Jessen Funeral Home

At their July 9 meeting, the board members unanimously approved a contract with D.A. Davidson, which has offices in Des Moines and Omaha, Neb. The board had interviewed two fiscal agent companies and felt this one best met their needs for marketing the bond project to the voters, according to Board President Nick Schoenfelder and Board Member Nick Mathistad, who serve on the board’s Facilities Committee. Board Member Jodi Thompson made the motion, and Board Member Pam Von Hagel seconded it. The vote was 5-0. In addition, the board unanimously approved Cannon, Moss, Brygger Architects (CMBA) of Sioux City to design this bond project. Board Member Deb Jordt made the motion and Von Hagel seconded it. Preschool Staffing A-W Preschool-Grades 6 Principal Cathy Bobier reported she is advertising for a Preschool Certified para educator (aide) to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Early Childhood Special Education teacher Camden Kuchel. Current Four-Year-Old Preschool Teacher Annie Solberg is studying for the Early Childhood Special Education license so she will be able to qualify to teach both the ECSE and Preschool positions — meeting the state’s requirement to have a certified Preschool teacher. Bobier wanted the board to understand that some may question why there are so many Preschool staff. It’s to meet the state Preschool regulations. In addition to Solberg, there are two Special Education aides but they work 1:1 with specific students so they cannot be counted as part of the 1 teacher per 10 students (1:10) staffing requirement. Both the morning and afternoon preschool classes are full, said Bobier, explaining A-W has to meet the 1:10 teaching ratio. Therefore, she needs another adult besides Solberg and the 1:1 aides in the classroom. This new para educator (aide) will have to meet Preschool certification requirements. “We did kind of have the ‘cadillac’ of Preschools when we had two certified teachers but most preschools don’t have that,” said Bobier. &...