Tuesday evening the Gladbrook-Reinbeck School Board made the decision on the elementary configuration. K-2 will continue to be housed at both attendance sites while third and fourth grade students from Gladbrook will attend classes at the Reinbeck elementary building.

Public informational meetings were held last week and the questions centered on declining enrollment, busing issues, potential savings and the possibility of rerouting students currently on the bus routes. Supt. Tim Kuehl said the district will look at minimizing bus routes so students won’t be riding for an extended period.

Two staff positions will be eliminated but will be handled through attrition.

Kuehl went over budget numbers for the 2009-10 school budget. The funds that determine the tax rate per $1000 of valuation are the cash reserve and management levies. It was Kuehl’s recommendation to increase the cash reserve from $100,000 to $170,000 because of anticipated shortfalls and to decrease the management levy from $250,000 to $150,000 in anticipation of offering a less lucrative early retirement package. At this time it looks like the tax rate would be $12.58/$1000 compared to $11.66/$1000 last year.

The budget hearing for budget certification will be Tuesday, April 7th at 7 p.m. in Gladbrook.

Next year’s school calendar will have classes starting August 19th with four days built in for snow makeup, January 18th, February 15th, March 17th and April 5th. If there are more than 4 days, they will be added to the end of the year. There will be 3 days designated for spring break,

March 15-17. Three days of in-service are tentatively set for August 12-13-14 with new teachers reporting August 11th. Administrators are looking at a possible overnight professional development and will be looking into the costs.

Kuehl reviewed the 2007-08 budget report which shows the district is in solid financial condition on a cash basis. The solvency rate increased from 4.5% to 5.7%.

The transportation committee recommended issuing specs to purchase two 65-passenger buses to replace #24 and #12. The committee also recommended selling the 1989 Oldsmobile 88 and purchasing an additional full size van.

Changes were made on building rent with the following changes made: the fee for the new and old gym at the high school and the new gym in Gladbrook will be $50, the use of the football/soccer field without lights will be $100 and with lights $250. Custodian fees will be $20/hour, up from $12.50/hour .

The Reinbeck elementary multi-purpose room and old gym in Gladbrook will remain at $25 as will the Commons. Using the kitchen will be an additional $20 and the auditorium remains at $30.

The 2nd reading of Series 800 board policy, buildings and sites and 900

series, community relations were approved.

Connie Doughan and Craig J. Youel were approved as drivers education instructors. Their salary will be $185 per student.

A new sound system for the high school gym will be purchased from R W Sound for $10,671.60.

The senior class trip to the Wisconsin Dells was approved pending the class gets the needed chaperones. Board policy states one chaperone for eight students. The trip is scheduled for April 18-19.

Mike Bearden shared proposed drawings for the football concessions stand.

After much discussion about the layout of the building, the architect will be asked to make some revisions.

The board approved paying Coach O J Egesdal an additional $1,049 for coaching both the 7th and 8th grade girls basketball teams this past season.

Principal Mike Studt reported Mr. Paul Sporleder as a long-time sub in the social studies department.

Eighth grade orientation at the high school will be March 3rd at 7 p.m. The Jazz Show will be February 27th and March 1st. Parent-teacher conferences will be February 23 and 26.

Principal Bill Parker said representatives from the North Tama School Board will be looking at G-R’s middle school program on February 26th.

For the 1st semester, 123 middle school students made the A or B honor roll. The wrestling sharing agreement was approved in the consent agenda.

The March 19th meeting has been rescheduled for March 26th and will be held in Reinbeck, starting at 6:30 p.m.