Centre looking for ways to spend federal COVID aid
Staff writer
Centre superintendent Larry Geist sought board members’ input last week on how to use $200,000 remaining in a federal COVID grant. The money has to be spent by December 2024 on items approved by the state and federal government.
Geist said $20,000 already had been spent to employ an elementary school aide.
The board approved retention pay not to exceed a total of $25,000 for district employees.
The board also instructed Geist to find out whether the district could use COVID money to install air conditioning in the high school gym.
Geist was authorized to offer summer school for students needing extra help. COVID money would cover expenses.
“I have teachers who are willing to teach summer school,” he said.
In other business, the board approved $120 holiday pay for rule-10 coaches, who are ready and willing to learn how to improve their coaching and programs.
Sarah Sipe of Landmark Architects reviewed plans for a building project that will include pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms, a day care, a concession stand, and restrooms for the football field.
Geist reported that the state had approved the district to applying for a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for a school safe room. The room already is part of the building project.
A representative of Opaa food service, addressed board member concerns about food being thrown away. Smith said she had to abide by federal rules on what must be served.
The board accepted a donation of 1,500 pounds of ground meat from Diepenbrock Farms. Geist said Opaa would require more information before it could accept the beef, which is in a Canton meat locker.
The board approved participation of a high school student in a boys swim team at Marion. The district will pay one-fourth of coach Randy Carlson’s salary. The student’s father will provide transportation.
The board approved purchase of eight football helmets at a cost not to exceed $3,280. Helmets cannot be used for more than 10 years, Geist said. He plans to purchase eight helmets a year to avoid a big expense all of at once.
The board approved extension of the district’s gravel bus parking lot for $3,800.
After several executive sessions, the board approved end-of-semester graduation for David Adams, accepted the resignation of bus driver Annette Nienstedt, and hired Mary Havel as an English class aide for the remainder of the year.
The board hired Tim Vinduska as assistant junior high boys basketball coach and Jalen Studstill as assistant junior high girls basketball coach.