Trenton R-9 Superintendent Dan Wiebers announced the resignation of a Board of Education member at a meeting Tuesday evening.
Wiebers read Brooke McAtee’s letter of resignation which will be effective June 12th. Wiebers told the board it did not need to vote to approve McAtee’s resignation, it only needed to be announced to the board.
Instructions will be available for anyone interested in applying for the position, and applications can be picked up at the Trenton R-9 District Office during regular hours until June 6th. He noted that if one person applies, the board may decide to interview that person during open session at the June meeting.
If there are multiple applicants, the board will interview them at the next meeting, if no one applies, someone will need to be appointed to fill the position. He noted that whoever takes McAtee’s place will only fill the position until the end of her original term, which is through April 2019. The person will also have to go through the same training as other board members.
The board approved a bid for the Trenton High School gym roof replacement project. Director of Supportive Services Kris Ockenfels reported Peyton-Roberts Roofing’s bid of $74,203 was the cheapest of three bids received. Delta Roofing ($118,000) and JR and Company ($127,670) also submitted bids. Ockenfels said the roofing work will be done this summer.
The board approved the district’s service agreement with Pro-Serv to provide nine copy machines and service for those machines for 60 months. Ockenfels reported that the rate is $3,000, which is equal to the rate the district is currently paying. He said S. M. Rissler Elementary School, Trenton Middle School, and High School will each receive two new machines. The district office will receive one new machine. The Preschool and Vo-Ag Building will each receive a refurbished machine. Ockenfels said the agreement will cover 2.4 million copies per year.
The board approved a three-year agreement with Apptegy to provide a website, app, and Thrillshare services for the district. Superintendent Wiebers reported there is a one-time fee for mobile app development of $9,000 with a three-year app discount of $900. Thrillshare Publishing Platform for desktop and mobile will cost $20,400 based on about 11 hundred students.
Wiebers said the district will pay $9,500 annually on July 1st for three years (2018-2020) to pay for the total cost of the services of $28,500. He noted that the district would pay about $6,800 for the Thrillshare services after July 1st, 2021. He added that Apptegy’s services would provide other ways to find out information about the district and view district announcements, including through the school’s website, Facebook, and Twitter.
The board approved the addition of an assistant varsity football coach for the 2018-2019 school year. It is a tier three salary position, which ranges from $,750 to $3,800. Varsity Football Coach Brandon Boswell reported the addition will make seven coaches for seventh through 12th grades. There will be two for junior varsity and five for varsity and he indicated he has talked to a few individuals about coaching. He wants to make sure whoever is hired is a quality coach and “not just another body”. Boswell added that 44 students have said they will go out for football next school year, which is up four from this year.
Superintendent Wiebers reported the applications for the Trenton Teacher of the Year program are in, and the board members should rank the applicants. He said he plans to announce the winner May 18th. Wiebers thanked the district’s 176 employees and said multiple activities are being held this week to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.
Wright Memorial Hospital and the Grundy County Health Department are working together to offer sports physical exams for free for all area students planning to participate in athletic and cheerleading activities for the 2018-2019 school year. He said they provided some physicals May 2nd, and more physicals will be offered on a first come, first served basis at the Wright Memorial Physicians Group in Trenton Wednesday afternoon from 3 o’clock to 5:30.
Wiebers announced that a rough draft of the 2018-2019 budget proposal will be shared at the June board meeting. The final meeting of the fiscal year will need to be set the final week of June to approve the 2018-2019 budget and final bills for payment as well as to close out the 2017-2018 budget.
Rissler Elementary School Assistant Principal Kayli Burrell reported on the Title One Program Evaluation. She said the program serves 34 Kindergarteners, 33 first graders, 31-second graders, 27-third graders, and 30-fourth graders. One of the goals of the program is to raise achievement in math and reading skills. Burrell added that the program’s budget is $377,663. However, it is federally funded, which she said means everything spent is refunded by the federal government.
The board recognized the district’s three employees who will retire at the end of the 2017-2018 school year. Those employees include Mary Ritko with 46 years of service, Connie Olmstead with 26 years, and Kathy Wright with nine years. Board President Doug Franklin noted that the retirees have 81 years of combined service.
Rissler Principal Jennie Boon reported that the school received the PBS Silver Award. Trenton Middle School Principal Daniel Gott recognized the May Loyalty Students of the Month. He said various talents of students will be featured at the TMS Showcase in an open house format Friday from 8:30 to 11 o’clock.
Superintendent Wiebers reminded the board that the high school graduation will be at the Ketcham Community Center in Trenton Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock noting that board members should line up at 1:45.
