In their March meeting, held Monday night at 6:00 pm, the Eagle Grove Community School District’s Board began the process of wrapping up the 2023-24 school year.
The board approved payments from the district’s General Fund on 59 line-items including utility payments, school supplies, food service supplies, equipment, vehicle repairs, staff reimbursements, special education tuition, building materials, fuel and more totalling $103,906.60. The board also approved $13,441.69 in bill payments from the Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL) Fund for eight similar line-items. And the board approved payment of $27,284.94 in insurance premiums from the Management Fund. And the board also approved payments of $27,936.15 of bills from the Activity Fund, across 40 line-items ranging from yearbooks to an after-prom donation, to supplies and staff reimbursements, tournament entry fees, tickets, lodging, medals, and more. Lastly the board approved $42,050.38 in payment of bills from the Nutrition Fund, for four line items of milk, bread, food, and a freezer repair. For more details on public funding expense payments, readers are encouraged to watch the public notices published in this newspaper weekly.
Next the Board turned to setting a public hearing to discuss the district’s 2024-25 school year budget before the public, and with public input. The hearing was set for Thursday, March 28th, at noon.
The board then approved the calendar for the 2024-25 school year. School will start August 23rd, following the summer break.
The board then approved their wage schedule for the 2024-25 school year to the Eagle Grove Education Association. The schedule includes a salary increase of $1,725 to teachers, and a $300 increase to supplemental payments (such as for coaches). A 3.06% insurance increase was also approved. Some non-bargaining staff members received increases as well, to make their wages competitive.
The board also heard a security update from Superintendent Jess Tolliver. Coming security improvements to be funded in part by a Safety Grant will include screens to show hallways and show who is in the school, as well as door repairs and improvements. Expense is expected to be somewhat over $50,000 per school building, and does not require board approval.
In other business:
– The June and July board meetings to handle end of year business were set for Thursday June 27th at noon, and Monday July 15th at 6:00 pm.
– Unanimously approved the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool resolution for Fiscal Year 2025, which will allow payment of certain bills out of the Management Fund rather than the General fund.
– Approved the first reading of the mandatory review of district policy 50508 regarding parent and family engagement.
– Heard board member reports.
– Heard of a meeting between several school superintendents with Governor Kim Reynolds from Superintendent Tolliver,
– Heard an update about possible changes coming to Iowa law regarding administrative staff wages.
– Heard that hiring for the 2024-25 school year is in full swing.
