CENTERVILLE —
The Centerville School Board met Monday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. for their regular monthly meeting and the first order of business was to hear from representatives of Ruan Securities and Piper Jaffray about refinancing a bond.
Representatives of Ruan Securities proposed that the school district could save approximately $40,000 in interest payments by refinancing with the company rather than staying with Piper Jaffray. The total amount of savings would depend on the rates available when the school actually signs a contract with Ruan, so might be different than those proposed.
Piper Jaffray’s representative laid out several scenarios for the school board to consider including refinancing or paying off the debt immediately with PPEL money to gain savings by retiring the debt. By refinancing Piper Jaffray estimated approximately $30,000 in savings to the district.
The board discussed both options and decided to move forward with refinancing through Ruan Securities, contingent on the amount of savings being close to $40,000 for the district once the contracts were finally drawn up.
The board approved a first reading of a revamped student school permit policy that re-inserted language that had been removed. In previous years, the policy stated students could receive school permits to travel to their school as well as places of extracurricular activities such as Lakeview, Indian Hills Centerville campus, Appanoose Country Club or other sites. That language had been removed that last time the policy was approved, and the board is moving to put it back.
The school districts current volunteer policy was then discussed. Superintendent Tony Ryan wanted guidance from the board on whether the current policy was satisfactory, or whether the board wanted to treat volunteers more like employees, with each person getting approval from the board and/or performing background checks. According to Board Secretary Linda Henderson, each background check cost $15. Ryan also wanted the board to consider whether they wanted to focus on athletic/coaching volunteers or all volunteers. He presented a sample policy the board could adopt if they want a more detailed volunteer policy.
Board members who attended the Iowa Association of School Boards annual convention, including Board President Nick Hindley, board member Bill Matkovich and Superintendent Ryan talked about the sessions they attended. Matkovich spoke about the top issues that were discussed at the delegate convention including support for preschool funding and the importance of getting allowable growth from the legislature in the next fiscal year.
Superintendent Ryan updated the board on Cincinnati and Mystic Elementary Schools. The buildings are currently being advertised for sale and bids will be presented to the Board on Jan. 14. At the time of the meeting there had been no offers on the facilities.
The board approved the application for additional allowable growth for the at-risk, returning dropouts and dropout prevention programs. This is an annual item the board approves each year.
The board then discussed the Instructional Support Levy. Superintendent Ryan recommended setting the rate at two percent and approving it for five years. Board member Rich Roos suggested approving two percent for three years. The board approved moving forward to a public hearing with the two percent rate for three years.
Two bids for buses were accepted by the board. Randy Walker had bid $1,513 each on a 1996 International bus and a 1995 GMC bus.
The board approved the resignations of Jamie Lewellen from bus driver and food van driver and Iva Doggett from kindergarten aide at Central Elementary and the retirement of Alan Harrington from maintenance worker after 19 years of service.
The board then approved employment contracts for William Lester as cafeteria food van driver, Kayla Canny in Lakeview cafeteria, Judy Clark in Central cafeteria, Destry Walker as a special education aide specific at the preschool and Denise Howe as school nurse, part-time.
The board reviewed some preliminary budget information to begin planning the 2013-2014 budget.
The non-certified staff pay matrix was discussed with Superintendent Ryan telling the board, the school district was having some trouble in hiring due to not being competitive with the going pay rate for the community.
The board discussed that Knoxville Community Schools has officially been accepted by the South Central Conference and will enter into the SCC in the 2014-2015 school year.
The board approved the purchase of Odysseyware for $11,500. The program will be used by regular and special ed students and is a technology based support system. It includes more than 160 online courses including advanced courses and is updated with new information continuously as well as updated to conform to the Iowa Core. It is replacing the Plato system which Centerville High School principal Roger Raum told the board was outdated and hard to update.
The board tabled a proposal from Alliant Energy to update some of their service equipment at Centerville High School until the board could have some questions answered about the proposal.
The board then approved sports official’s contracts and early graduation lists for Centerville High School and Appanoose County Campus were approved.
The board then accepted reports from the administrative team and a letter from North Side Insurance informing them of their Iowa Association of School Boards Safety Group dividend of $6,367.06.
The board then approved financial reports for the month before adjourning.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14 at the administration building.
Local News
December 19, 2012
Centerville School Board hopes refinancing bond could save $40,000, discuss changing volunteer policy
The board makes a company change to refinance a bond and looks at imposing new standards on volunteers
- Local News
-
-
UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: Customers without power now below 1,000
Severe storms moving through the area caused over a thousand to loose power Sunday night.
-
Severe weather expected today
OTTUMWA -- Southeast Iowa will likely see the return of severe weather Sunday. Forecasters say there is a very high chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and evening and some could become severe.
- BOB volunteers complete window installation at 18-80 Club The 18-80 Club in Centerville recently received new windows with the help of local volunteers. "Our windows are in and look great," said Carla Wahl, with the 18-80 Club. "With the temp today [May 14] being in the 90's maybe they will open them up. T
- City Council budget amendment public hearing tonight The Centerville City Council at tonight's regular meeting will hold a public hearing amending the fiscal year 2013 budget, which ends June 30. The budget amendment calls for an additional $3.5 million in total revenues and other sources and an additi
-
FFA trap competition
Southern Iowa FFA trapshoot held on Sunday, April 28 at the Bloomfield Izaak Walton League and hosted by the Davis County and Centerville FFA chapters. Winners included Gabriella Buban of Wayne County at Corydon, top female. The top team was Moulton
- Centerville City Council Agenda for May 20 Centerville City Council Centerville City Council will meet Monday, May 20 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Items on the agenda include approval of May 6 City Council meeting minutes, approval of April 11 Appanoose County Service Agency meeting minutes, a
- Prison term settles seven criminal cases A Centerville man facing 17 criminal counts in seven different felony, aggravated and serious misdemeanor cases in two southeast Iowa counties entered a guilty plea to three of the counts and was sentenced to state prison. The other 14 counts were di
- AC fair queen contest notice AC fair queen contest notice Contestants must be 16 to 21 years old as of Aug. 8. Contestants must be an active member of at least one worthwhile organization and be a resident of Appanoose County. Contestants must be present for the photo session,
- Work on 150th Avenue The Appanoose County Secondary Road Department reports the following road travel restrictions for 150th Avenue from 15129 150th Ave. to approximately .20 miles north of 15129 150th Ave. for a crossroad culvert replacement. Work started May 14 at 7 a.
-
Sprouse next IHCC president
OTTUMWA — The Indian Hills Community College Board of Trustees this week tabbed Dr. Marlene Sprouse to be the next president of the college. She will take over when current president Dr. Jim Lindenmayer retires in the fall. Board president John Poth
-
Loebsack calls for 'swift dismissal' in IRS targeting
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Dave Loebsack has called on President Obama to fully investigate the allegations that the Internal Revenue Service illegally targeted non-profit organizations based on ideological criteria. He also called for the swift
-
Students start new adventure with raised beds
Students and staff at SIEDA’s Appanoose County Head Start program were excited to receive their new raised bed vegetable gardens from the SIEDA Seeds of Hope program. According to Head Start staff, the students had chosen "Plants and How They Grow" a
- Rathbun Lake public information workshop The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rathbun Lake is hosting a workshop on Wednesday, May 22 with the intent to present information regarding the current water management operations, and the influence of recent and anticipated future trends necessitat
-
One airlifted after motorcycle accident on Hwy S70
One victim with injuries was transported to a hospital after sustaining injuries from a single-vehicle, motorcycle accident north of Plano Wednesday afternoon.
- Hy-Vee and Bill Riley Talent Search partner up DES MOINES - The Bill Riley Talent Search announced a new partnership with Hy-Vee Inc. Hy-Vee has agreed to become the presenting sponsor of the Bill Riley Talent Search with a multi-year contract, making a significant investment to keep the Iowa tra
- More Local News Headlines
-
UPDATE 11:42 p.m.: Customers without power now below 1,000
