The Atlantic Community School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening and held an election for new officers. They selected Jenny Williams as Board President and Laura McLean as Vice President. Sarah Sheeder was re-appointed as Board Treasurer and Secretary. The Board furthermore decided to continue holding their regular meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 6-p.m., and their Work or Special Sessions on the 4th Wednesday, also at 6-p.m. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings will be held in the High School Media Center.

The Atlantic School Board, Wednesday approved the resignations of Olivia Newberg, Central Office Secretary; Beverly Jones and Christina Simonton, Paraeducators, and Kim Meurer, Food Service. They approved contract recommendations for: Pam Klar, Substitute Special Education Car Driver; Alyssa Dovenspike, Interim Assistant Girls Soccer Coach, and Shelly Schlake as Floating Substitute Teacher.

In other business, the Atlantic School board approved an overnight/out-of-state trip for the Spanish Club to Costa Rica in the Summer of 2022. The move allows the club to begin fundraising for the trip, which is similar to one they are taking in 2021 and was supposed to have taken place this past Summer. Atlantic Activities Director Andy Mitchell says by going again in 2022, they keep the rotation of every other year with the band trip.

Their final order of business was to approve the purchase of a Suburban from Deter Motor Company in the amount of $43,506. The purchase is part of the District’s Transportation Plan. School officials say with the purchase, there should be no need to add new vehicles to the fleet in FY22. During their meeting in December, the Atlantic School Board is expected to act on approving an Engineering Services Agreement with Snyder and Associates, with regard to the west High School Parking lot.

Snyder Engineer Dave Sturm said the current parking lot is starting to turn to the gravel in some areas and is displaying numerous cracks. The idea is grind the current surface off and use the rock in the pouring of seven-inch thick Portland Cement Concrete. A contractor from Anita is capable of crushing the pavement on-site, saving the district a good chunk of money, as opposed to hauling it off-site.

The result would be a wider entrance for the buses on the north end, 22 additional parking stalls with basically the same amount of pavement, and alleviating some of the congestion in the area where the east/west lots come together. The pavement should last some 40-to 50-years, according to Sturm. The Board also mentioned they would be interested in having work done on the sidewalks in front of the High School, as well. The project as presented, without the addition of the sidewalks, is estimated to cost $746,900.