The Knoxville School Board met in regular session Monday.
During the public comment period, Knoxville parent Ann Rankin, who is a teacher in the Newton schools, expressed concern with the number of times classes in the Knoxville elementary schools are disrupted by students behaving violently, leading to a classroom evacuation. Rankin shared that well-behaving students impacted by this behavior become frightened, negatively impacting their learning environment, as well as their educational and mental development. She suggested that parents should be notified of such events, and that specific training should be offered to classroom staff to be better equipped to deal with such incidents. Knoxville elementary school teacher Susan Leedom supported Rankin’s assessment, agreeing that more training is needed, in that teachers are seeing students with many more issues than in the past, including students with depression and PTSD, with many more of their parents dealing with addiction and other issues. Leedom adds that teachers and staff are not the getting parental support that they received in the past, and that perhaps more community members might be willing to offer much needed support.
The board tabled a vote on an audit of the 2017 fiscal year until March 26. They approved the certified budget for publication as well as set a public hearing on the certified budget on April 9. The budget will involve a $.89 reduction per $1,000 in property tax relief in the district.
They approved a resolution directing the sale of $1,205,000 general obligation school capital loan notes, with the Iowa State Savings Bank of Knoxville offering the lowest rate.
They approved the 2018-19 board proposed classified assignments and wages, and approved a memorandum of understanding with the Marion County Emergency Management Commission for use of school buses during man-made or natural disasters. They approved a Wifi system upgrade, and approved the purchase of a new maintenance truck, a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado from Motor Inn of Knoxville, for just under $32,000, among other matters.