The Camanche School District’s Board of Education met on Monday, October 18th. Please note that these are not the official minutes. The official Agendas and Minutes from the Camanche Community School District school board are available and posted on our school district website (camanche.k12.ia.us).
Items to highlight from this school board meeting would include:
- Superintendent Parker reviewed this year’s student enrollment numbers. The state’s official count day was on October 1st and Camanche Schools are serving 1007 total students. This is an increase of 27 students from last year. The resident student count in the district increased by 31 students to a total of 843 students. He reported that this year’s increase in student enrollment counters the trend of seeing a slight yearly decrease in enrollment that we have experienced over the last several years.
- The representatives from the district’s Architect, Bray Architecture and Construction Manager, Estes Construction, were present to update the Board about the ongoing Facilities Enhancement Project. Phases I and II are near completion. We are still waiting for some needed materials to arrive to complete these phases of the project. We also expect to be prepared to rebid Phase III of the project in the near future.
- Superintendent Parker updated the Board about the COVID-19 protocols that are being followed in the district. Our schools have not seen a significant increase in the number of infections, but we are continuing to closely monitor this. If the number of infections in one of our buildings totals 10 or more, that specific number is reported to the school board. If the number of infections in a building is under ten, no specific number is reported in order to protect the privacy of individuals who are infected. He also pointed out that cleaning and safety protocols continue to be followed in our schools.
- Superintendent Parker reviewed the statewide school board elections that will be coming up this November 2nd with Polls open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. The seats currently held by Todd Gravert, Stacy Kinkaid, and Peg Wolf will be the ones on the ballot. There are four people who have submitted papers to be on the ballot for the three available seats. Stacy Kinkaid will run for re-election; with Rich Klahn, Janna Linville, and Kelli Sullivan running for what would be their first term.
- Business Director Aude provided the Board with a copy of the Certified Annual Report (CAR) which details the finances of the district. She explained several of the key components of the CAR which would be of interest to the Board.
- The Board will consider moving the starting time of the December 20th meeting in order to not conflict with the elementary school’s winter program. Also, the Board plans to consider the high school’s request to hold their winter program on late Sunday afternoon on December 19th. They are requesting this in order to help our maintenance staff with the logistics of setting up the high school gymnasium for these programs.
- The Camanche School District along with Bray Architects have been invited to participate in the Iowa Association of School Boards’ state convention. We will be discussing our experiences in participating in a successful bond referendum.
- The Board approved giving the auto shop class permission to advertise and sell a donated Ford Expedition that they have been working on.
As is usually the case, the school board completed the meeting by approving administrative recommendations regarding personnel.