April 30, 2024

Board to talk special ed at Monday meeting

Bus cameras an action item in regular NCSD meeting

By Jason W

Director of Special Programs Tina Ross is set to address special education at 6 p.m. Monday in the Emerson Hough conference room, ahead of the Newton Community School District board's regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. Ross's presentation is the first in a new series of leadership topic sessions that will precede the final NCSD board meeting of each month. (Jason W)

A light agenda was presented for Monday night’s Newton Community School District board of education meeting — although things will get started a little earlier than in the past.

The board recently voted to devote 30 minutes, prior to the last meeting of each month, to a topic-specific leadership presentation. The first presentation will happen Monday in the Emerson Hough building conference room, where Director of Special Programs Tina Ross is set to address special education at 6 p.m.

The board’s regular meeting is set for 6:30 p.m.

The main topics expected to generate the most discussion are action items related to purchasing a camera system for school buses and consideration of a statement of work from the Kansas consulting firm of Robert Schwarz Planning and Associates.

A public hearing, to consider bids, will be held regarding the bus camera system at 6:45 p.m. David Stoakes of RSP is set to be at Monday’s meeting.

Schwarz is being considering as a consulting firm that would compile and package numerous sets of demographic and other data related to the district’s planned reconfiguration in the fall of 2016.

The board also has several action items on the agenda addressing 2015-16 service contracts for milk and bread. The board will consider a resolution naming a depository, and has action items related to one-time concrete work and lawn-equipment purchasing.

Ross will lead discussion of the approval of a district-developed service delivery plan, or DDSDP, which is also an action item.

The board will consider a one-year student-teaching agreement with Central College and a five-year agreement with William Penn University.

Approval of 2015-16 district, board and superintendent goals is on the agenda as an action item, as is consideration of the formation of a bond planning committee. A multi-million dollar tax bond vote is expected to go to Newton-area voters on Feb. 2, 2016.

Potential district use of the KinderCare building is on the agenda as either an action or a discussion item.

A school-board election update will be given by Director of Business Services Gayle Isaac. The time window for filing paperwork with the board secretary for the Sept. 8 school board elections is July 6 to July 30.

The board’s next meeting is set for Aug. 10.

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