Members of the Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education will meet in a regular session 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. On their agenda, is information with regard enrollment numbers. The tally through Oct. 3rd reveals District Certified Enrollment is down 26.35 students, with an increase of 8.6 students who have Open Enrolled, for a total loss of 17.75 students.  The largest numbers of students (100+ in each grade), are in: Kindergarten/Jr. Kindergarten; 1st grade; and the third- through eighth-grades. The 6th grade has the most students in the District, at 119. The number of Seniors this year is 95.

With regard to the Retirement Early Incentive Program, based on the current policy of 10-years of service, full-time status, and 55-years of age, school officials say there are a total of 21 staff who would qualify under the current Early Retirement Incentive Plan, which also states that the School Board has the authority to limit that to 10 individuals. The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting does not show any resignations for the Board to approve, but it does include Board approval of Contract Recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment, for Andrea Reilly – STEM Coordinator & Teacher, and Derek Hall – Freshman Boys Basketball Coach.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on a new policy for Assistance Animals, which would allow Miniature Horses as a Service Animal, provided they meet certain criteria, which includes it being house broken, if it is under the owner’s control, and whether or not the facility can accommodate the animal, given its type, size and weight, among other factors. The Superintendent may exclude certain service and assistance animals under the policy, if they pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others, and are uncontrollable.

The Board will also act on a revised Public Participation in Board Meetings policy, which stipulates that while the normal public comment time is limited to three-minutes, the Board President may opt to modify the time limit, if deemed necessary or appropriate. In addition, speakers must notify the Board Secretary (Sarah Sheeder) prior to the meeting, and, any individual who is disruptive, may be asked to leave the meeting. Defamatory comments made during the meeting may be subject to legal action.

The Board will act also, on a new policy detailing how Public Complaints are handled, which includes: Matters being addressed first to the teacher or employee; If those matters remain unsettled, they should be made known to the building principal; Still unsettled matters should be directed to the superintendent, according to the policy, with the final means of settling a question or matter being to bring it to the school board for consideration. If the board elects not to address a complaint, the decision of the superintendent will be final. If the board addresses a complaint, its decision will be final.

And, the Atlantic School Board will take action, Wednesday, on a proposal to construct a steel building walkway from the High School Gym to the Multi-Purpose Room, to provide a safe pathway for wrestlers and other student groups who use the M-P Room. Officials say it would also be a cost savings in electrical use. The project is expected to cost $20-to $35,000, depending on the number of partnership. $15,000 would come from the Little Trojan Wrestlers. Iron Specialties would contribute additional volunteer time to reduce the cost of labor. If Jensen Builders constructs a “Turn-key” walkway (meaning they handle the labor and materials), the cost is estimated at $52,000.