Upgrade, installation to cost nearly $16,000
By Holly Neumann
Thunderbird Field is getting a new scoreboard.
The Iola-Scandinavia School Board approved the purchase Dec. 13 at a cost of $12,873.
An additional $3,000 will be needed for installation, according to District Administrator Ray Przekurat.
He also told the board that the Iola-Scandinavia School District is again applying for a $25,000 Fab Lab equipment grant. If approved, the district would be required to match the grant at 50%. The board unanimously approved matching this amount.
If awarded this grant, the district would like to purchase a CNC plasma cutter, 3D printers and do updates to its CNC router. If denied, they would be looking to use ESSER money to make improvements to the Fab Lab area.
In other business, the board also approved a two-year Early Literacy Professional Learning Program at a cost of $16,000.
“This training is completely focused on phonics,” reading specialist Kristen Bertsch said. “Some of this training will be directly done at the elementary school.”
“This is a way to be proactive in supporting our students and teachers,” elementary school principal Stacey Wester said. “It’s a way to get back on track following covid.”
I-S students Aiden Polacek and Michael Kirmse received board approval to start an ice fishing club for middle and high school students.
There will be no cost to the district to start this club. Participants will use their own equipment and provide their own transportation to events.
The board accepted several donations, including the district included $625 from C&D Consulting Services, $5,000 from the Rural Mutual Insurance Foundation and $1,000 from Alliant Energy.
The next regular board meeting is set for 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 10.