(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met in a regular monthly session this (Wednesday) evening at the High School Media Center. Under the Action Items portion of their agenda, the Board approved the following:

• Renewing a Memorandum of Understanding with Family Connections for another year.
• A Green Hills AEA agreement for paid (managed) services.
• A proposed, modified agreement with the Nishna Valley Family YMCA, re: The Early Childhood Center, Wickman Center, etc., spaces, through the end of  the 2024-25 School Year. The agreement must also approved by the YMCA’s Board of Directors.
• An i-JAG agreement. The District has had an agreement with i-Jag for two-years.
• The Board approved an Operational Sharing agreement for the 2024-25 School Year, with the Griswold CSD for a Transportation Director. ACSD Transportation Director Steve Anderson will split his services 80-20 between the Districts. Griswold has already approved the continued sharing agreement.
• and Sharing Agreements for Boys and Girls Sports: Swimming and Soccer.

The Atlantic School Board also approved the resignations of:  Troy Roach – Speech & Debate Coach (effective 6/30/24, not June 1st, as the previous agenda had indicated), and Caleb Winters, Special Education Para (effective at the end of the current school year).

They also approved Contract Recommendations for the 2023-24 School Year: Makenna Askeland – MS Softball Coach (Summer 2024); Tina Franken – Summer Lunch Position (6/2024 & 7/2024); Terry Hinzmann – Summer Credit Recovery; and Kay Schmitt – Transportation & oversee Voc. Rehab.

And, they approved other Contract Recommendations, for the 2024-25 School Year, include: Jim Brauer – HS Sped Teacher; Amber Moore – 7th Grade Volleyball Coach, Fall 2024, along with Athletic Volunteer Coaches, including: Baseball – Josh McLaren & Darby McLaren, Softball – Bob Gross; and MS Softball Volunteer Coach – Paul Kite.

In her report to the Board, Superintendent Dr. Beth Johnsen spoke about the Home School Program and School Board Recognition month. She said Linda Nichols – CPI/Home School Coordinator – is retiring, so her position is being moved to Cara Andersen. She is currently serving one-quarter time until next year, when she will serve three-quarters time. The full-time (FTE) home school teacher positions will stay the same, according to Dr. Johnsen. She said the home school program continues to grow, with kids being added every year.

With May being School Board month, Dr. Johnsen thanked members of the Atlantic School Board for everything they do.

Board Member Gini Jordan was pleased to report negotiations between the District and its Certified/Non-Certified Staff appear to be going well.

Late last month, the Atlantic Education Association and the Atlantic School District presented proposals for contracts for the next two to three years during a special meeting. Association members proposed a 9% total package increase for the first year, and district officials proposed a 9.27% salary increase.

Lisa Jones, Director of Finance/Board Secretary, said the District’s financials “look really good.” The District is nearly finished with the current fiscal year, she said, with only this month and next remaining. That means they are finishing-up with the little things that need to be purchased yet this year and thinking about their needs for next year.

(Jones said with regard to nutrition, they are still encouraging those who owe money on their lunch accounts to get payments turned in before the end of the school year.) And, while many in the community have reached out and donated to help the lunch account…

(Jones said there’s still a need, “and so we’re asking those parents to find a way to finish that off or set-up a payment plan of some sort….so they’re not coming into next year with a negative balance, because that does roll over…and that’s not how we want the students to start their year.”)

The Board approved: a five-cent increase in Nutrition Meal Prices for 2024-25; Trash, Milk and Bread bids for 2024-25; and, Student Fees, rates and charges. The fees remain unchanged from last year. The JMC portal will have an application for free-and-reduced lunches, according to Finance Director Lisa Jones.

Snyder and Associates Engineer Austin Sonntag reported to the Board the Storage Building project at the High School, that began last year, is in the process of wrapping-up. The final pay application amounts to $3,739.80. The Board passed a Resolution accepting the work on the building.

The Board’s next meeting (A Special Session for to ratify the bargaining agreement with District Certified Staff) will take place May 15th. A Work Session was set for May 22nd.