March 28, 2024

Padget, Friedman are new school board leaders

NCSD approves FRK as Berg architect

Passing a $26.9 million bond issue in a Sept. 13 special election allows the Newton Community School District to proceed with planning and reconstructing the Berg Middle School Complex.

However, before the board could move on to any of those tasks at Monday’s regular meeting, there was the annual step of reorganizing its board officers, as it does each September.

Travis Padget was chosen as the board president, while Robyn Friedman was selected by the board as vice president for the next 12 months. Padget, who served as vice president during the past year, takes over from Sheri Benson, who had been the president since September 2014.

After a brief swearing-in ceremony, Padget and Friedman moved to their places at the center of the table, where board leaders sit.

“I didn’t know I was taking over tonight,” said Padget, smiling.

The board also chose FRK Design as its architect and engineering firm to lead the design of the rebuild of Berg. FRK has been heavily involved in creating preliminary designs for the Berg Complex and other projects.

The district hopes to have students in the new Berg Middle School building in the fall of 2019.

Monday’s meeting was preceded by a work session regarding the Dennison Culture Survey.

A board work session is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at the EJH Beard Administration Center. The next regular board meeting is Oct. 10.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Heard from district principals about discussions and activities that took place Monday as part of the district’s September professional day.

• Acknowledged swimming coach Sarah Patterson for receiving a  Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union Golden Plaque Award.

• Approved the purchase of $25,000 in swimming timekeeping equipment to be used by the Newton High School program from Daktronics, Inc. The purchase matches the recent purchase and installation of a new scoreboard by the Newton YMCA, where the only indoor competitive swimming facility in the district is housed.

• Approved a tax levy to cover the approximately $615,000 in special education annual budget shortfall. Callaghan said the levy is incorporated into the previously announced total levy of $15.81 imposed by the district for the 2016-17 school year.

• Approved fundraiser requests from Berg Middle School groups will be considered, including the Builder’s Club, BMS Student Council, along with Newton High School’s Empower Tanzania Club and Key Club.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com