Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes
June 16, 2025
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the Board Office in Eddyville on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms and others 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 – absent, Eric Klyn – present, Brianne Batterson – present, Micah Van Mersbergen – present, Tom Judy – present, Tyrone Lobberecht – present, and Curt Houk – present. Quorum established.
Public Forum:
No one spoke.
Correspondence:
A thank you card was received from the family of Doug Brinegar, former board member of EBF.
Approve Agenda:
Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports & Presentations:
Scott Williamson, Superintendent, Jordan Buell, Principal at the Jr/Sr High and Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services, presented their reports to the board. The report from the curriculum director was submitted but not read aloud.
Consent Items:
Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded, to approve consent items 6a to 6c(v): May 19, 2025 minutes, May 29, 2025 minutes, account balances as of May 31, 2025, June bills list, and school board policies: Powers of the Board of Directors – 201, Duties of the Board of Directors – 202, Election of the Board of Directors – 203, Qualifications of the Board – 204, and Oath of Office – 205. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel:
Judy moved, and Batterson seconded, to approve the hires of Kayeleigh Rook, Jr High Interventionist, Jason Maddy, Jr/Sr High Social Studies Teacher, Cassie Henderson, Behavior Interventionist at Explore Academy, Sydnee Houser, Behavior Interventionist at Explore Academy, Gladys Genskow, JH Softball Coach 24-25, Micheal Pilcher, Head Cross Country, Gladys Genskow, Head Volleyball, Tony Fenton, Head Girls Basketball, Dimitri Boyer, Head Boys Wrestling, Garrett Krause, Head Girls Wrestling,
Eric Lenox, Asst/JH Cross Country, Kiera MacPherson, JH Volleyball, Megan Lehman, JH Volleyball,
Ryan Jackson, 9th Grade Girls Basketball, Megan Lehman, JH Girls Basketball, Jeff Harland, JH Girls Basketball, David Hall, Asst Boys Wrestling, Jake Demmon, JH Boys Wrestling, Paige VerSteegh, Color Guard, Teri Tuller, Football Cheer Sponsor, and the following volunteers: Football: Dustin Snakenberg
Volleyball: Robin Taylor, Kiley Lobberecht & Kylie Batterson, Boys Basketball: Travis Stout & Eric Klyn, Girls Basketball: Madysen Wade, Boys Wrestling: Richard Lettington, Brad Steele, Adam Proctor, Justin Stout, Derek Fye, Lance Johnston & Kyler Ricard and Girls Wrestling: Sydney Bowlin. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the resignations of Meghan Lettington, Wrestling Cheer Coach, Kristy DeZwarte, 5th Grade Classroom Teacher at Fremont Elementary, Paula Richards, Special Education Teacher (Strat II) at Jr/Sr High and Sierra Kendall, 6th Grade Classroom Teacher at Fremont Elementary. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items:
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the Contract and Agreements: Student Teaching Agreement with Buena Vista College 2025-2026, De Vries Counseling & Consulting 2025-2026 Contract - Explore Academy, 2025-2026 Purchased Service Contract for T F Technology, and 2025-2026 Service Agreement for Coda Hands. Motion carried unanimously.
- Batterson moved and Klyn seconded to approve Board Resolution FY25-04 with the date corrected from FY23-03 to FY25-04 in the document. The board resolution was for the purchase of $19,905.02 Safety Equipment. A brief discussion followed. Roll Call Vote: Glenn – absent, Klyn – yes, Batterson – yes, Van Mersbergen – no, Judy – yes, Lobberecht – yes, and Houk – yes. Motion carried 5-1.
- Klyn moved and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve the following Wage Settlements: Classified 2025-26 Wage Settlement: 7.07% Total Package Increase, Certified 2025-26 Wage Settlement: 6.07% Total Package Increase, Daycare 2025-26 Wage Settlement: 3.04% Wage Increase, Explore Academy 2025-26 Wage Settlement: Wages Set by the Consortium 3.06% TP Increase, and Admin/Directors/Nurse/SBOs & HSAP 2025-26 Wage Settlement: 7.06% Total Package Increase. Motion carried unanimously.
- Judy moved and Batterson seconded to approve the quote of $50,736.33 for new student desks and chairs. Motion carried unanimously.
- Van Mersbergen moved and Klyn seconded to approve the quote of $20,565.00 to repair the roof on the bus barn at Fremont Elementary. Motion carried unanimously.
- Judy moved and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve the quote of $38,210.00 to replace the Walk-In Freezer at the Eddyville Elementary. Motion carried unanimously.
- Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded to approve the open enrollment after the deadline for the 2025-26 school year. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items:
Capital projects were discussed in Superintendent Williamson’s board report; The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025 at the Eddyville Elementary Library. There were no open enrollments. Open positions are: Special Education - Strat II Teacher at Jr/Sr High, 5th Grade Classroom Teacher at Fremont Elementary, 6th Grade Classroom Teacher at Fremont Elementary, Elementary School Counselor, Teacher at Explore Academy, Daycare Director, Diesel Mechanic – Bus, Regular Route Driver, Daycare Associate, Substitutes for all positions and the following coaching/supplemental positions: 9th Grade Baseball Coach, Wrestling Cheer Coach, Volleyball Assistant & 9th Grade Coach, Boys Basketball - Jr High Coach (2 needed), Assistant Girls Basketball Coach, Basketball Cheer Coach, Assistant Girls Wrestling Coach and Boys & Girls Golf Coach.
Adjournment:
Lobberecht moved, and Batterson seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
The board took a five-minute recess prior to opening the work session
Board Work Session
Call to Order:
President Houk called the Work Session to order at 6:48 p.m.
Approve Agenda:
Batterson moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the agenda for the board work session. Motion carried unanimously.
Work Session Items:
- Preschool: Current enrollment numbers for preschool 2025-26 are 8 at Blakesburg Elementary, 26 at Eddyville Elementary and 9 at Fremont Elementary. Discussion was held on the advantages and disadvantages of having one building serve as the centralized location for all preschool students. The Board expressed concerns about separating younger siblings from older siblings located in other buildings. Transportation is also a concern. At this time, the board will not be making any changes to the current preschool program and will still have a preschool classroom in each of the elementary buildings.
- Class Size Draft Policy: With declining enrollment the board is going to create a board policy to guide future conversations, discussions, and decisions that will need to be held when the total number of students in a classroom is between 10-12 students.
- Resident Transfers: These are due by June 30th and will be reviewed and voted on at the July regular board meeting.
- Capital Projects: Superintendent Williamson wanted to know if the board was interested in proceeding on the recommendation from the facility committee regarding the building of a new competition gym. At this point, the board is not in favor of pursuing.
- Daycare Transfer of Resources: The question was raised that when the daycare becomes privatized, would the district be able to give the remaining funds to the new owners. The Department of Education had responded to Superintendent Williamson’s question and stated that once money is received into the school district’s bank account, it is public funds and cannot be given to another entity. Donations will at some point need to go to the new owner vs being deposited into the school’s bank account.
- Cell Phone Policy: The administrators will work on creating a board policy regarding the use of cell phones and other electronic devices by students during the school day. The Department of Education has sent out a template to help districts create this policy.
- 10 Month Employees paid over 12 Months: The 10-month non-exempt employees will now have a form that they will need to sign that they acknowledge that their pay will be spread out over 12 months and that they understand the payment process.
Adjournment:
Batterson moved, and Klyn seconded, to adjourn the board work session. Motion carried unanimously. The work session adjourned at 7:56 p.m.
______________________________
Curt Houk
Board President
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Mary McCrea
Board Secretary
