A Public hearing will take place 5-p.m. Wednesday in Atlantic, during a regular meeting of the Atlantic School Board. The hearing, which will be held in the High School Media Center, is with regard to the 2018-19 Amended Certified Budget. Later on during the meeting, the Board will act on Superintendent Steve Barber’s recommendation to approve the 2018-19 budget amendment to the “other” category, as presented. If approved, it will allow the district to complete building improvements this summer without overspending the certified budget.

Among the expenditures included in the amended budget and not budgeted for during the current school year is: A sewage problem at the Washington School; Replacing two small sections of the Middle School auditorium roof; LED lighting for the High School Commons area; Replacing a bus transmission, and Technology expenses. Officials say there will be no increase in taxes to be paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

In other business, the Atlantic School Board will act on the resignation of Taylor Williams, Student Council Advisor, and contract recommendations and/or Letters of Assignment for: Donald Boggs – District Maintenance; Mark Weis – Transportation Director; Derek Hall – Summer Weightroom Coordinator; Michella Bartholomew – Head Cheer Coach; Alyssa Dovenspike – JV Volleyball Coach, and Kelly Juhl – Summer grounds.

They are expected to act also on Winter Sports Coaching Contracts (**see below), and on 2019-20 sharing agreements, including with CAM & Exira-EHK, for Girls Soccer, and Griswold, with regard to Industrial Technology and Transportation Director. The Board is then expected to act on approving a Technology purchase in the amount of $12,950 for backup batteries, a $38,000 agreement with Piper-Jaffray for handing the General Obligation Bond process (Financial services, Bidding agent and Dissemination agent agreements), and Snyder and Associates Engineers, with regard to Survey services for the Athletic Facilities Project, in the amount of $11,800, as well as an agreement with Allender Butzke, for Geotechnical Engineering, in the amount of $23,600.

Their final piece of business is to approve a recommendation from the Superintendent to change the surface of the Trojan Bowl turf from natural grass to synthetic turf, with the $600,000 cost paid by private fundraising and donations. Seeding a natural grass surface at the athletic facility would require the loss of one season of activity at the Trojan Bowl, and experts have said using sod has a number of negative consequences. A fundraising committee was formed. Members said they could secure $300,000 over the duration of the improvements, with the intent to raise all $600,000 to turf the Trojan Bowl and not lose a football season.

If the committee is unable to raise the entire $600k, the district would be responsible to cover the remaining costs.

**Winter Coaching recommendations by Activities Director Andrew Mitchell:

Head HS Wrestling – Tim Duff; Asst. HS Wrestling – Tucker Weber; MS Wrestling – Jordan Newberg & Chase Roller; Head HS Girls Basketball – Dan Vargason; Freshman Girls bball – Shelby McCreedy; MS Girls/Boys Basketball – Terry Hinzmann & Trace Peterson; JV Boys Bball – Jeremy Blake; Freshman Boys bball – Derke Hall; Girls/Boys Swimming – Dean Junker.