Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Public Hearing and Regular Board Meeting Minutes
May 18, 2026
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Offices in Eddyville on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. for a public hearing and regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance included: Aaron Hinnah, Ann Ohms, Caryn Smith, Brad Fisher, 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 Hearing – FY2026 Budget Amendment: President Judy opened the public hearing at 6:00 p.m. No one from the public spoke. Public hearing closed at 6:01 p.m.
Public Forum: Aaron Hinnah spoke on his run for Iowa House.
Correspondence: None.
Approve Agenda: Lobberecht moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports & Presentations: Superintendent Scott Williamson, Jr/Sr High Principal Jordan Buell and Curriculum Director April Glosser presented their reports to the board. Reports from the 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 April 20, 2026; account balances as of April 30, 2026; May bills list; and review of the following board policies: 404 – Employee Injury on the Job; 405 – Employee Conflict of Interest; 406 – Employee Records; 407 – Transporting of Students by Employees; and 408 – Credit Cards. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the hires of Martha Simmons, Explore Academy Teacher; Michelle McCoy, Behavior Interventionist at Explore Academy; Arielle Davis, Custodian at Blakesburg Elementary; Emma Phillips, 6th Grade Teacher at Fremont Elementary; and Stacey Munley, 4th Grade Teacher at Blakesburg Elementary. Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to accept the resignations from Samuel Bahler, 5th/6th Grade Teacher at Fremont Elementary; Sydnee Houser, Behavior Interventionist at Explore Academy; Larry Ruby, Maintenance Assistant; Nichole Ellington, Mental Health Counselor at Eddyville Elementary; Sydney Collett, Para Educator at Fremont Elementary; and Brenda McCombs, Para Educator at Jr/Sr High School. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items:
- Van Mersbergen moved and Glenn seconded, to approve the Teach Town Contract 07-01-2026 to 06-30-2031 and TF Technology Contract for 07-01-2026 to 06-30-2027. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded to approve the purchase of bleachers for the baseball and softball diamonds in the amount of $20,000.00. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the expansion of the current wrestling room ($166,000) including the purchase of a wrestling mat for the new space ($20,000) and cardiovascular training equipment ($10,000). Discussion was held. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to approve the concrete parking addition by the newly added classrooms in the amount of $240,170.00. Motion carried unanimously.
- Glenn moved, and Klyn seconded, to approve the following 2026-2027 Wage and Benefit Increases: Classified Staff – 3.01% total package increase ($66,138.85 new money); Administrators-Directors-Nurse-SBO-HSAP – 2.85% ($61,305.12 new money); Mental Health Counselors – 3.11% (set and funded by MH Grant funds); and Explore Academy – 3.18% (set and funded by consortium schools). Motion carried unanimously, with Judy not voting.
- President Judy allowed discussion prior to movement. Discussion was held on renewing with Opaa, a food service management company, for the 2026-27 school year. Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to not renew our contract with Opaa Food Service Management Company. Motion carried unanimously. Lobberecht left at 7:51 p.m.
- Sealed bids were opened, and the highest bid for each surplus vehicles, highest bids were as follows: Vehicle 1 (bus #18) $505.00; vehicle 2 (bus #6) $505.00; vehicle 3 (bus #28) $2,655.00; vehicle 4 (1996 bus) $505.00; vehicle 5 (1987 bus) $505.00; vehicle 6 (car #31) $3,250.00; vehicle 7 (car #32) $2,750.00 and vehicle 8 (2008 Chevrolet) $2,159.32. Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded to accept the highest bid for each vehicle. Motion carried unanimously.
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the FY2026 Budget Amendment. Roll Call Vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Batterson – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Teach – yes; Lobberecht – absent and Judy – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Capital projects were selected in the approved action items. The next regular board meeting is Monday, June 15th at 6:00 p.m. at the board office in Eddyville. The superintendent evaluation is due for 2025-26 and Secretary McCrea will email board members on scheduling. Future evaluations will take place annually in January. Open enrollments applications were viewed. Current open positions include Elementary Music Teacher for 2026-27, Mental Health Counselor for 2026-27, and substitutes for all positions.
Adjournment: Glenn moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Meeting adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
______________________________
Thomas Judy
Board President
______________________________
Mary McCrea
Board Secretary
