Gena Gullixon was recently named to serve on the Iola-Scandinavia School Board.
Gullixon’s request to serve on the board was approved during the board’s May 11 reorganizational meeting.
She will represent the village of Iola, the seat formerly held by Jeff Oppor.
During the April election, Oppor was elected to fill a seat representing the towns of Helvetia and St Lawrence, a seat held by Charlie Wasrud since 2003.
Former board president Wasrud chose not to seek re-election.
The board’s officers for 2015-16 are Kristen Hoyord, president; Mike Koles, vice president; Jeff Oppor, clerk; and Bob Fredy, treasurer. Directors are Bruce Beyersdorf, Ken Wavruk and Gullixon.
At the board’s regular meeting on May 11, District Administrator David Dyb presented STAR Awards to Food Service Director Mary Jo Gerhardt and her staff. The Food Service staff includes Arlene Wiskow, Dawn Lashua, Lori Carper, Jackie Cherek, Wendy Lederhaus, Toya Lund, Kelly Mallo, Lynn Rasmussen and Taren Redmann.
STAR awards are given to exemplify successes, triumphs, accomplishments and to recognize employees for outstanding work.
Dyb presented the awards for “doing a wonderful job with our students.”
“Between preparing healthy meals for America’s students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies and offering service with a smile, school nutrition professionals are true heroes,” Gerhardt said. “School Nutrition Employee Week was May 4-8. What a perfect time to recognize them for all their efforts.”
National Honor Society representative Desiree Nelson reported on the recent Community Service Day.
According to Nelson, 216 high school students chose to participate.
“I love that we involve the high school in our community service,” she said. “It’s getting bigger and bigger.”
In other business, the board discussed  how to use funds remaining from the 2014-15 budget.
“There are some things that we have to do,” said Business Manager Sarah Thiel. “And there are things we can do to alleviate the pressure next year.”
High School Principal Sara Anderson requested that the board consider replacing the choir risers.
“The current risers are coming closer and closer to being unusable,” she said.
The board discussed immediate needs, such as replacing a roof, updating the high school office and updating elementary textbooks.
The Finance Committee will consider long-term and short-term needs prior to the next board meeting on June 8.
The board approved the recommendation of the Buildings and Grounds Committee that the tennis court group be allowed to explore the costs for building tennis courts on the Krause property.
The committee recommended waiting for another excavation bid before deciding on what to do with the property’s buildings.
The board discussed technology needs for high school students and approved the purchase of 25 to 30 replacement laptops at a cost of about $20,000.
The board approved teacher contracts, athletic co-curricular contracts and staff work agreements for 2015-16; middle school football coaching contracts for Jon Berg and Tim Welch; and the resignation of Johnathan Turba as middle/high school cross country coach.