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Starmont Community School District board approves $160,803 bus, security upgrades and routine business
Summary
At its Nov. 11 meeting the Starmont board approved the purchase of an 84-passenger Blue Bird bus for $160,803, accepted a safety-grant-funded security-improvement bid, adopted the District Career and Academic Plan and approved several facility and personnel actions.
The Starmont Community School District board on Nov. 11 approved an 84-passenger Blue Bird school bus for $160,803, accepted a bid for security improvements paid for with safety grant funds and adopted the district’s District Career and Academic Plan during its regular meeting in the high school conference room.
The bus purchase was approved on a motion by Julie Uhlenkamp, seconded by Jason Gearhart; the vote was 5-0. The bus will be procured from the vendor School Bus Sales for the stated amount. At the same meeting the board voted 5-0 to accept a bid from ITS to carry out security improvements using safety grant funding.
In other actions, the board approved a 1% increase on the pay scale for assistant track coaches (motion by Jacob Moellers, seconded by Julie Uhlenkamp), contingent on a memorandum of understanding with the teacher association; that motion carried 4-0. The board also approved Ace Refrigeration’s $6,800 bid to add mixers and reroute plumbing in the upper mechanical room, and approved a rental agreement with Windmill Event Center for the prom banquet and dance; both motions carried 5-0.
The board approved the District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP) on a 5-0 vote. Board members also voted to approve the district’s intent to apply for the federal Clean School Bus Rebate Program; the motion to approve intent to apply passed 5-0. No award has been determined and program details remain to be specified if the district later receives funding.
During the consent agenda the board approved minutes, monthly financial reports and bills, personnel recommendations (including hiring Mike Augustine and Jake Munger as shared girls’ head wrestling coaches) and accepted the resignation of Lucy Hansel as a secondary para; that package was approved by motion of Julie Uhlenkamp, seconded by Jacob Moellers, and carried 3-0 at that point in the meeting (Vicki Althoff and Jason Gearhart had not yet arrived).
Elementary Principal Heath Hesse reported improvement in discipline numbers compared with last year, said the World’s Finest Chocolate fundraiser concluded successfully and noted an approximate 95% parent participation rate at conferences. Secondary Principal Kris Martin announced a FAFSA night on Nov. 19 (6–8 p.m.), a robotics tournament on Nov. 23 and said attendance letters were mailed to students missing six or more days.
The board discussed early separation packages and gym rental requests but took no formal action on those items. Superintendent Robert Busch noted positive feedback after a recent legislative forum and said he will meet with Upper Iowa University students on Nov. 13 as a district education representative. The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
