Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Board Work Session Minutes
November 2, 2026
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Offices in Eddyville on Monday, November 2, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. for a board work session. Visitors in attendance: Mike DeWild, Cindy DeWild, and others not signed in.
Call to Order: President Judy called the meeting to order at 6:30 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.
Approve Agenda: Lobberecht moved, and Teach seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Board Work Session:
- Early Retirement: Superintendent Williamson presented potential early retirement incentive options, including eligibility requirements, estimated costs, and projected savings. The Board discussed the financial impact of early retirement incentives, including concerns that shifting costs from the General Fund to the Management Fund does not necessarily result in overall District savings. Discussion also included potential staffing reductions, the impact of losing experienced teachers, and alternatives such as voluntary resignation incentives and reductions in force. Administration will further explore options and eligibility requirements, including potential limitations on resignation incentives.
- Potential Budget Reductions: Superintendent Williamson reviewed the District's financial projections, including an estimated FY2027 operational deficit of approximately $1.0 million, primarily due to declining enrollment and increasing expenditures. He noted that the District's current Unspent Authorized Budget (UAB) balance remains healthy, providing time to evaluate and implement necessary adjustments without requiring immediate drastic reductions. The Board discussed the need for significant budget reductions in FY2028, with a goal of achieving a balanced operational budget by FY2029. Discussion included staffing efficiencies, elementary enrollment projections, minimum and maximum class-size guidelines, and potential reconfiguration of elementary attendance centers. Superintendent Williamson also reviewed the Barker Guidelines, including the importance of community input in any potential restructuring process. The Board requested additional research regarding optimal class sizes. An additional work session was scheduled for Monday, November 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., to continue discussions regarding class-size guidelines and potential budget reductions prior to the November 16 regular Board meeting.
Adjournment: Batterson moved, and Teach seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
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Thomas Judy
Board President
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Mary McCrea
Board Secretary
