The Knoxville School Board met in regular session Monday.

The board approved a bid for the tennis and basketball court project for $1,065,000 from the Elder Corporation of Des Moines. They also approved a bid of approximately $55,000 for new security cameras and servers for the schools. They agreed to participate in a concussion research project with CTE Hope of Indianola. Participation will be voluntary, and students taking part will have a saliva swab taken before the season, after the season, and after any concussion occurs. The project will begin locally this spring with the soccer teams. The study is in conjunction with Harvard Medical School. Superintendent Cassi Pearson tells KNIA/KRLS News the district is hoping to find out how concussions affect a growing body. Pearson says the district is excited to give parents and student the opportunity to take part in the study. The board approved an overnight request for the Knoxville High School Bowling Team to stay in Waterloo for state bowling on February 18th and 19th, should the teams make it to state. They approved the 2018-2019 Classified Employee Package Proposal and the early retirement policy.

They went into a closed session, and after the closed session instructed staff to create a modified contract for the activities director for next year. They approved changes to the series 400 policies pertaining to the role of and guiding principles for employees in light of changes to collective bargaining made last year by the Iowa Legislature. The also approved an engagement agreement with Ahlers Cooney Attorneys to continue to provide legal assistance for the school district.