By HOLLY GASKILL
The Northern Wells Community Schools Board approved a resolution for additional funding of $4,125,000 for the middle school construction.
Board President Corey Krug assured the board that this amount falls within the school’s debt structure and does not require an increase in the tax rate.
With this, the board approved four resolutions to reflect this new project total. This included a re-approval of their building cooperation and lease and disclosure to bondholders. The fourth resolution permitted the school’s financial advisers to look into refinancing mortgage bonds from 2012 at a better rate.
“Even with this project we’re talking about here, we’re still at historic low rates and still within the rate you told the public originally. It’s just, the rate will be higher than when you sold bonds last year,” said adviser Jim Elizondo.
Kent Gilliom from Weigand Construction updated the board on the construction of the new middle school — half of the foundation for the south wing has been poured, and they are continuing to work on underground electrical and plumbing. Additionally, masonry has started in the very southeast corner of the building.
With the ongoing construction, the board met in the new maintenance facility to view the project’s progress. Preceding the regular meeting, the school board toured the new and renovated parts of the building, including the new office and storage spaces.
“Seeing it now and seeing what it did for the taxpayers, it’s obvious that this was the right move,” Austin Hill, the previous property owner, said.
The school board also approved the following items:
• Resignations from Corrine Lower, Northern Wells Middle School 7th grade social studies teacher; Tara Longenberger, Lancaster Elementary School 2nd grade teacher; Kent Biberstein, NMS custodian; and Clyde Newnum, NHS/HMS head custodian.
• Recommendations to hire Ashly Shrock as a LES 2nd grade teacher, Brittany Doyle as an LES kindergarten teacher, Victoria Wilfong as an Ossian Elementary School special education resource teacher, Kent Biberstein as NHS/NMS head custodian, Eric Morgan and Dennis Meyer as part-time groundskeepers and Clyde Newnum for the maintenance team. The board also approved the fall coaching staff.
• Textbook and technology fees for the upcoming school year. According to Superintendent Mike Springer, K-5 fees now fall between $158 and $159, middle school fees went down slightly and high school fees vary depending on course load.
• Revisions to the Policy 8120 Volunteer Guidelines, requiring volunteers to pay for background checks.
2022-23 Administrator contracts for transportation director and technology director.
• Changes to the Emergency Procedures Guide.
• Student, parent and staff handbooks for NHS, NMS, LES and OES. These changes reflect board policy changes.
holly@news-banner.com
