The Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education met Monday night at the High School. Superintendent Brett Gibbs told KJAN News the Board approved the Fiscal Year 2017 School Calendar, which has some changes from the way the semesters are run. Gibbs says the district will utilize a “Balanced Semester” next year, which means the first semester will end after the Christmas break instead of beforehand. Classes will resume afterward and wrap the semester most likely the first Friday afterward.

The 2016-17 School Year will begin August 23rd. Gibbs said also, because they’ve missed 5 days so far due to the weather, the current school year will end on June 2nd for students (except graduating Seniors – there is no change in the date for graduation), with the teachers’ last day being June 3rd.

In other business, the Audubon School Board received the Audubon Education Association’s initial bargaining proposal. The Association requested a 6-percent total package increase. The Board will come back and meet with the Association again within 10-days, to present its initial proposal.

After that, action depends on what the State Legislators do as far as State Aid is concerned. In other business, the Audubon School Board approved a quote from MUSCO lighting for the Softball Field lighting project. The project will come in at $57,000, which was about $20,000 less than expected. The Board he says, was happy with that.

The next step is getting a company lined-up to replace the fencing, and for some infield work to be done. Those projects aren’t expected to start until after this spring’s season games have wrapped-up, probably in July or August at the earliest. The project will be paid for using the District’s PPEL (Physical Plant and Equipment Levy).