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Allamakee board approves bus purchases, classroom cooling and routine personnel items in unanimous votes
Summary
The Allamakee Community School District board on Nov. 18 approved routine personnel appointments, bank depositories, bus purchases supported by an EPA rebate, classroom cooling installations and other motions; all recorded votes were unanimous.
The Allamakee Community School District board met Nov. 18 in the high school library and approved a slate of routine personnel, procurement and governance items by unanimous votes.
On the consent agenda the board approved hires and volunteers including a volunteer middle‑school girls’ wrestling coach, several paraprofessionals and activity volunteers; it also recorded resignations and a retirement. The board approved appointments for mandated roles, naming Jay Mathis and Kirby Jones as Level I investigators for child‑abuse reporting and Bill Shafer as Level II investigator; it also approved Luke Steege as equity coordinator and Section 504 coordinator, Jennifer Garin as Title IX officer, Brian Hilsabeck as homeless liaison, and identified district points of contact for migrant and foster students.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: motion by Beth Shafer, second by Kelly Deeney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Consent agenda (minutes; bills; financial reports; personnel; appointments; resignations; out‑of‑state field trip; special education contracts): motion by Scott Melcher, second by Jesse Delaney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - January/February meeting date change to Tuesday, Jan. 21 and Tuesday, Feb. 18: motion by Jesse Delaney, second by Kelly Deeney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Named depository banks and limits (Waukon State Bank $11,000,000; Freedom Bank $3,000,000; ISJIT/ISCAP $1,000,000): motion by Beth Shafer, second by Scott Melcher; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Board committee assignments (School Improvement Advisory, Negotiations, County Compensation, Wellness, Technology, Curriculum & Technical Advisory): motion by Jesse Delaney, second by Kelly Deeney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - AEA District 3 convention delegate (Erik Helgerson) and alternate (Beth Shafer): motion by Jesse Delaney, second by Kelly Deeney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Approval of 2024–25 district, board and superintendent goals: motion by Beth Shafer, second by Scott Melcher; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Bus purchases: accepted School Bus Sales bids for one 84‑passenger diesel bus at $169,958 and one 60‑passenger propane bus at $146,277 (net $121,277 after a $25,000 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate): motion by Jesse Delaney, second by Scott Melcher; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Classroom cooling mini‑split installation in two classrooms at total cost $19,031.61 ($18,065 Winona Controls; $966.61 Kerr Electric): motion by Beth Shafer, second by Kelly Deeney; outcome: approved, all ayes. - Early graduation approvals (pending completion of requirements): motion by Scott Melcher, second by Jesse Delaney; outcome: approved, all ayes.
What the board discussed Superintendent Jay Mathis presented the district’s fiscal‑year 2024 financial‑health report and told the board the district remains in an overall strong financial position. He cautioned, however, that long‑running underfunding of special education has created pressure that “requires the District [to] levy for cash to meet financial obligations and maintain a healthy fund balance.”
Administrators reported on operations and programs. Mr. Mathis noted the newly released School Report Card shows all buildings scored either “commendable” or “high performing.” High School Principal Jennifer Garin thanked local businesses and partners for continued support of CTE programs. Activities and principals reported strong fall activities and musical and band successes; directors updated the board on instructional rounds, finalized special education head counts, planned custodial winter prep and gym floor maintenance, the upcoming server/storage installation expected in December, lower free‑and‑reduced meal numbers and a need for bus substitutes.
What’s next The board set its next regular meeting for Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the high school library. Several items approved on Nov. 18 (purchases and appointments) will move to implementation by district staff, and the superintendent flagged potential future budget decisions tied to special education funding and levy considerations.
Sources: Board minutes and oral reports as recorded at the Nov. 18, 2024 Allamakee Community School District annual meeting.
