(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Board of Education for the Atlantic Community School District met in a Special Session this (Wednesday) evening. During their session, the Board received an update from Guy Somers on the iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates) Program. They are also discussed School Social Work/Therapeutic classroom programs.

Superintendent Barber reminded the Board of the following dates of events:

• Their next regular meeting, which is 5:30-p.m. May 11th.
• Senior Class Night takes place at 7-p.m. May 11th.
• Baccalaureate will be held 7:30-p.m., May 18th.
• Superintendent Evaluation Comments are due in on May 18th, also.
• Graduation/Commencement is at 2-p.m. on May 22nd.
• There is a Board Work Session on May 25th at 5:30-p.m.
• The last day of school is May 26th.
• And, the End of Year Reception/Employee Recognition will be held May 27th.

The Atlantic School Board approved the following resignations and Contract Recommendations:

• Resignations:
  • Brandon Baggett, and Robert Astuni, HS English Teachers
  • Rhonda Hawkins, HS Business Teacher/Multi-Occupations Coordinator
  • Laura Vogel, HS Math Teacher
  • Pattiey Koontz, 3rd Grade Teacher
  • Jeff Hetrick, Preschool Route Driver.
• Contract Recommendations for:
  • Scott Dickerson, Transfer from HS Night Custodian to MS Day Custodian
  • Allison Widrowicz, MS Special Education
  • Nathan Berg, Volunteer Girls Golf Coach
  • Anna Pauley, HS Chemistry/Physics Teacher
  • Molly O’Hara, HS Physical Education/Health Teacher

The Board also approved the High School Gymnasium Sound System improvements. Superintendent Steve Barber said the original system was installed in 1995, and that they are “lucky” it’s lasted them this long. “We’ve looked at two different systems,” Barber said, “One that comes out of the scoreboard, which is limited to reach, and then a comprehensive one,” which would include acoustics, and is under the cost estimate of $51,000. It includes multiple speakers and controls, and will be an upgrade from the system they’ve been struggling with all year.

The goal is to have the work complete by sometime in August.