Sheldon, Iowa — School make-up days were one topic at Monday night’s meeting of the Sheldon Community Schools Board of Education.
Sheldon Superintendent Robin Spears reported to the Board that the District missed a total of six days of school this school year. Two of those days were the result of participation in the Boy’s State High School Basketball Tournament in March. He says the other four days were a result of significant snowfall that prohibited the district from safely transporting students to and from school.
The original last day of school for students was scheduled for Wednesday, May 23rd. Due to the six days that were missed, students will be making up five of the six days with the current last day for students scheduled for Thursday, May 31st. Since seniors are allowed to finish five days before the rest of the students, their last day will be Wednesday, May 23rd. Commencement is scheduled for Sunday, May 27th.
Spears told the Board teachers will be engaged in a Professional Development day on Friday, June 1st. That day is funded through Professional Development funding received from the State of Iowa. That leaves one more contract day for the teaching staff. The teaching staff will be allowed to complete eight hours independently as an end-of-the-year workday finishing grading and preparing their room for the summer cleaning crew.
In other action, the Board held a public hearing on the FY 2018 Budget Amendment. The amendment was necessary due to some unexpected expenses, including the middle school gym roof, and new kitchen equipment. No comments were received from the public, either written or oral. The Board then approved the Budget Amendment.
The Board also approved a trio of Open Enrollment Applications. One is for a Kindergarten student who will be enrolling into the Sheldon District from South O’Brien, another is for a Kindergarten student enrolling into the Sheldon District from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, while the third was for another Kindergarten student who is enrolling into the Sibley-Ocheyedan District from Sheldon.
Half a dozen employee resignations were approved during Wednesday’s meeting. Jerod Reinking resigned as 7th Grade Boys’ Basketball Coach, Clint Badberg resigned from his position as an East Elementary Instructional Associate, John Boender is retiring from his bus driver position, Shawna Rook resigned her High School Instructional Associate position due to moving from the community this summer, and Brenda Richards, and Rebecca Chrisman both resigned as High School Food Service Workers.
The Board also approved some twenty employment contracts for the upcoming school year at Monday’s meeting. They are:
Shelby Sumner MS Guidance Counselor $45,102
Jerod Reinking JV Boys Basketball $3,858
Matt Dykstra 7th Grade Boys Basketball $2,585
Brandon Lenderink HS/MS Vocal Music Teacher $46,752
Brandon Lenderink HS Vocal Director $5,015
Brandon Lenderink HS Musical Director $1,543
Mark Pritts Transportation Director $63,000
Nikki Schwarz Elem. Special Ed. Instructional Associate 6.75 hrs/day $11.00/hr
John Boender Substitute Bus Driver $27.00/hr
Instructional Coaches
Carla Kleinwolterink Instructional Coach $8,800
Steph Pritts Instructional Coach $8,800
Cindy Prewitt Instructional Coach $8,800
Model Teachers
Kathy Arnold Model Teacher $2,900
Sarah Dykstra Model Teacher $2,900
Jim Gude Model Teacher $2,900
Ann Jansen Model Teacher $2,900
Chuck Johnson Model Teacher $2,900
Jeri Kruger Model Teacher $2,900
Jason Uhl Model Teacher $2,900
Gina Woelber Model Teacher $2,900
The Board also elected to keep meal prices for the 2018-19 school year the same as they are this year, approved the low bid from John’s Equipment Sales of Sheldon for food service equipment totalling just under $49-thousand, and approved technology purchases of a firewall for the low bid of $12,875.87 from Solutions, Inc., and desktop CPUs for Food Service, Secretaries, Administration, and Synergistics Lab for the low bid of $19,966.08 submitted by Sterling.
The Board also selected the Independent Auditor, a selection that must be made every three years. The Board approved the low bid from King, Reinsch, Prosser & Co., LLC for an amount not to exceed $12.500 for each of the next three years. This auditing company serves five other school districts in out Area Education Agency.
The District recognized the contributions of all of the Board members during Monday’s meeting, as part of School Board Recognition Week.
The City of Sheldon and the Sheldon Chamber and Development Corporation had thrown down the gauntlet last week, challenging the Sheldon Community School District teachers, administrators and Board members to a rematch of the 2016 Softball Showdown that was won by the District with a final score of 5-3. The Board accepted that challenge at their Monday meeting.
