LONE TREE

The Lone Tree School Board met on Wednesday, May 1, for their regularly scheduled workshop meeting. Here, the board discussed board policy 705.4.R1: Expenditures for a Public Purpose, once more.

The board decided to change the language within the policy to give student-led organizations like FFA a $100 maximum limit for memorial flowers.

Organizations will still need approval from administration as the purchase of memorial flowers must still be made for immediate family members of staff. For example, the football team could use available funds for flowers for a family member of a coach, but not someone who shares zero connection with the team/school.

When Lone Tree FFA officers met with the school board, this was one of their biggest issues with the public purpose policy.

During said meeting, FFA officer Cate Sexton stated, “We, as well as other service organizations, have been struggling to conduct our primary purpose, to serve our community.”

If these changes are implemented, it would be a compromise as the club wanted full access to their funds. 

Lone Tree Superintendent Tyler Hotz plans to meet with the FFA club to speak about further amendments to the policy at a later date.

Additionally, the board still plans to meet with the Iowa Association of School Boards during their June meeting to workshop the policy even more.

Nutritional director

At the last school board meeting, Nutritional Director Erik Isenhour presented an idea which would add a head cook position without need to hire anyone new.

This position would give a pay raise to one of the existing cooks within Lone Tree while giving them more responsibility to help Isenhour. 

The board discussed it, mulling whether or not they would want their kitchen staff to change in this manner.

Following Isenhour’s direction, it seems likely the board will approve this new position when given the chance at their official May meeting.

Qualifications and requirements for the position can be found on Lone Tree’s website.

Summer projects

Hotz presented a quick update on two summer projects before the board finalizes their summer project list at the official May meeting.

Hotz has yet to receive a quote to resurface the school’s track. The board hopes to receive a quote by May 10. If not, they might not include it in their summer project list despite it being a top priority of Hotz and the board.

Lone Tree is also awaiting Shive Hattery’s assessment of the Wellness Center and the requirements for a new generator so the building can be used as emergency shelter by Johnson County Emergency Management.

Future board meetings

Hotz proposed the board host one meeting in June and July instead of two.

The board seemed to approve of the idea, unofficially setting dates of June 5 and July 10. These meetings will be both a workshop and regular meeting.

For May, the board will meet on Wednesday, May 15, for their final board meeting of the school year, to be held in the school library at 6:30 p.m.