GC Board of Education approves member resignation
By Cara L. Dempski
GLENWOOD CITY — The Glenwood City Board of Education unanimously approved the resignation of one member Monday evening.
Dr. Charles Rasmussen forwarded a letter of resignation to the board in mid-July announcing his resignation from his seat, but the issue could not be addressed until the August 14 meeting since it was not part of the July agenda.
Though the group was missing president Dr. Lisa Kaiser and board member Jon Mrdutt, the vote to accept Rasmussen’s resignation received unanimous support. According to the school board section of the district website, Rasmussen has served as a board member since 1994.
Johnson also indicated three district residents – Dan Dopkins, Chuck Draxler and Kevin Bonte – have filed applications to fill Rasmussen’s seat.
The district administrator said school policy stipulates the board must give notice of an open seat and set an application deadline. The policy also indicates the candidates must be given the opportunity to speak in support of their candidacy at an open board meeting. Johnson expressed his preference for hearing the three candidates this month.
“Unless you are in disagreement, I would like to invite them to our next board meeting on the 28th,” Johnson said. “We can have them, during our community comments section, have a timeline for them to give a brief address on why they think they are a good candidate for the district.”
In addition to approving Rasmussen’s resignation, the assembled board also voted to choose the person to fill the open seat via written ballot of board members. Johnson explained the winner of the ballot would then be sworn in at the following meeting, and would fill the seat until Rasmussen’s term ends, at which time the member would need to file candidacy papers.
The decision for a written ballot was unanimously approved.
Other agenda items
Achterhof moved to strike approval of the July 17, 2017, minutes from the agenda, citing a need for the minutes to be edited for spelling, grammar, and punctuation prior to being approved.
The administrative team discussed the upcoming new teacher orientation scheduled for August 23, before describing the in-service days to prepare for the school year. Middle and high school principal Patrick Gretzlock provided a brief report on summer school and some of the online programming helping district students make up grades in different areas of study.
Johnson informed the board the state legislature does not appear to be any closer to approving a 2017-2018 budget, which is making it difficult to predict aid for the upcoming academic year. He told the board he will still have a budget proposal for the September 11 budget hearing and annual meeting. The budget hearing will start at 7 p.m. that night, and the annual meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m.
In other business, the board:
• Learned the next meetings are scheduled for August 28 (committees at 5:30 p.m., regular meeting at 6:30 p.m.), September 11 (budget hearing, 7 p.m., annual meeting 7:30 p.m.), and September 25 (5:30 budget meeting, 6:30 regular meeting).
• Approved Jacob Maes as the C-team volleyball coach.
• Approved volunteer coaches Rob Logghe for football, Bridget Oehlke for volleyball, Will Rosenow for Cross Country and Nathan Hoffman for Boys’ Basketball.
• Approved a donation of $4,914.44 from the wrestling booster club to be used in the purchase of a new wrestling mat.
The board then adjourned to closed session. District administrative assistant Christa Blaser later reported the board approved an extension of FMLA maternity leave for Carly Kittilson.
