School board approves purchase of laptops, internet upgrade

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The teachers, students and staff in Charles City are getting a tech upgrade.

Charles City Community School District Board of Education unanimously approved the purchase of 165 laptop computers for staff on Monday, at the cost of $181,335.

“I just wanted to say that it’s very exciting to see this on the agenda,” said director Josh Mack, before he made the motion to approve the purchase. “It’s very impressive for the school to be invested in this technology.”

The board also unanimously approved an internet services bid from the Iowa Communications Network for a 1 GB connection at $1,440 per month, although the cost could be much less.

Current staff laptops were purchased in July 2014 and are no longer withstanding the school day on battery life, the board was told. They are also no longer meeting the technical specifications of newer software requirements. The board approved the purchase of 165 13-inch Retina MacBook Pros at $1,099 each. The purchase will be funded through the PPEL and general funds.

The district plans to recycle all the current devices that can no longer be used in district. The devices that are sustainable will be used to replace the remaining 250-plus MacBooks still available for students, found in programs such as Home School Assistance Program, Carrie Lane, Special Education classrooms, ELL classrooms, and the General Classroom Carts available in each building that contain MacBooks that are eight years in age or older.

The approved contract for internet services will be submitted for e-rate funding, which could mean up to an 80 percent discount if approved. The total cost to ICN for a 1 GB connection is $1,440 per month, plus a one-time $200 installation charge. After discounts are applied this would be $288 per month plus a one-time $40 installation charge.

In other business Monday, the board briefly discussed the budget for the 2019-20 school year. Business manager Terri O’Brien presented an outline of the tentative budget, and said she will make changes, if needed, before it is presented at the board meeting on March 25, when a public hearing will be set. O’Brien told the board there would be no property tax increase expected in the budget.

The board also heard a presentation from Susan Leeper and Stena Schmitt, home school assistant instructors, who presented information about the home school assistance program.

The two told the board that Charles City has had home school assistance since 2006, and currently there are 16 families and 37 K-12 students enrolled. The district provides certified teachers at no charge and provides material and support to parent educators.

It also provides educational and social activities, and Leeper and Schmitt serve as liaisons between families and the district. Students enrolled in the program and their parents also addressed the board and praised the program’s benefits.

In other action Monday:

• The board approved the appointment of new CCMS Principal Joseph Taylor, at a salary of $104,000 per year, with an additional $2,000 for moving expenses. Taylor was picked to lead the Charles City Middle School from a pool of 35 candidates to replace Rick Gabel, who announced his retirement on Feb. 4.

Taylor is currently the middle school principal and athletic director at South Hardin Middle School in Hubbard. The South Hardin school district encompasses South Hardin High School and South Hardin Middle School as well as Eldora-New Providence and Hubbard-Radcliffe elementary schools. Taylor and his wife have three children. Taylor will officially begin work in Charles City on July 1.

• The board approved the acceptance of the vacated right-of-way property from the city of Charles City to cure North Grand Building title issues. In preparation to sell the building, a title opinion had discovered a discrepancy regarding properties that had previously been city owned right-of-way, which is now part of the school’s site. The city has agreed to vacate and convey the property to the school district. The city approved the resolution on March 5.

• The board approved out-of-state training for teacher Robert Pittman to attend an indoor rock climbing certification class in May. Approximate total cost will be $1,150, which includes training, a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina, car rental and a place to stay.

• Approved the resignations of Mark Sindlinger, 10th-grade football coach, effective March 18; Jessica Menchak, teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing, effective June 30; and Sasha Mottinger, Washington Elementary instructional assistant, effective March 3.

• Approved the appointment of Rick Gabel, 10th-grade baseball coach, at a salary of $4,076, effective March 18.

• Approved the classified employee transfer of Keisha Cummings from part-time educational secretary to full-time administrative support.

• Discussed the proposed 2019-20 school calendar, presented by Fisher, and set the date and time for a public hearing regarding the school calendar for 6:15 p.m. Monday, April 8, in the middle school seventh-grade learning studio.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding with the area Big Brother/Big Sister program, which requested the district house their program, at a rate of $300 per year ($25 per month) for rent, utilities and internet service. The organization was previously located at the Floyd County courthouse, but that space will soon be used for the construction manager during the new law enforcement center and courthouse update project.

• Approved the Battelle for Kids master development and service agreement at a cost of $32,000. Battelle for Kids is a non profit consultation group for children that will improve vision and strategic planning for the district.