The Griswold School Board met Monday evening, and among other action items, approved an agreement with the Teachers Association. Superintendent Dave Henrichs said they settled at a 2.51-percent total package increase, which amounted to movement on the salary schedule, and the nine-percent increase to insurance. Last year he said, the staff took no increase, and the increase this year was minimal. He said the staff has been wonderful understanding the district’s financial situation. He said also, that they issued individual contracts Monday night to all of their teaching staff.

Superintendent Henrichs said also, they discussed the District’s Second Grade class for 2018-19. Currently, he said they have 23 first graders in two sections. At Lewis there is 16 students, and seven are attend at Elliott. “From a financial standpoint,” he says “it’s questionable whether that makes a lot of sense to have those split and fund two teachers. On the political /inconvenient side for parents, if were to change the one section for next school year, it could make it very interesting for some parents, because they could actually have a student in Lewis and a student at Elliott, which would make it difficult for them. If we were one year down the road where all are at Griswold, it would be an easier decision, so we’re looking at the pro’s and con’s of one section versus two for second grade next year, and last night (Monday night), the Board the matter to gather more information.” They hope to be able to take action during their Board meeting in April.

The Board approved the 2018-19 Budget and School Calendar. As for the Budget, Henrichs said they told their stake holders that the maximum levy would be no more than $14.02. The budget for next year calls for a levy of $14.015, so they’re under what they told stakeholders it would be. And, as for the school calendar, Henrichs said they will continue to operate under the Hour format, versus the Day format. The Hour format requires 1,080 hours. The District’s calendar consists of 1, 138 hours, so they built in nine extra days then needed, according to the law. There will be two sets of parent teacher conferences. Spring Break will be held in two segments: a small break at the end of March (2019), and then Good Friday, April 19^th and professional development the following Monday, April 22^nd, so kids get a four-day weekend around Easter.

The first day of school is August 23^rd. The last day is May 23^rd. The first snow day will be made up May23rd, and if there are two snow days after that, staff will make those up additional days by preparing for the move from the three facilities to one. But if there are more than four snow days, the kids will make up the remainder, past Memorial Day, the absolute end to the calendar.

Henrichs said also, their Multi-purpose room (Gym/cafeteria) will be made into a storm shelter. It is FEMA-rated for winds to around 200-miles per hour, but not an official FEMA location with emergency power and water. Because it is more “hardened,” the soil needs to be reinforced to support the weight of the structure. As a result, they will need to install GEO-piers. Those cost an additional $65,000, which will be made up for from the contingency funds set aside for the project.