The first meeting of 2022 for the South Hamilton Community School Board this week featured a variety of issues. The board adopted the resolution to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program for the next school year.The date of February 14 was set for a public hearing on the 2022-23 school calendar beginning at 6:00 p.m. Details of the calendar will be released at that meeting. There was a review of current property tax rates and cash reserve levy information. The South Hamilton board approved a request for the School Budget Review Committee Modified Supplemental Aid Request for At-Risk/Drop-Out Prevention in the amount of $211,590 to provide on time funding for at risk and drop out prevention. There were no bids received for the disposition of school buses owned by the transportation department. The board voted to dispose the buses at a salvage yard.
In other matters, the South Hamilton school board Monday evening tabled the adoption of policies for employee vaccination and testing for COVID-19 until a future meeting. South Hamilton school board members Joely Swenson and Leigh Miller to represent the school board for the 2022-23 contract negotiations to begin in the coming weeks. In personnel matters, the South Hamilton school board accepted the resignations of Michael Lewis as an elementary associate and Cole Swenson as assistant baseball coach. The hiring of Amanda Johnson as an elementary associate and Jordan Skarin as assistant large group speech coach were both approved.
South Hamilton elementary principal Steve Neuberger reported that several new students started classes this week at the school.The elementary students collected over 2000 items for the local food bank. The second round of FAST assessments are beginning this week. The sixth grade class from South Hamilton will attend the Junior Achievement of Central Iowa’s Biz Town on January 28. Secondary principal Andy Eckert reported to the board that the school vape detectors were installed over the holiday break and are now working. Second semester started on Monday and is off to a great start. There was a review of the dress code policy and the feedback from the student committees on the topic.
The South Hamilton board met in a closed session at the conclusion of the meeting. The purpose was to discuss strategy with counsel in a litigation matter and to evaluate the professional competency of an individual.