Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
February 23, 2026
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Offices in Eddyville on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Danielle and Joe Hoover, Melanie Collett, Ann Ohms, Melinda Anderson, Michele Ratliff, Andy Alexander, Mark Miller, Emily Bunch, Nick Batterson, 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; Tyrone Lobberecht – present; Tom Judy – present. Quorum established.
Public Hearing – 2026-2027 School Year Calendar: April Glosser, Curriculum Director led a committee of staff members to prepare the calendar with 170 student days and 185 teacher days.
Public Forum: Andy Alexander stated that he felt “Kindergarten” was too vague of a description for an agenda item. Emily Bunch discussed the agreement the daycare is requesting regarding construction of a new playground.
Correspondence: Thank yous were received from the families of Bruce Klyn and Mike Duff.
Approve Agenda: Lobberecht moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports & Presentations: Superintendent Williamson, Jr/Sr High Principal Jordan Buell, and Explore Academy Administrator Lori Hugen presented their reports to the board. Reports from the Curriculum Director, Elementary Principals and the Director of Special Services were submitted but not read aloud.
Consent Items: Glenn moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to approve consent items 7a to 7c(v): minutes from January 19, 2026; account balances as of January 31, 2026; February bills list; and review of the following board policies: 309 – Superintendent Professional Development; 310 – Administrative Cabinet; 311 – Administrative Positions; 312 – Administrator Qualifications, Recruitment, and Appointment; 313 – Administrator Contract and Contract Nonrenewal. Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the first reading of board policy: 563 – Wellness. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the hire of Lindsay Davis, Mental Health Intern for 2026-27 and the resignation of Morgan Corcoran, Para Educator at Eddyville Elementary, effective immediately. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items:
- Glenn moved and Van Mersbergen seconded, to approve the 2025-26 Indian Hills Field Experience Agreement and RelayHub LLC Service Agreement for 2026-2029. Motion carried unanimously.
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the 2026-27 Service Agreement from Great Prairie AEA with the deletion of Librarian Services and Additional Media Collections stricken from agreement. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded to approve the Eddyville Childcare Memorandum of Agreement regarding playground construction. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve the Budget Guarantee Resolution. Small discussion was held regarding when EBF would fall under the budget guarantee. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Batterson – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Teach – yes; Lobberecht – yes; and Judy – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Teach seconded to set the Proposed Property Tax Levy Hearing for March 23, 2026. Small discussion regarding the amount of control the board of directors have on setting the tax rate. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to set the Budget Hearing and Certification for April 16, 2026. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn requested for an informal discussion to be held on Action Item e. 2026-2027 School Calendar prior to motion. Discussion was held regarding the scheduling of professional development days, PLC days and the difference between the two. Board would like to designate one day for both to be held versus current proposal of PLC early outs on Wednesdays and PD days on Fridays. Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to table the motion. Motion to approve the 2026-2027 School Calendar was tabled.
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded the review of the updated FY25 Unspent Authorized Budget after the Therapeutic Classroom adjustment to $8,013,419.00. Motion carried unanimously.
- President Judy opened discussion on Action Item g. Kindergarten prior to motion. Discussion was held regarding Superintendent Williamson’s recommendation to have only two classrooms of kindergarten at Eddyville Elementary. Current numbers from the Kindergarten Intent request to parents have 36 total students signed up: 14 resident students and 6 open enrolled students for Eddyville Elementary, 7 resident students and 2 open enrolled students for Blakesburg Elementary and 5 resident students and 2 open enrolled students for Fremont Elementary. Board would like to see if this decline in enrollment is truly occurring or if these two classes are an anomaly and enrollment will increase in two years. The board would also like to get feedback from families and community members before deciding on any reduction in class sections. A survey will be sent out to Eddyville families asking if anyone is willing to have their students attend Blakesburg or Fremont to help even out the class sizes district wide. Board would also like some financial information regarding expenses per building. Action item failed for lack of motion.
Discussion Items: The nutrition department just completed an audit that went very well. Mr. Williamson would like to know the board members’ feelings regarding the continuation of our partnership with Opaa, our Food Service Management Company. The board discussed the SAVE Project Contingency Resources with most of the board in favor of using these funds for building upkeep and repairs. Superintendent Williamson has a concern regarding proposed legislation that would have State funding being paid quarterly versus monthly and how this will affect district’s cash flows. The board set a work session for Monday, March 23rd, that will immediately follow the special board meeting. Superintendent Williamson asked the board’s feelings regarding offering an Early Retirement package. The board would like some more information regarding how the plan will work and if there is a clause that can be added that if a retiree accepts a job elsewhere that offers insurance, that they are required to accept that insurance. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 16th at 6:00 p.m. at the board office in Eddyville. Open enrollments were viewed. Current open positions include Regular Route Driver, and Substitutes for all positions. Coaching/supplemental positions: Boys & Girls Golf Coach; Junior High Softball Coach and two Junior High Baseball Coaches.
Adjournment: Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
______________________________
Thomas Judy
Board President
______________________________
Mary McCrea
Board Secretary
