The Griswold School Board met in a Special Session Friday afternoon at the Middle School/High School Building. Superintendent Dave Henrichs started-off by mentioning three items on agenda would be tabled and discussed at a future meeting. They include Approval of Contract Renewals for Certified Staff, Non-Certified Coaches/Sponsors, Administration, Quasi-Administration and Support Staff, as well as setting the Contract Issue and Return dates.

The Board Friday, approved the resignation of Elementary teacher Veronica McKee at the end of the current school year. And, a potential new hire for the district Teresa Furnas, decided after a week-long trial, she did not wish to continue with the district, therefore she will not be hired. In other business, the Griswold School Board Approved a Reduction in Force, or RIF. Superintendent Henrichs recommended, and the Board approved, the reduction of T-J Quick from a full-time teacher to a 7/8 time teacher.

That’s because he has not kept his license up for a Health Instructor as agreed to in 2014. Henrichs said there currently is no one on staff who is certified to teach a Health course, a required offering The move will allow the District to seek someone who is allowed to teach Heath. Quick will have a chance to get his license renewed and return to full-time.

The Griswold School Board, Friday, also approved offering cash In-Lieu of Insurance, which would save the District over $3,000 per year. Henrichs said staff members currently have no incentive NOT to take single health insurance, but if their staff is covered by a spouses’ or other insurance policy, they can waive coverage and the District would give them $250 per month in cash.

The move affects about six or seven employees, and will not impact the District’s group insurance coverage or policy. The Board also approved what Henrichs called “The concept,” of changes to the Professional Salary Range, because they’ve agreed to have a labor-management committee explore and set the details later. No changes were made to the salary range. The also approved placing limits on the number of paid coaches, based on the number of students participating in a sport.

The final items on the agenda approved by the Board, included Master Contracts with the Certified and Non-Certified staff, which calls for, among other things, NO increase in salaries, with the exception of TSS (Teacher Salary Supplement), but there was a District-wide $16,575 insurance package increase, which is a 25/60 total package increase.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Judges are sealing warrants that allowed police to obtain blood and urine samples from “The Bachelor” Chris Soules and to enter his home after a fatal crash. Two orders released Friday say the release of warrant materials could jeopardize the investigation into Monday’s accident and undermine Soules’ right to a fair trial. Soules is charged with leaving the scene of a deadly accident after his truck rear-ended a tractor, killing 66-year-old farmer Kenneth Mosher.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — An Illinois man has been given 20 years in an Iowa prison for the fatal shooting of another Illinois resident. The Quad-City Times reports that 19-year-old Juwan Johnson, of Rock Island, Illinois, was sentenced Thursday in Scott County District Court. Prosecutors say Johnson killed 19-year-old Louis Woodson Jr. outside a store in Davenport on Sept. 2, 2015. Woodson lived in Quincy, Illinois.

RED OAK, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters in southwestern Iowa have rescued a man trapped under a tractor. Omaha television station KETV reports that the accident happened early Friday morning at Red Oak, Iowa. Crews were sent to the area around 6:15 a.m. for a report of a tractor rollover and a person trapped. Arriving firefighters found a tractor on its top with a man underneath. Crews used special inflatable bags to lift the tractor and get the man out.

CHELSEA, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a woman has died after a fire at her home in central Iowa. Poweshiek County officials say 56-year-old Catherine Foster died after firefighters found her late Thursday morning inside the residence a little more than 2 miles south of Haven.