April 23, 2024

School board to review field agreement with Newton Nite Hawks

DECA conference field trip, employee handbook also on docket

By Christopher Braunschweig

Travis Padget, a member of the Newton Community School District Board of Education, listens to a speaker during a past meeting. The school board will meet 6:30 p.m. Monday at E.J.H. Beard Administration Center. (Christopher Braunschweig)

Newton Nite Hawks may have a new place to play in the 2020 season.

On Monday, the Newton Community School District Board of Education will consider a letter agreement between the district and the minor league football team Newton Nite Hawks for use of H.A. Lynn Stadium.

Newton Nite Hawks originally debuted in the 1970s and was re-formed about a year ago. The first home game of the season was played May 11, 2019, against the River City Rampage of St. Louis.

The semi-professional football team found a fair bit of success last season, becoming a finalist in the 2019 Midwest Football League championship. In October, the Nite Hawks were invited to play the 2019 SPFL Pigskin Classic in Minneapolis at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Conversations between the Nite Hawks and Newton school district to use the artificial turf at H.A. Lynn Stadium have been ongoing, Newton Daily News’ Jocelyn Sheets previously reported.

“H.A. Lynn is the ultimate place to play for us because it’s such a beautiful stadium,” Head said in a Jan. 19 Newton Daily News article. “And just like the Nite Hawks, it is tied to the community.”

In other action Monday, the school board will:

• Listen to campus principals' Red Pride Shout Outs, which honor the positive people and good deeds in their respective schools. Board members will receive an update on the school district's new mail delivery van. The school board will also recognize the legacy of Newton's
winningest coach John Jenkins, who died Feb. 8.

• Receive an update from NCSD Transportation Supervisor Curt Roorda. He was originally supposed to brief board members during the Feb. 10 meeting, along with the food supervisor, maintenance supervisor and tech supervisor. Principals will also update the board on their respective school’s ISPP results during the superintendent’s report.

• Consider approval of out of state travel plans for the Newton High School DECA students travel to the National DECA Conference. The group’s conference is from April 29 to May 3 in Nashville.

• Consider approval of the school district’s employee handbook. Laura Selover, director of human resources, will present this agenda item to the school board. Members will likely have a brief discussion on the topic before taking action.

• Update its fellow members on the District Culture Council. Consider a resolution in support of a complete count in the decennial U.S. 2020 census. Further discussion about the school board protocol handbook will also take place.

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com