The Eagle Grove School Board met in person for the April 12, 2021 meeting. Guests were not allowed at the meeting, however, they were able to join live via a YouTube channel.
The unanimous approval of the consent items left the board looking at several recognition letters, with one of them stating, “That’s a lot of shoes to fill.”
Resignation were presented from: Richard Thacker as 9-12 Athletic Director at the end of the 2020-2021 school year; Ana Breceda as an elementary school secretary; Allyn LeDouxas the high school science teacher; Anna Kozal as a sixth grade special education teacher; Emily Clausen as teacher leader TLC member at Eagle Grove Elementary; Jill Link as an Eagle Grove sponsor; Lanny Parrott as assistant football coach; Ann Sampson as Drill Team coach and flags coordinator; Ashley Flatebo as 7th grade volleyball coach; Eric Darland as assistant football coach; and Crystal Wieth.
Toliver noted to the board that there are several people within the school district who have expressed interest in moving into some of these positions. Once they know who is filling what positions, they will begin looking to hire new people to fill the open spots.
Eagle Grove Elementary Principal Mr. Carder spoke to the board in regards to all that has been going on in their building over the past month. First grader Sophia Padilla had her artwork selected to be included in the Art Educations of Iowa Virtual Art Show. He also told them that there are chickens and ducks being incubated in some of the classrooms. This is in thanks to a grant they received as are several other projects.
“We are trying to create unique experiences for our kids,” Carder said.
Heidi Vasquez, high school principal, was proud to announce that Katie Stevens was nominated for individual All-State Speech.
“This is a huge honor because only 11 people were nominated in the NE district,” said Vasquez.
Consumer Science Teacher Lisa Tapper has been named a 2020 AAFCS National Teacher of the Year finalist. There were three finalists in the U,S. Eleven students were also inducted into the National Honor Society in ceremonies held last Sunday, April 11. She finished by saying that this is “The craziest time of the year at the high school” as she told the board of important upcoming dates: May 1 is Prom, May 19 is Senior Recognition/Awards Night – only parents will be allowed to attend and masks will be required, May 20 will be the annual senior breakfast and community service day (project suggestions still be accepted, contact Brenda Deal at the high school), and May 23 will be graduation starting at 2 p.m. on the football field. If it is outside, there will be no limit on guests but masks are still suggested. If it rains, they will move the ceremony into the elementary gym and each family will be limited to six guests total. Vasquez said they will make the call the night before the ceremony if they feel they need to move it inside.
RBMS Principal Scott Jeske was unable to be present for the meeting but had a written statement that they were preparing for their first RBMS boys track meet on Tuesday in Humboldt, but Superintendent Jess Toliver, who read Jeske’s statement, added that the meet had actually been cancelled earlier in the day on Monday due to predicted winds and cold temperatures.
In discussion about the 21/22 school budget, Toliver stated, “As we discussed last month, our tax rate will drop $1.44 per thousand. We’re also dropping the income sir-tax rate.”
He went on to explain that the district has paid off a bond early.
“We’re glad you’re great with those numbers,” stated board member Darrin Robinson.
Robinson also asked what our student numbers look like for this year. Toliver responded he believes we are up 10 – 12 students.
“I think we will see an increase in enrollment for next year,” he said referring to the impact of COVID. “We’ll have kids that did not come back to school this year that I think will probably come back.”
The board also heard discussion on spending of the ESSER II money given to the school for use of COVID-related purchases.
“I have purchases here I’m going to ask for your approval on, and then we will see if we’re actually buying them,” said Toliver. It runs into those ESSER funds…in order to spend the money on anything over $5,000, you have to get approval from the state. So far, they have approved very, very little, and I’m on the fourth attempt trying to go through.”
Toliver said he has talked to others who are having the same issues. However, Toliver doesn’t believe there will be a problem with the Chromebooks and licenses. He is not sure about the online registration software they are requesting. Earlier that day, the state had just denied the request for a router/camera/installs as they wanted more information. Toliver clarified to the board that these are cameras for the administration building currently being remodeled and the cameras they use to help identify social distancing and what students have been around each other when there is a positive COVID case. They use them on the buses as well. He believes the cleaning equipment request will be approved, rounding out the four requests he has at this time.
During the Superintendent's report, Toliver told the board that the Eagle Grove Area School District would be receiving $1.7 million coming from the ESSER III funding, Toliver said we should have two-thirds of the funds by June 1, 2021. The remaining one-third will come next year. A total of $340,000 of that has to be spent on catching kids back up from time missed in school in 2020 due to COVID. Eagle Grove is going to look at using it for interventionists in their buildings, transportation, and summer school. Other spending is undecided because again, it is difficult to find other ways to spend the money that the state will approve.
“It’s going to be very difficult to spend all the money…$500,000 from last round and $1.7 million coming,” said Toliver. “So far, I’m zero for four in getting things approved.”
He added, you can’t use the money to pay your current staff. You can add positions, but when that money’s gone, how do you find the funding to continue paying them? So that is not really a viable option.
“We’re going to have to do a big project, it’s just a matter of what they (the state) will allow,” said Toliver.
They tried to get the money cleared to be used for the new ventilation system that has to go into the administration building project, but it did not qualify because it was a planned project before March of 2020.
In other business, the board approved an early graduation request for Isaac Olson; extended COVID leave act until the end of the school year; approved an alternative diploma curriculum change to replace Health 2 with the opportunity for students to choose an elective class (approved by the state);
