Reconfiguration projects all on track, supervisor says

After much hard work from maintenance staff, teachers, campus and district staff, part-time workers and even inmates from Newton Correctional Facility, reconfiguration is finally coming together for the Newton Community School District.

Maintenance supervisor Jack Suttek spoke at Monday’s Newton Community School District regular Board of Education meeting, praising many people who have helped complete specific projects related to reconfiguring several district schools before the upcoming Aug. 23 school start date.

“We’re going to be ready to rock and roll, come the 23rd,” Suttek said. “The prisoners are still working out, and we might even find a way they can do stadium work in the fall when no one else is there. We couldn’t have done this reconfiguration without them, and I really appreciate their help.”

Suttek listed a series of facility improvements or changes being made and progress on each one, including playground installations and improvements, flooring and painting projects in various buildings, lockers and the HVAC system at Emerson Hough Elementary School and “Bart,” the heating system at the Berg Complex.

The bulk of Monday’s meeting was devoted to a discussion about the Denison Culture Survey, which was recently given to the district’s 15-member administrative team, and which will go out soon to certified staff.

Chris Pierson of the Heartland Area Education Agency and Superintendent Bob Callaghan led the discussion. A timeline was discussed — such as an early October ending date for the survey and a proposed Jan. 9 date for presenting all final data — along with the way the board, teachers, Denison and NCSD administrators will go over the results.

The board’s next regular meeting is Aug. 22. That’s one day before the first official day of school, and at the start of a week that features a number of back-to-school events.

Aug. 22 is also the date of an open house for the Beard Administration Center — formerly the Hy-Vee West building — which will be open from noon to 7 p.m. for the public to see the renovation.

In other action Monday, the board:

• Discussed open enrollments at more length than usual, finally approving the three open-enrolled students unanimously. Board member Donna Cook asked several questions of Callaghan about why each student open-enrolls out of NCSD, emphasizing the importance the board has placed in recent years on building enrollment.

• Went over final costs for the remodeling of the Beard Administration Center. Suttek acknowledged that while most of the furniture moved from the former administration offices at Emerson Hough was in great condition, there were a few new items purchased after discussion about older, poor-condition items that would have gone into a $2.3 million facility.

• Heard a report from board member Josh Cantu about the Berg Bond Committee, which is heading into its final month of getting information out in advance of the Sept. 13 election. The Newton Daily News will be accepting letters to the editor about the bond election through Sept. 2.

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