Boyceville Board of Education approves bids for softball fencing and shed renovation

By Cara L. Dempski

BOYCEVILLE — Bulldog softball players may have a field of their own to use in the near future after the Board of Education approved a bid for installation of softball fencing at Tiffany Creek Elementary.

The board unanimously approved both the new fencing and a bid for renovation of one of the district’s storage sheds during the August 21 regular meeting.

The proposed softball fence would be erected at Tiffany Creek’s south field, and would provide a district-owned place for the softball team to both practice and play games. The field size and fence dimensions would also provide an alternate playing field for local youth teams during the summer.

The winning bid from American Fence included costs of $5,959 for a new backstop, $5,366 for baseline fence, $2,615 for foul line fence, and $2,833 for dugouts. The total before adding outfield fencing was estimated at $16,773; the outfield fence would cost $3,356, for a grand total of $20,129.

The board then discussed needed repairs to the district’s red shed, which is used mostly for storage. Superintendent Kevin Sipple said the building is an excellent storage space, but needs some repairs and renovation if the district intends to keep using it.

The shed did see some minor renovations in 2009 according to Sipple, but there are still some leaking issues around the old furnaces. The three bids submitted include new steel, insulation, and a service door. Sipple recommended the bid from Cedar Falls Building.

The bid includes a white steel body with grey roof to match the district’s other buildings. Cedar Falls’ bid for new steel was $33,988, insulation came in at $5,952, and the new door would cost $1,750 for a total estimated cost of $41,690.

Sipple emphasized Cedar Falls Building’s bid was the lowest of the three, with Durand Builders providing a quote of $50,930 and Shefchik Builders bidding the project out at $58,871. The district superintendent also noted Cedar Falls has worked with Boyceville in the past, and has always done good work.

The district administrator informed the board the winning bidder could begin work on the renovation project in approximately one month. He did not provide an estimated start date for the softball fence project at Tiffany Creek.

Other business

The school board also approved the 2016-2017 restraint and seclusion report.

Special Education Director Bonnie Barker presented the report. There were 51 instances of both restraint and seclusion in the district last year, all of which were recorded in the elementary school. The report indicated the incidents were spread among four students, only one of whom had a disability.

The student with a disability was restrained and secluded 10 times due to safety concerns. Barker explained each time the student was either restrained or secluded (or both), the parents were contacted, and changes to the student’s supports were discussed and implemented. She said changes were also made to the student’s IEP as necessary.

Three students without disabilities accounted for the other 41 reported instances. One student had eight restraints or seclusions, another had six, and the third student had 27. The report indicates all three students were referred for special education services, and the student with eight incidents qualified for services, but not for behavior.

The other two students did not qualify, but parents were contacted and behavioral plans implemented for the students. Barker said she and elementary principal Nick Kaiser discussed the student with 27 incidents of both restraint and seclusion with the child’s parents, but the family was not seeing the same behaviors at home.

Barker said Kaiser formulated a behavior plan for the student, which helped with the behaviors. The plan will be reviewed and adjusted as necessary to maintain safety for the student and his or her peers.

The special education director also explained how she is preparing for the upcoming school year, and what preparing for new or open-enrolled students looks like in terms of implementing – or adjusting – IEPs for students.

Building principals Kaiser and Steve Glocke detailed how they are preparing for school to start September 1. Middle and high school students will attend school starting September 1, while students at Tiffany Creek Elementary will have an open house that day to meet teaching staff, and will start classes September 5.

Sipple’s superintendent’s report noted there has been no progress on the 2017-2019 biennial state budget, but he will keep the board apprised of any changes that occur. He also informed the board district instructors are participating in a half-day workshop at Elk Mound High School with teachers from Colfax and Elk Mound August 29.

In other business, the board:

• Approved changing the cost of 2017-2018 4K-4th grade lunches from $2.40 to $2.45. The cost had previously been raised from $2.35 to $2.40, but the district found a five-cent raise did not bring it into full compliance with the federal weighted average price of $2.60.

• Approved hiring Colin Brown as an assistant high school football coach.

• Approved hiring Ashlee Wisemiller and Beth Heifner as C-team volleyball co-coaches.