The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education, Wednesday evening, approved Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation to accept the 2018 Master Contract Agreement with the Atlantic Education Association, which represents the District’s Certified Staff (teachers, etc.). The agreement calls for a $480 increase on the base, with no step movement. The total package increase is 1.90%, for a total cost to the District of $139,367. In his report to the Board, Superintendent Barber provided an update on the Construction Trades Pre-Apprentice Program at the Achievement Center on the west side of town. He say the bay area of the Center will be where the shop is located, and some of the unoccupied space is available for use as a classroom.

(He said students in the Associated Building Contractors program will be certified in OSHA training and other, potential certifications.)

The goal he said, is to “Create a high level program…that is what we’re going to work on, beginning with the Fall semester on Aug. 23^rd. Barber said in order to free-up time for Middle School/High School Industrial Technology Instructor Mr. Jade Walter to teach the new program, it was necessary to replace his middle school exploratory. The plan, which is part of the STEM Best Grant, is to begin an exploratory gateway to technology project in 8^th grade through the Lead the Way Program called “Robotics and Automation.”

(He said they are also exploring additional, similar programs for the 7^th grade.)

In other business, the Atlantic School Board approved the 2017-18 Amended Certified Budget, which does not call for an increase in taxes paid in the fiscal year ending June 30th, 2018. Instead, the change in estimates of expenditures will be financed from increased receipts and balances not budgeted or considered in the current budget. The Board accepted the resignations of High School Para-educator Brian Thompson, and Middle School ELA Teacher Jennifer Hartwig. They also approved a bid for Milk from Highland Dairy, a bread bid from Bimbo Bakery, for bread, and a trash collection bid from Hepler Sanitation, as well as a 70/30 Sharing Agreement with the CAM School District for Atlantic’s Business Manager.

The agreement stipulates the CAM School District will receive the services of Atlantic School District Business Manager Sarah Sheeder 30% of the time. In return, CAM will provide 30% of the cost associated with the shared position. Since the business manager position is one that fits under the Operational Sharing legislation, each district will receive additional revenue. Board member Josh McLaren had some concerns about the arrangement, despite the financial gains to both districts, but Sheeder assured him it wouldn’t be placing a burden on her.