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