
The board approved the purchase of a SC1500 REV stand-on floor scrubber for $7,894.38 to replace the current defunct 18-year-old scrubber. This model includes a maintenance-free battery and was chosen because of its ability to strip the floors in the hall and gym during summer maintenance. It also dries the floor as it cleans, making the school’s floors safer for use during the school year. It is seven times faster than the walk behind models and the school has a storage area available.
A change order was approved on the new gym construction for $1,727, the cost of rural water connection. This makes the change order total $45,468 to date on the project. A payment to EL Crawford Construction, Inc., St. Joseph, for $82,350 was approved.
As part of the new gym, all six basketball goals may be lowered for use with younger students. There will be 11 rows of bleachers. Superintendent Tim Jermain will determine if the five wheelchair spots mandated by ADA compliance can be pulled out for bleacher sitting if, at an event, there is no need for that seating.
Jermain will also determine if all four sets of bleacher stairs are needed and whether their width must be six feet. The current bleacher configuration will seat 605. The old gym was estimated to hold 350 at capacity.
Several policy changes were made on Jermain’s recommendation.
The board approved reimbursement for students taking fall 2016 dual-credit courses. To be reimbursed $75, students in college algebra, speech and western civilization must have a B or better in the class.
The 2016-17 Vocational Enhancement Grant expenditures were approved. The school matched 25 percent of the funds. Computers were purchased for ag and business classes. Also purchased were, for business, a camera, an LED high-definition TV and heavy-duty task chairs and, for ag, a 3D printer and tile flooring installation. The state grant amount was $46,800 and the school spent $15,600 for these improvements.
Township taxes were reviewed. The 75¢ debt service levy has meant an increase in funds collected for the district. The district has received 93.66 percent of the taxes. The district normally receives 95 to 96 percent of the total local taxes each year.
The board reviewed the 2017-18 calendar. There will be a calendar hearing and expected approval at the February board meeting.
After the closed session, the board agreed to extend Jermain’s contract by one year. Custodian Lane Reidlinger’s resignation was accepted effective January 31.
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