Options for old middle school begin to evolve

     Options and a deadline for the fate of the old Central Middle School building and gym are coming into sharper focus as the result of a Monticello School Board meeting Jan. 25.

     At the meeting, Superintendent Brian Jaeger read from a sheet that summarized options the board had discussed at a Jan. 13 work session. While this is still in the planning stages, and no final decisions have been made, it begins to narrow the options.

     In summary, the plan is this:

     • The old middle school would remain open for community use (particularly the gym) until March 2022, at an estimated cost to the district of $100,000 to $120,000. This would allow the City of Monticello to consider options and come up with a proposal, if so desired, for repurposing the building.

     • If no formal plan has materialized by March 2022, the school board would ask for bids to demolish the building, with demolition to begin in the summer of 2022.

     • Because the board recognizes high community interest in a school sports facility/fitness center at the high school site, a committee would be established to explore funding options.

     • Once the school district cost for any old middle school option has been established, the board would consider funding part of the sports facility/fitness center at the high school site.

     • If funding options for a sports facility are insufficient, the district would commit funds to a potential new elementary school project and consider larger gym options there.

     Jaeger has since produced a video explaining these options, and sent it to a feedback group the board had previously established. A meeting will be scheduled to discuss the options, followed by another survey. If the options surpass all these hurdles, they will be presented as an action item at the Feb. 22 school board meeting.

In other board business:

     • The proposed 2021-22 school calendar was approved by the board at the Jan. 25 meeting.

     The calendar, put together by the district’s Calendar Committee, represents hope of a return to a pre-COVID type of school year. It eliminates the Wednesday online learning days that are a regular part of this school year, and includes 1,127 hours of instruction.

     A public hearing on the calendar was held at the start of the meeting, but no public comments were made.

     • The board approved the resolution for the Modified Allowable Growth Request for at risk/dropout prevention in the amount of $336,084.

     • The board approved the 2021-22 High School Registration Handbook.

     • The board approved the 2021-22 Jones County Regional Center/Kirkwood Programs of Study.

     • The board passed the second and final approval of the naming rights proposal for the superintendent’s office. The office is being sponsored by Charlie, Pat, Chad and Nikki Becker at a cost of $10,000. A plaque will be installed acknowledging the sponsorship.

     • As part of the consent agenda, several personnel items were approved:

     Resignations – Joan Young as high school principal, effective July 31 (see related story), Alissa Rucker as seventh-grade English/language arts teacher, Colton Halder as varsity boys soccer coach, and Doug Ries as middle school boys track coach.

     Appointments – Doug Ries as varsity girls golf coach, Shannon Guyer as teacher mentor for special education teacher Mackenzie Dietiker, and Darren Reade as middle school boys track coach.

     Transfer – Dezerae Smith from special education associate at the middle school to special education associate at Carpenter School.