Ost presents update on ‘Grand Plan’ to school board

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Pam Ost, director of The Learning Center child care center in Charles City, told the Charles City Community School Board of Directors that the “Grand Plan is now in place.”

Ost updated the board on TLC’s Grand Plan project, which is part of an agreement the school district entered with TLC almost exactly two years ago. The proposal includes a lease for five years with an option to purchase part of the North Grand Building, and is being formalized between TLC and the school district.

TLC is planning to move into the North Grand Building by as early as next fall, then expand its capacity and operations in the years beyond.

The west end of the North Grand Building has been purchased by developer Shawn Foutch, who is turning that side of the former middle school into apartments. The east end of the building will remain with the school district, which is working with TLC to move its operations there.

TLC, a non-profit agency, was founded in 2001, 20 years ago.

“Our goal is to formalize the lease with the school district in June or July and move into our next 20, 30 or 50 years,” Ost said.

Ost said the relocation will allow TLC to expand the availability of child care in the community and enhance its economic development aspects.

The Charles City School District has committed to dividing the space the child care facility would use from the older part of the building that will be renovated for apartments, splitting the utilities and making sure the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is adequate in the TLC part of the building, and replacing the roof on the north side of the building.

Ost noted that in the North Grand Building, TLC would have daily access to the gymnasium and would increase its before- and after-school programs. She said she anticipates enrollment will increase from around 90 to more than 160, possibly as high as 180.

“TLC has been a wonderful partner with the school district,” Charles City Superintendent of Schools Mike Fisher said. “There have been times when we probably couldn’t have done it without them, and times when they couldn’t have done it without us.”

Ost said that TLC’s commitment has been magnified by the pandemic over the last year.

“In March and April of last year, the importance of providing care for the children of essential workers was first and foremost,” she said. “We have remained open during the entire pandemic, not closing, not even one day.”

She talked about TLC’s partnership with the school last spring, when they staffed Washington Elementary to care for children of essential workers, and talked about how the school district provided meals for the children at TLC over the summer.

“The pandemic identified the need and importance of child care and the workforce and economy that it supports,” she said. “TLC is the Charles City community child care center.”

Ost said that in the last two years, TLC has received $900,000 in funding for the project, including $100,000 from the city of Charles City ($33,333 each year for three years), $10,000 from Floyd County Community Foundation, $10,000 from Charles City Area Development, $5,000 promised from the Floyd County Board of Supervisors in 2022, $750,000 from the state of Iowa through the Iowans Investing in Child Care fund and an additional $25,000 from the Child Care Challenge Fund, through the state of Iowa.

In related action on Monday, the board approved a $30,000 agreement with Levi Architecture for professional services on the North Grand Building renovation project. The school district has committed to setting aside $150,000 for five years or a total of $750,000 for the structural improvements and essential maintenance to the 1970 section of the North Grand Building.

Dan Levi of Levi Architecture has been consulting with The Learning Center for work on modifications. The district decided to put utility and HVAC work out to full bid and has requested an agreement for Levi’s professional design and bidding services.

In other action Monday, the board approved a resolution setting dates for a public hearing and bid letting and the proposed plans and specifications, form of contract, and estimate of cost for the High School Track Improvement Project.

Veenstra & Kimm, which was approved as the engineer on the project, has developed the plans, specifications and estimated cost on the project. The project includes all labor, materials and equipment necessary to construct the existing high school track under two contracts.

The project will include excavation, earthwork and grading as needed, removal of approximately 4,950 square feet of existing synthetic rubber surfacing, along with crack repairs and miscellaneous associated work, including cleanup. The budget for the project is $250,000.

In other business on Monday, the school board:
— Appointed Evan Marten as board secretary and treasurer, replacing Terri O’Brien for the remainder of the 2020-21 school year, effective April 27. Marten is the new director of finance for the school district. O’Brien will work with the new director until June 30, her last contract date. Upon approval, Marten was administered the oath of office.
— Approved a bid from Synergy Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine for athletic training services. Annual service fees will be $50,000 for fiscal year 2022, $52,000 for 2023 and $55,000 for 2024, with hourly fees of $35 per hour for additional services not included in the contract. This agreement would be paid out of COVID money and the activities fund.
— Approved the list of 2021 graduates of Charles City High School and Carrie Lane.
— Heard a presentation from Fisher regarding the district’s hiring guidelines and standards.
— Approved the following summer workers at $9 per hour effective May 15, 2021: Kylie Adams, Wendy Labarge, Tim Labarge, Julie Tjabring, Bobbie Shultz, Jane Offerman, Kim Carman, and Sonja Cotton.
— Approved the resignation of Katelyn Stultz, assistant middle school drama coach, effective April 26.
— Approved the appointment of Shantel Rimmer, middle school track student supervisor, at a wage of $15 per hour, starting April 26.
— Approved the appointment of Amy Peterson, full time para-educator, at a wage of $15.09 per hour, starting April 27.
— Approved the appointment of Michelle Dohlman, elementary school counselor, at a salary to be determined, starting Aug. 12.
— Approved the appointment of Kyle Staudt, 10th-grade football, at a salary to be determined, starting Aug. 27.
— Approved the appointment of Bethany Borklund, special education nurse, at a salary of $51,434, starting Aug. 12.
— Approved the third extension to the Food Service Management Company agreement with Taher, Inc. for $3.57 per meal. The board heard a presentation from Taher regarding results of a local food service survey.
— Approved an assessment, counseling and therapy agreement with Turning Leaf Counseling for the 2021-22 school year.