The Atlantic School Board met Wednesday evening at the Schuler Elementary Building for their regular monthly meeting. During their session, the Board approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 Certified Budget in the amount of $545, 373. Board Secretary/Business Manager Mary Beth Fast explained the increase was necessary due to the purchase of the Cass, Incorporated building that wasn’t “Even on the radar,” when the Board was putting together its budget for 2017.

The Board agree late last March to purchase the building for $925,000, for the purpose of using it as a place to house the grades 6 thru 12 Behavioral Program students, Central Office staff and future, trades/technology programs, to name but a few of the options.

Jerry Purdy w/Design Alliance Architects

Jerry Purdy, with the Design Alliance architectural firm, told the Board Wednesday that the latest projections on the renovating costs are expected to be around $410- to $420,000, which is considerably higher than the original estimate of $360,000, but is based on new State Fire Marshal requirements and the uncertainty over bid estimate.

A Request for Bid Proposals is expected to be published by May 26th, with the deadline for bids June 1st. Purdy said the RFP must also be placed on a state website for contractors. In other business, the Atlantic School Board tabled until their next meeting, an Operational Sharing Agreement for Transportation with the Griswold School District, due to questions about how useful the service actually is to Griswold, based on the $32,500 cost they are paying to Atlantic for the service of Transportation Director Dave Eckles. Eckles said his time isn’t being well spent for that District.

He said he told Atlantic Superintendent Mike Amstein and Griswold Superintendent Dave Henrichs, that “He’s done about as much as [he] can do,” and helped them out with a few things. He said also it takes a lot of extra time and effort to travel to Griswold, and he doesn’t have anyone ready to step in to his position in Atlantic, while he’s gone.

The Board did approve the ratification of a Contract Agreement for 2017-2019 for the District’s Non-Certified Employees, but the Certified Employees contract remains up in the air. As part of the agreement with the Non-Certified Employees, the second year of the contract allows wages open for negotiations. The NCE’s Union has already approved the agreement as written.

And, the Atlantic School Board approved various Contracts, Letters of Assignment and resignations, the latter of which includes Ginger Bechtold, Middle School Student Council Sponsor; Katrina Hames, Para Educator; Emma Walker, Asst. Varsity Girl’s Basketball Coach; and Jessica Fincel, Technology Resource Integrationist.

In addition, Brian Ihnken’s transfer from Middle School Maintenance and Groundskeeper to the High School was approved, along with Jeremy Blake as Special Education Teacher at the High School. Lori Namanny and Angela Behrens were approved to serve the Summer Lunch Program, and Brielle Cervan as Homebound Instructor.

Steve Andersen was approved as Substitute Bus Driver, and Bryce Casey as Summer Grounds Worker.