Print
E-mail
Rate
School board to ask Barrett to fill vacancy
by diane vance /gate city staff writer
Monday's Keokuk School Board meeting began with a moment of silence for board member Dave Hotop, who died last week.
The board has 30 days from then to fill the seventh seat on the board, which is elected at-large.
Two options were discussed Monday: either appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the September school board election or hold a special election.
“When Dr. Tom Wemette died (Nov. 12, 2006) we asked Brian Richardson to return to the board because he was the most recent person to have left and had the most recent experience, training and knowledge,” said board president Jim Vandenberg.
“Dave Barrett is our next most experienced former board member. We could ask him if he is interested or we could appoint someone else.”
Barrett served on the Keokuk School Board for six years. He did not run for re-election in 2005. Previously Barrett also served on the Area Education Agency board for nine years and on the Fort Madison School Board for six years.
Board members Tyler McGhghy and Brent Gatton agreed Barrett should be asked. Vandenberg was to contact Barrett today.
“Dave knows what's going on,” said McGhghy.
Reached by phone this morning, Barrett said he is interested.
“It would be an honor to serve again,” he said. “Dave Hotop followed me in my seat and I will gladly come back and fill his seat.”
Four positions in the seven-member school board will be up for re-election in September: Hotop/Barrett and Wemette/Richardson, as well as Gatton and Vandenberg. Hotop's term would have lasted until September 2008 and Wemette's until September 2009.
Board member Julia Logan raised a concern that the board could have several inexperienced members. Normally, just two or three seats expire in a rotation to keep a balance of new and experienced members.
“On the September ballot, we'll have two seats with three-year terms, one seat with a two-year term and one seat with a one-year term,” said business manager Greg Reynolds.
In other business the board:
Discussed the Facilities Committee third recommendation to assess the industrial technology program at KHS.
One of the recommendations is to connect the shops to the main school building so students do not need to walk outside to get to classes.
The placement of a roll-away dumpster by the shop has helped clear clutter in the wood shop and the metal shop is in the process of getting cleaned.
“First we need to clean and organize the shop areas, then assess the program's needs,” said Superintendent Jane Babcock. “Then we can meet with an architect to make some plans. We also want to coordinate with SCC.”
The high school already is working with Southeastern Community College, said KHS Principal David Keane.
“SCC is going to bring some displaced workers over and learn AutoCAD at the high school,” said Keane. “They also will use our welding program for about six welders.
“SCC has a new vice president, Verlin Fick, who is really great to work with and interested in connecting the high school programs with the college,” said Keane. “He wants to provide as many training opportunities as possible in Southeast Iowa.”
Project Lead the Way, a collaboration with Rockwell-Collins and Kirkwood Community College, both in Cedar Rapids, is a pre-engineering program Keane is hoping will come to SCC.
“There's also a bio-technology program we're hoping to offer next year,” he said. “We could be the pilot program in partnership with Central Lee for this. There's $18,000 to help get equipment for the pilot.”
Approved Keokuk Middle School's registration/handbook for 2007-2008.
Approved a board policy on testing - how tests are prepared for and administered by teachers.
Approved a consent listing of personnel actions, including accepting the resignation of assistant varsity soccer coach Carlos Barrera and hiring him as head varsity girls soccer coach and program coordinator.
Heard Reynolds has done a survey comparison of school registration fees and found Keokuk to be the lowest. There will be discussion and action to change the fees at the next board meeting.
Approved publishing the 2007-2008 budget adoption and set a public hearing on the budget for the next school board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 9, in the high school library/media center.
The board has 30 days from then to fill the seventh seat on the board, which is elected at-large.
Two options were discussed Monday: either appoint someone to fill the vacancy until the September school board election or hold a special election.
“When Dr. Tom Wemette died (Nov. 12, 2006) we asked Brian Richardson to return to the board because he was the most recent person to have left and had the most recent experience, training and knowledge,” said board president Jim Vandenberg.
“Dave Barrett is our next most experienced former board member. We could ask him if he is interested or we could appoint someone else.”
Barrett served on the Keokuk School Board for six years. He did not run for re-election in 2005. Previously Barrett also served on the Area Education Agency board for nine years and on the Fort Madison School Board for six years.
ADVERTISEMENT |
“Dave knows what's going on,” said McGhghy.
Reached by phone this morning, Barrett said he is interested.
“It would be an honor to serve again,” he said. “Dave Hotop followed me in my seat and I will gladly come back and fill his seat.”
Four positions in the seven-member school board will be up for re-election in September: Hotop/Barrett and Wemette/Richardson, as well as Gatton and Vandenberg. Hotop's term would have lasted until September 2008 and Wemette's until September 2009.
Board member Julia Logan raised a concern that the board could have several inexperienced members. Normally, just two or three seats expire in a rotation to keep a balance of new and experienced members.
“On the September ballot, we'll have two seats with three-year terms, one seat with a two-year term and one seat with a one-year term,” said business manager Greg Reynolds.
In other business the board:
Discussed the Facilities Committee third recommendation to assess the industrial technology program at KHS.
One of the recommendations is to connect the shops to the main school building so students do not need to walk outside to get to classes.
The placement of a roll-away dumpster by the shop has helped clear clutter in the wood shop and the metal shop is in the process of getting cleaned.
“First we need to clean and organize the shop areas, then assess the program's needs,” said Superintendent Jane Babcock. “Then we can meet with an architect to make some plans. We also want to coordinate with SCC.”
The high school already is working with Southeastern Community College, said KHS Principal David Keane.
“SCC is going to bring some displaced workers over and learn AutoCAD at the high school,” said Keane. “They also will use our welding program for about six welders.
“SCC has a new vice president, Verlin Fick, who is really great to work with and interested in connecting the high school programs with the college,” said Keane. “He wants to provide as many training opportunities as possible in Southeast Iowa.”
Project Lead the Way, a collaboration with Rockwell-Collins and Kirkwood Community College, both in Cedar Rapids, is a pre-engineering program Keane is hoping will come to SCC.
“There's also a bio-technology program we're hoping to offer next year,” he said. “We could be the pilot program in partnership with Central Lee for this. There's $18,000 to help get equipment for the pilot.”
Approved Keokuk Middle School's registration/handbook for 2007-2008.
Approved a board policy on testing - how tests are prepared for and administered by teachers.
Approved a consent listing of personnel actions, including accepting the resignation of assistant varsity soccer coach Carlos Barrera and hiring him as head varsity girls soccer coach and program coordinator.
Heard Reynolds has done a survey comparison of school registration fees and found Keokuk to be the lowest. There will be discussion and action to change the fees at the next board meeting.
Approved publishing the 2007-2008 budget adoption and set a public hearing on the budget for the next school board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 9, in the high school library/media center.
 |
 |
|
| Ball gown competition returns to Civil War Re-enactment | Nauvoo nominated as one of the 7 Wonders of Illinois |
