A candidate’s forum for persons who have filed to run for the Board of Education in the Atlantic School District will be held 7-p.m. Aug. 25th. Board President Kristy Pellet announced during Monday evening’s final, regular meeting of the current school board, that seven candidates looking to fill three open, At Large seats on the Board, will take place in the auditorium at the Atlantic High School. Three local media representatives will ask questions of the candidates, who will also take questions from the public.

Atlantic School Board 8-10-2015

Pellet said also, each of the candidates have been invited to attend an informational seminar that takes place this Wednesday from 1-until 3-p.m., at the High School Media Center. Pellet said Gary Sinclair, with PMA Financial Network, will be on-hand to present a financial workshop on school finances, which is a “primer” of sorts for those who may be elected to the School Board, on how to deal with funding matters.

In his report to the Board, District Operations Director Russell Peck gave an update on the various Summer Capital Improvement and/or Repair Projects. Peck said the cost to repair some of the heat pumps at the high school was slightly higher than expected due to some faulty pressure valves, which were replaced, while others were simply switched out. The system is wireless compatible.

Peck said also, the roof on the Middle School has been repaired, and is now draining properly. New furniture was also placed in the Middle School Art room, and Peck said the Teacher’s Lounge received a few kitchen cabinets. The Tuckpoint work is also finished. Peck says it came in under budget. It was estimated at $20,000, but the bid was $17,600.

The high school parking lot was also fixed. And, Peck said new bleachers at the Schuler Elementary School came with a much cheaper price tag than expected. He said he had budgeted $25,000 for them, but the ended up being $7,000 cheaper than any other bid. The motorized bleachers will have to be put in after school starts, though, since they have not yet arrived.

In other board activity, the hiring of an interim English, Speech and Theater Teacher was approved. Alex Bales has been hired on a one year contract. Bales, from Indianola, is a recent graduate of Iowa State University.