Glenwood City Board of Education appoints new member to Rasmussen’s seat

By Cara L. Dempski

GLENWOOD CITY — Just two weeks after approving Dr. Charles Rasmussen’s resignation from the Glenwood City Board of Education after over 20 years of service, the board appointed a new member to his seat.

Chuck Draxler, a graduate of Glenwood City schools, was selected by paper ballot and appointed to the seat after being chosen by four of the five board members present at the August 28 meeting.

His appointment will fulfill the remaining nine months of Rasmussen’s term, and he will have the option of running to fill the seat again in April 2018.

If he were to run for a full term and win, he would then serve a three-year term with the board.

Draxler was one of three district residents who spoke with superintendent Tim Johnson regarding the open seat. The other two candidates, Kevin Bonte and Dan Dopkins, took turns answering questions sent to them several days before the meeting.

The newest board member’s final message to the board focused on his willingness to serve the school and the community. After many years of service to his church and international mission trips with his parents, wife and children, he said he wants to serve the community at large.

He also heavily emphasized his skill in building consensus and working with both individuals and groups as a representative of both the school district and larger community.

Chuck Draxler will be sworn in September 11 prior to the district’s budget hearing and annual meeting.

Other business

The board unanimously approved a $28,450 expenditure after Johnson presented a bid from Asphalt Associates to cover the cost of expanding the west parking lot to include another 16-18 parking spaces, cut off the east end of the empty tennis court and resurface it, completely resurface the area being used for batting cages, and repair the stairs from the upper parking lot to the lower due to sand erosion.

Nicole Brite gave a brief rundown on the final term of summer school, which ended August 18, and informed the board records indicate there were only four recorded restraints or seclusions during the 2016-2017 academic year. Two of the incidents were with two individuals in the elementary school, and the other two stemmed from a single middle school student. All three students have Individual Education Programs (IEPs).

Public school districts are required to report on restraint and seclusion on a yearly basis.

Building principals Betsy Haltinner and Patrick Gretzlock made brief statements on professional development in their buildings this season.

In other business, the board:

• Approved Mary Logterman as a substituted paraprofessional.

• Approved Labor Day practice sessions for both football and cross country.

• Approved the list of student workers for the before- and after-school program Hilltopper Hangtime.

• Scheduled upcoming meetings for September 11 (6:45 p.m. board meeting, 7 p.m. budget hearing, 7:30 p.m. annual meeting.) and September 25.