Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Regular Board Meeting Minutes
July 21, 2025

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the Eddyville Elementary Library in Eddyville on Monday, July 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms and others who did not signed in.

Call to Order:

President Houk called the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ed Glenn – present; Eric Klyn – absent; Brianne Batterson – present; Micah Van Mersbergen – present via phone; Tom Judy – present; Tyrone Lobberecht – present; Curt Houk – present. Quorum established.

Public Forum:

No one spoke.

 

Correspondence:

None.

 

Approve Agenda:

Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Reports & Presentations:

Scott Williamson, Superintendent and Lori Hugen, Explore Academy Administrator, presented their reports to the board. Kayeleigh Rook introduced herself to the board as the new Blakesburg Elementary Principal.  Board reports from the Jr/Sr High Building principal, Curriculum Director and Director of Special Services were submitted but not read aloud.

 

Consent Items:

Glenn moved, and Judy seconded, to approve consent items 6a through 6c(v): minutes from June 16, 2025; account balances as of June 30, 2025; July bills list; and the following board policies: 206 – Term of Office of Board Members, 207 – Board Vacancies, 208 – Meetings of the Board of Directors, 209 – Notice of Meetings, and 210 – Quorum. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve 6c(vi): first reading of board policy 564 – Cell Phone Policy. Motion carried unanimously.

Personnel:

Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the following hires: Kayeleigh Rook (Blakesburg Elementary Principal), Damion Dover (Special Education Teacher, Jr/Sr High), Alisha Whennen-Zwer (Explore Academy Teacher), Margaret Eastlick (Paraeducator, Eddyville Elementary), Staci Consbrock (Elementary Counselor), Donald Denham (Custodian), Rusty Zook (Bus Driver), Zoey Nichols (Part-Time Paraeducator, Eddyville Elementary), Paige Ver Steegh (Daycare Director), Michael Pilcher (Head Boys Track), Gladys Genskow (Head Girls Track), Ryan Jackson (Assistant Boys Track), Whitley Alexander (Assistant Girls Track), Kiera MacPherson (Jr High Track), Hannah Koellner (Jr High Track), Helen Koffman-Stout (Jr High Track), and Kylie Batterson (Volunteer Girls Track). Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to accept the resignation of Tammy Davis, Blakesburg Elementary Principal. Motion carried unanimously.
 

 

Action Items:

• Judy moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve the following contracts and agreements: Student Teaching Agreement with William Penn University (2025–2030), MFA Oil Propane Contract (Sept. 2025–April 2026), 2025–26 Service Agreement with Employee Benefit Systems, 2025–26 Agreement for Teach to Heal Resource Access & Implementation, LEA Agreement with the Iowa Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Services, 2025–26 IHCC Contract for Educational Services, and 2025–26 Teaching Agreement with Iowa State University. Motion carried unanimously.
• Judy moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the open enrollment request that required board approval.  Small discussion held.  Motion carried unanimously.          
• Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve a resident district transfer request. Small discussion held. Motion failed due to lack of four affirmative votes. Vote: Lobberecht – yes; Judy – yes; Glenn – yes; Batterson – no; Van Mersbergen – no; Houk – no.
• Judy moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve a $10.00 increase in the daily substitute teacher rate. Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded, to approve the following 2025–26 fees: Student Breakfast – $2.70, Elementary Student Lunch – $3.90, Jr/Sr High Student Lunch – $4.10, Adult Breakfast – $3.65, Adult Lunch – $5.85, Milk – $0.70, Football Admission – $7.00, 3-Year-Old Full-Time Preschool – $800/month for 9 months, 3-Year-Old Half-Time Preschool – $400/month for 9 months, and 4-Year-Old Afternoon Preschool – $340/month for 9 months. Motion carried unanimously.
• Glenn moved and Batterson seconded to approve the 2025-26 Certified and Classified Staff handbooks.  Motion carried unanimously. 
• Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve the 2025-26 Jr/Sr High Student Handbook. Motion carried unanimously.
• Judy moved, and Glenn seconded to approve the 2025-26 Elementary Student Handbook. Motion carried unanimously.  
• Judy moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve the 2025-26 Preschool Handbook.  Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion Items:
Capital Projects: Superintendent Williamson reported that the street project is still on schedule and expected to be completed before the new school year. However, the kitchen storage room project is behind schedule, requiring the district to rent a freezer and cooler temporarily.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 18, 2025, at the District Office in Eddyville.
The board reviewed open enrollments. Current open positions include: Jr. High Interventionist (Jr/Sr High), Building Secretary (Eddyville Elementary), Special Education Teacher (Jr/Sr High), 6th Grade Teacher (Fremont Elementary), Mechanic (Vehicle Maintenance Department), Regular Route Driver, Daycare Associate, and Substitutes (all positions). Coaching/supplemental positions include: 9th Grade Baseball Coach, Wrestling Cheer Coach, Volleyball Assistant Coach, 9th Grade Volleyball Coach, Jr. High Boys Basketball Coach (2), Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, Basketball Cheer Coach, Assistant Girls Wrestling Coach, and Boys & Girls Golf Coach.
Glenn requested that the board discuss open enrollment in a future meeting. A work session on enrollment and class sizes will be scheduled, with the date to be determined.

 

 

Adjournment:
Glenn moved, and Judy seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

 

 

______________________________                

Curt Houk
Board President

 

 

______________________________

Mary McCrea
Board Secretary

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
August 18, 2025

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office in Eddyville on Monday, August 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Jonathan Edge, Deserae Sanders, Ann Ohms, Nick Batterson, and others who did not sign in.

Call to Order:
President Houk called the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ed Glenn – present; Eric Klyn – present; Brianne Batterson – present; Micah Van Mersbergen – present; Tom Judy – present; Tyrone Lobberecht – present; Curt Houk – present. Quorum established.

Public Forum:
Jonathan Edge spoke regarding open enrollment and building selection.

Correspondence:
None.

Approve Agenda:
Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Reports & Presentations:
April Glosser, Curriculum Director; Scott Williamson, Superintendent; and Jordan Buell, Jr/Sr High Principal, presented their reports to the board. Reports from the elementary building principals and the Director of Special Services were submitted but not read aloud.

Consent Items:
Glenn moved, and Klyn seconded, to approve consent items 6a through 6c(vi): minutes from July 21, 2025; account balances as of July 31, 2025; August bills list; and the following board policies: 211 – Agenda and Order of Regular Meeting Business; 212 – Public Participation in Board Meetings; 213 – Board Minutes and Records; 214 – Complaints; 215 – Conflict of Interest; and the second reading of board policy 564 – Use of Personal Electronic Devices. Motion carried unanimously.

Personnel:
Judy moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the following hires: Samuel Bahler, 5th/6th Grade Teacher at Fremont Elementary; Sandra Clayton, Eddyville Elementary Secretary; Clayton Osterloh, Mechanic for the Vehicle Maintenance Department; Nathan Smith, ELL Teacher; Kathryn Gutch, Special Education Teacher at Jr/Sr High (starting in December); and Zoey Nichols, Para Educator at Jr/Sr High. Motion carried unanimously. There were no resignations.

Action Items:

• Van Mersbergen moved, and Klyn seconded, to approve the following contracts and agreements: Balance Autism Agreement (August 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025); Shred-It for monthly shredding services; and K Repair, bus maintenance services for August and September 2025. Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the Engagement Letter with Piper Sandler & Co. for Sales Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2025. Motion carried unanimously.
• Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the Board Resolution for $4,080,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2025. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Batterson – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Judy – yes; Lobberecht – yes; Houk – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded, to approve the Board Resolution directing the sale of $4,080,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2025. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Batterson – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Judy – yes; Lobberecht – yes; Houk – yes. Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion Items:
Capital Projects: Superintendent Williamson updated the board on parking and road closures for the beginning of the school year.

A special board meeting will be held Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office to authorize issuance of the bonds.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 15, 2025, at the District Office in Eddyville.

A committee for building selection was created, with Glenn, Batterson, and Van Mersbergen appointed. President Houk appointed Van Mersbergen as chair. The committee will review current open enrollment guidelines and building placement procedures.

The board reviewed open enrollments. Glenn requested that the board revisit and discuss current open enrollment procedures and guidelines, he would like to see some flexibility for certain situations. The committee agreed to meet at the conclusion of this meeting.

Current open positions include: Junior High Interventionist at the Jr/Sr High; Custodian (Evening Shift) at the Jr/Sr High; Regular Route Driver; Daycare Associate; and Substitutes for all positions. Coaching/supplemental positions include: 9th Grade Baseball Coach; Wrestling Cheer Coach; Volleyball Assistant Coach; 9th Grade Volleyball Coach; Jr. High Boys Basketball Coaches (2); Assistant Girls Basketball Coach; Basketball Cheer Coach; Assistant Girls Wrestling Coach; and Boys & Girls Golf Coach.

Adjournment:
Batterson moved, and Klyn seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.

 

 

______________________________                

Curt Houk
Board President

 

 

______________________________

Mary McCrea
Board Secretary