By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
KEOTA – During the March 13 meeting of the Keota School Board, Elementary Principal Seth Milledge stated that he had received quotes for furnishing the two classrooms the board plans to turn into a daycare and that it should cost around $20,000-$30,000. He also stated that he had contacted the nursing home to discuss doing food service for the daycare through the home, because Keota’s school cooks do not work all year round. He stated that, alternatively, the school could place a kitchen in the daycare, which is doable but would cost another $5,000, or partner with the Keokuk County Childcare Network to outsource food. Superintendent Lisa Brenneman brought up previously discussed plans to add a door separating the daycare from the rest of the school. She stated that, if things at the daycare go well, it could end up being moved to a separate building, and recommended against adding in a permanent door due to the cost. Milledge brought up the idea of instead adding a locking partition.
Brenneman stated that she had met with Insight and Denovo, the companies the board plans to perform a facility assessment at the school, and told them about plans to build a separate daycare building on a city-owned patch of land across the street from the school. She suggested having Insight and Denovo also draw up basic plans for a daycare building. Board member Pat Hammen asked if the board was jumping the gun, noting that prices would change by the time the district began building a daycare. Brenneman stated that, if the daycare has a waiting list and is turning people away like crazy, the board would need to have a bond vote in November to begin work on a daycare building next year. Milledge stated it would be good to at least have a plan in place. Board member Andy Conrad stated it didn’t make sense to begin plans for a piece of land the school didn’t own. Milledge stated that he had spoken to members of the city council, who told him they want the school to own the property. Milledge also brought up the idea of building a daycare as an add on for the school, instead of building it across the street, and recommended asking Insight and Denovo look into that option as well.
The board discussed whether to approve an open enrollment request for a student in the Keota district who wants to attend Sigourney. Brenneman explained that the request was turned in past the March 1 open enrollment deadline and does not meet any of the listed good causes. Brenneman stated she would not accept the request, except, instead of first accepting the request to Keota for approval, the student submitted it to Sigourney first, who accepted the request. Brenneman stated that the board can appeal this decision and that the onus is now on Keota to prove Sigourney should not have accepted the open enrolment request. Board member Billie Kindred stated that not appealing would set a precedent. The board approved appealing the open enrollment request.
Parent Chet Cave and Golf Coach Rod Hill requested the board’s blessing to install a golf simulator in the weight room area. They explained that they had already raised $7,000 of the $10,000 needed to install the simulator and that it would give students a place to practice in the winter. The board was in support of the idea.
Brenneman mentioned that a bill had been proposed by Heather Hora that would force schools to go back to the 180 day requirement, which would force Keota to either abandon the current four-day week or have classes go into July. She stated the bill had been voted down in committee, but could get attached to another bill.
The board approved a $10,500 bid from Denovo and Insight to perform a facility assessment The board discussed having New Thoughts Therapy in Richland begin providing therapy services in the fall. The board reinstated a 28e HSAP agreement with Mid Prairie which was cancelled at a previous meeting. The board gave approval to the athletic booster to pursue a Washington County Riverboat Foundation grant for softball field renovations. Business Manager Amy Greiner stated that the district had received its state audit, which noted a lack of segregation of duties but no other issues.
