New Lothrop board unanimously approves hires, curriculum additions, policy updates, i-Ready purchase and tentative labor contracts

The New Lothrop Board of Education voted unanimously on Aug. 19 to approve a package of routine and operational items, including personnel hires, curriculum updates, policy adjustments, a district emergency operations plan and a purchase of the i-Ready K–8 diagnostic tool.

Financial vote and totals: Finance chair Jim Eustace presented bills for payment totaling $899,380.99 (general fund $880,078.99; school service $19,302.00). The board approved payment of the bills and accepted the monthly financial report showing a beginning balance of $2,370,137.92, receipts of $1,203,036.47 and an ending balance of $2,673,793.40 (motions carried 7-0).

Personnel and curriculum: The board accepted the resignation of music teacher Shawn Sudduth (effective Aug. 12, 2024) and approved hires and transfers, including Kim Bowns (elementary part-time office manager), Kayla Garcia (athletics/transportation office manager), DeeDee Brunet (freshmen girls volleyball coach), transfers and aides (Samantha Irwin, Kristi Plumb, Tayler Hill, Nicole Heslip) and the hire of Mitchell Clark as music teacher effective Aug. 19, contingent on required certification and background checks where noted. The board also approved Fall Schedule B appointments for 2024–25.

Curriculum changes approved included adding Tuesdays With Morrie for 11th grade and Fire Keeper’s Daughter for 12th grade to the high school curriculum (motion carried 7-0).

Policy and safety items: Superintendent Wayne Wright read the second reading of Neola policies earlier in the meeting; the board moved to change the complaint officer listed on multiple Neola policy numbers from Dr. Heather Luznak to Wayne Wright and approved second readings of Title IX special 2024 policies (2264, 2266). The district and building emergency operations plan was approved as a working document to be modified as needed.

Instructional purchase: The board approved purchase of the i-Ready K–8 diagnostic tool for the 2024–25 school year at a cost not to exceed $25,448.50.

Labor agreements and legal matters: The board voted to enter closed session citing Section 8(1)(e) of the Open Meetings Act and Section 13(1)(g) of the Freedom of Information Act for attorney-client privileged correspondence and negotiations. After closed session, the board approved tentative agreements with the MEA Teachers Association and the MESPA support staff for the 2024–25 year (motions carried 7-0). The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Accepted minutes (Green/Henige) — 7-0; Payment of bills (Henige/Birchmeier) — 7-0; Accept financial report (Green/Krupp) — 7-0; Resignation of Shawn Sudduth (Eustace/Birchmeier) — 7-0; Hires/transfers listed above (various motions) — 7-0; Add novels to curriculum (Vincke/Krupp) — 7-0; Change complaint officer in Neola policies (Eustace/Birchmeier) — 7-0; Title IX second reading (Birchmeier/Krupp) — 7-0; Emergency operations plan (Henige/Birchmeier) — 7-0; i-Ready purchase (Krupp/Henige) — 7-0; Hire Mitchell Clark (Green/Krupp) — 7-0; Enter closed session (Vincke/Henige) — 7-0; Approve tentative MEA and MESPA agreements (Birchmeier/Vincke) — 7-0.

Why this matters: The votes finalize staffing and curricular choices for the school year, establish procedural responsibility for policy complaints, and commit district funds to instructional diagnostics and collective-bargaining agreements that will affect staff compensation and district operations.

The board's next regular meeting is set for Sept. 16, 2024 in the high school library at 6:00 p.m.