Published: July 31, 2008 01:02 pm      

DeWitt city, school leaders discuss future

DEWITT — In a joint meeting of the DeWitt City Council and Central School Board, both entities outlined current and future plans for improvements.

City Administrator Steve Lindner said the downtown reconstruction project of Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets between Fifth and Seventh avenues is expected to be completed by November. A recent exterior inspection for inflow and infiltration to prevent sewer overloads during severe rainstorms has been finished.

The city expects to continue sewer projects to eliminate problems over the next 10 years, Lindner added.

Further street work includes 12th Street, extension of Industrial Drive to 300th Avenue and a north/south connection at 18th Avenue. Widening 11th Street for a turn lane is also on the capital plan list.

Lindner called a “futuristic type plan” the connection of 17th Street to the Country Club to 11th Street and then Lake Street with an overpass for the railroad.

The city is working to extend the Skeffinton Trail and 17th Street for walking and biking and continuing by Necker’s additions.

Finally, Lindner noted progress on the German hausbarn in Lincoln Park and installation of the sculptures at the downtown entranceways.

School board member Jim Irwin asked what the city’s part would be if the school district exercised its option to purchase property south of the high school. Parking and athletic playing fields may be relocated to the area to provide for a gym/auditorium complex proposed by the Saber Team for Arts and Recreation Committee.

Lindner said a more extensive look would be called for and then it could be put on the capital projects list.

School Board President Kurt Rickard noted passage in the fall of a revenue purpose statement (resulting from passage of the statewide local option sales tax in the Iowa legislature) is a first step in those development plans.

Rickard said the district had finished Phase I of facilities plans with a new wing at the high school and Phase IIA, a new kitchen/cafeteria and alternative school room. The district has scheduled the start of Phase IIB for 2010 at a cost of $3 million. This includes the high school entranceway, offices and shop space.

The general obligation bonds for the middle school and expansion of Ekstrand will be paid off in 2010. Board member Dennis Campbell said the district would then be debt free.

Campbell explained that passage of the revenue purpose statement permits the district to bond against local option sales tax funds all the way out to 20 years. This will accelerate construction plans, and many projects thought unattainable a year ago can now move forward faster, he added.

Mayor Don Thiltgen concluded that he hoped people recognized how important it is to have a good school system for the city’s economic development and progress.

Following the joint meeting the school board reconvened to address personnel decisions.

With a greater number of kindergarten students than anticipated, the board discussed three options to better serve those students: leave the four current classrooms as they are; increase teacher associate hours; or reduce the number of teacher associates and hire a fifth kindergarten teacher. There are currently 91 kindergarten students enrolled, 15 “jump start” students and four teachers and four associates.

In order to stay within the budget, Irwin recommended extending associate hours to 61/2 per day with the board agreeing to that measure.

The board also approved extending library associate hours to 71/2 per day to permit school libraries to remain open throughout the day.

A stipend of $2,000 for middle school secretary Judy Jansen, who calls substitutes teachers, was approved retroactive to the 2007-2008 school year.

The board accepted the resignations of Erin Ahnquist, secondary talented and gifted teacher and assistant varsity volleyball coach; Kevin Roling, middle school science teacher and junior high wrestling, sophomore football and varsity softball coach; and Jenny Kreiter, family resource center director.

Hired were Barbara Walswick as middle school science teacher at $30,817; Ashley Daniels and Melissa Daniels as assistant varsity volleyball coaches; and Blaine Parkton as assistant football coach.

The contract of Joshua Gruebel was amended to $45,273.