School Board approves invitation to play at new community stadium

Oskaloosa School Administration

At its meeting this evening, the Oskaloosa School Board voted to approve an invitation to play at the new community stadium by a unanimous vote. The approval was contingent on later approval of an agreement between the school board and William Penn University. While the vote may have been unanimous, the board did debate the proposed service agreement. “Public money, tax money,I’m sorry, going to a private institution seems wrong.” said board member Jon Denniston in regards to the money that will be used for maintenance of the facility. Board members Anne Whitis and Laurie Palmer pointed out though, that in fact the money that would be put into this would not be tax money but would be money ($5,000) from the school board to be given to a special committee who will decide how it gets to be used. “I don’t want to tie future school boards hands, so I think that’s a decision for them to make on their own” said board member Anne Whitis in response to Denniston’s remarks on the maintenance money.

Construction of the facility is ahead of schedule and the the new stadium is expected to be completed by fall of 2011. In other action, the board:

• Received a report on the District Leadership Team and the Professional Learning Communities
• Approved a resolution adopting the Mahaska County Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Approved a resolution approving the preparation of an Amended “28E Agreement for Cooperative Use of the One Cent Sales Tax Proceeds” and going forth with the Option D Financial Agreement
• Approved the 2011-2012 Modified Allowable Growth
• Approved a shared contract with the City of Oskaloosa for and IT position
• Approved the sale of Surplus Property

The next regular meeting of the board will be on Tuesday, January 12th at 7:30 pm in the George Daily Auditorium