Sheldon, Iowa – The Sheldon Community Schools Board met in regular session on Wednesday, February 19th at 5:00 pm in the high school library.
Several fourth grade students at East Elementary were present and shared what they have been learning about in the recently implemented “Leader in Me” training before the Board went into closed session for a short time to receive Sheldon Education Association’s initial collective bargaining proposal. The initial proposal presented to the Board was for a total 3.14% increase, and the Board countered with a 2.33% increase; negotiations will continue at a later date.
There were three open enrollments, five resignations, one contract adjustment, and four contracts offered, all of which were approved. Additionally, there was a $15,700 donation to the Sheldon high school band department from the Dean and Mary Harms Memorial Fund, with acknowledgement going to Philip, Sarah, and Mark Harms of Chanhassen, Minnesota.
At the elementary and middle schools students have been working on leadership training and exercises, focusing on being proactive rather than reactive. High school students are in the process of scheduling their classes for next year, which will be reviewed with parents during conferences, which will take place on March 17th and 19th from 4:00 – 8:00 pm. There was also a fair amount of discussion concerning the rise in office referrals (with a jump from 80 last year at this time to 108 this year) and poor grades, with the number of Fs just more than double (27 last year vs. 56 this year) at the high school level.
Additionally, 11 groups from Sheldon received a Division I rating at District Large Group Speech, moving on to perform at the State Speech Contest in Le Mars, where 8 groups received Division I ratings and were eligible for all-state nominations. In the end, Choral Readings “Immigrant Song” was selected to All-State to be held February 16th in Ames.
Superintendent Cory Myer shared a financial health report with the Board, as well as updates on staffing progress, the possibility of a turf field, moving the current concession stand to a new location within the building, and the proposed phone system update. Two of the current school busses needed to be replaced and the Board voted to so at a cost of $120,000. The calendar for the 2020-21 school year was also approved.
The next regular meeting for the Sheldon Community Schools Board is set for Wednesday, March 18th, 2020, at 5:00 pm in the High school library.
