Board Minutes - 2026.03.16 Regular Board Meeting

Board Minutes - 2026.03.16 Regular Board Meeting

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2026

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Offices in Eddyville on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting.  Visitors in attendance: Mark Miller, Ann Ohms, Dimitri Boyer, Caryn Smith, Melissa Reed-Appel, Bryce Edmonds, Jazmine Edmonds, Brad Fisher, Andy Alexander, and others who did not sign in.

Call to Order: President Judy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ed Glenn – present; Eric Klyn – present; Brianne Batterson – present; Micah Van Mersbergen – present; Kyle Teach – present via Zoom; Tyrone Lobberecht – present; Tom Judy – present. Quorum established.

Public Forum: Mark Miller, Byrce Edmonds, Jazmine Edmonds, and Andy Alexander spoke in favor of keeping a Kindergarten section at Fremont Elementary. Ann Ohms spoke against HF 2508 and requested that board members contact their legislators regarding the proposed legislation mandating approximately 32 non-contact days for student activities. Dimitri Boyer spoke regarding the wrestling program and the need for additional space. 

Correspondence: Thank yous were received from Jordan Buell and Scott Williamson. 

Approve Agenda: Lobberecht moved, and Van Mersbergen, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Reports & Presentations: Superintendent Williamson, and Director of Special Services, Cathy Williamson presented their reports to the board. Reports from the Jr/Sr High School Principal, Curriculum Director, and Elementary Principals were submitted but not read aloud.

Consent Items: Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve consent items 6a to 6c(v): minutes from February 23, 2026; account balances as of February 28, 2026; March bills list; and review of the following board policies: 314 – Administrator Salary and Other Compensation; 315 – Administrator Duties; 316 – Administrator Evaluation; 317 – Administrator Professional Development, and 318 – Administrator Code of Ethics.  Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve consent item 6a(vi): the second reading of board policy: 563 – Wellness.  Motion carried unanimously.  VanMersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded to approve consent item 6a(vii) 1 & 2: the first reading of board policies: 109 – Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination and 110 – Continuous Notices of Non-Discrimination.  Motion carried unanimously.  Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded to approve consent item 6c(vii)3: the first reading of board policy: 727 – School Bus Safety Instruction and Passenger Restraints.  Motion carried unanimously.

Personnel: Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the hires of Addisyn Bunnell, mental health intern for 2026-27, Janie Brinkman, mental health intern for 2026-27, Polly Davis, mental health Intern supervisor stipend, Heather Main, mental health intern supervisor stipend, Amy Spurgeon, mental health intern supervisor, Kaylee McKee mental health intern for Spring of 2026-27, Dimitri Boyer, head boys golf coach and Carson Genskow, head girls golf coach.  Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded to accept the resignations of Alisha Whennen-Zwer, Explore Academy teacher and Kathryn Gutch, Jr/Sr High special education teacher effective at the end of the school year.  Motion carried unanimously.    

Action Items:

  • Glenn moved and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the 2026-27 Morningside Teacher Agreement; the Iowa LGRP participation agreement for 2026-27; Evolve therapy practice supervision agreement addendum; and the mechanical system study from Modus-Eng.  Small discussion.  Will request mechanical system study for Blakesburg Elementary as well.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  • Lobberecht moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to approve the correction of the date for the Budget Hearing date to Monday, April 20, 2026.  Motion carried unanimously.   
  • Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve the recommended 2026-2027 school year calendar with Wednesday PLC early outs and professional development days on Fridays.  Discussion was held regarding moving the PLC dates to Monday and attendance of students on each of the weekdays.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  • Glenn moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve the change to the 2025-2026 school calendar with students making up the one snow day on Monday, April 6th and teachers making up their last contract day on Friday, May 29th.  Motion carried unanimously.
  • Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded to approve the late open enrollment of Paisley Frescoln, 9th grader from Cardinal to HSAP.  Motion carried unanimously.
  • Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded the furniture purchase for the Jr/Sr high quoted at #51,662.64.  Small discussion regarding furniture district wide.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  • Van Mersbergen moved and Glenn seconded the addition to the Academic Integrity & AI Use Policy to the Jr/Sr High student handbook.  Motion carried unanimously.
  • Batterson moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve Board Resolution FY26-03 SAE Grants, approving the transfer to $3,250.00 from fund 64 (Farm) to fund 21 (Activity – FFA) for the following SAE Grants: $500.00 Grant to Mira Brown – Breeding Sheep; $500.00 Grant to Natalie Tague – Dairy Goat; $250.00 Grant to Lylah Houk – Poultry; $500.00 Grant to Quincy Appel – Dairy Goat; $250.00 Grant to Ryker Keeton – Poultry; $250.00 Grant to Addyson Wells – Rabbit; $250.00 Grant to Meadow Hughes – Rabbit;  $250.00 Grant to Tate Harter – Poultry and $500.00 Grant to Kason Appel – Breeding Sheep.  Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Batterson – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Teach – yes; Lobberecht – yes; and Judy – yes. Motion carried unanimously.     

Discussion Items: Brad Fisher of Christner Contracting presented potential uses for approximately $270,000 to $290,000 in remaining contingency funds from the completion of the six-classroom addition at the Jr./Sr. High School. Projects discussed included: Wrestling room addition (approx. $193,000), Gutters and snow guards for the Eddyville Elementary gym roof (approx. $72,944), Paving of the student parking lot (approx. $700,000), Classroom cabinetry (approx. $296,000). The board requested estimates for replacing board office windows and the Fremont Elementary gym floor as additional options.

A board work session is scheduled for Monday, March 23, at the Board Office. Topics include contingency funds, kindergarten sections, focus groups, preschool programming, building transfers, and continued use of the food service management company.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Board Office in Eddyville.

Open enrollments were reviewed. Building transfers and current elementary enrollment data were discussed. Current open positions include Explore Academy Teacher, Regular Route Driver, and substitutes. Coaching/supplemental openings include Junior High Softball Coach and two Junior High Baseball Coaches

Adjournment: Batterson moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to adjourn the board meeting.  Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.

 

 

______________________________                                                             ______________________________               

Thomas Judy                                                                                                        Mary McCrea
Board President                                                                                                   Board Secretary

 

 

mary.mccrea@ro… Tue, 03/17/2026 - 15:56