Theisen's nears purchase of old middle school

   The Monticello Community School District is closing in on a deal to sell the old middle school property for Theisen Real Estate, LLC.

   On Monday at its regular meeting, the Monticello School Board passed a resolution to sell the property to the home, farm and auto store company.

   A public hearing must be held before such a sale can be finalized; the board scheduled that for its April 24 regular meeting.

   If it passes on that evening, the district will sell the building and property to Theisen’s for the cost of $100,000. Theisen’s would then be in charge of removing asbestos from the building, followed by its demolition.

   Demolition would take place within 18 months of closing the sale, and Theisen’s would aim to have a new store built and open within three years.

   “I think this is a good thing for our school district, but also I think it’s very good for our community,” Superintendent Brian Jaeger said.

In other board

business:

     • The board approved the 2023-24 certified budget, which calls for a total tax levy of $14.66066 per $1,000 total valuation, which includes income surtaxes of 3 percent for instructional support and 3 percent for PPEL. The levy rate is an increase over last year's rate of $14.0352. The rate had dropped for three consecutive years prior to this one.

   The board voted for a management fund amount of $400,000, which allows the district to have funds available for early retirement packages, if needed. It also allows the district to participate, if it chooses, in a risk pool for natural gas. By participating, all of the natural gas expenses can be moved from the general fund to the management fund.

   A combined district cost increase of $536,971 contributed to the levy increase. A public hearing was held at the start of the meeting for public comments, but none were received.

   “It was going to go up; there was not a way around it,” business manager Marcy Gillmore said.

   • The board approved the professional negotiations agreement between the district and the Monticello Education Association. It calls for a base increase from $33,817 to $34,442, or a 1.8 percent increase. A year ago the district did away with the traditional salary schedule, switching to a system that increases salaries based on graduate credits and years of experience. Each of the higher base salary pools saw increases as well.

   The agreement expires June 30, 2027.

   • As part of the consent agenda, the board approved several personnel items, as follows:

   Resignations – Deron Hakert as science teacher and volunteer football coach, Abby Fagan as second grade teacher at Carpenter, Wyatt Spence as special education child specific associate at Carpenter, and Clarence Goedken as district-wide seasonal custodian.

   Appointments – Callie Kromminga-Smith as dean of students at the middle school, Shannon Guyer as district-wide mentor facilitator, mentor, and district-wide social emotional behavioral mental health coordinator; Mary Maher, Abby Ritze and Callie Kromminga-Smith as mentors; Dana Hansen as special education child specific associate at Shannon, Jani Telleen as bus driver, and Andrea Bone as middle school softball coach.

   Transfer – Andrea Bone from assistant volleyball coach to varsity volleyball coach.

   • The board approved 2023-24 substitute pay rates.

   • The board approved recommendations from the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC).

   • The board approved a 28E agreement with the City of Monticello for the Monticello youth baseball and softball programs. It is a one-year term.

   • The board accepted the bid of $650 from Rick McMahon of Maquoketa for a 2012 International school bus. The bus currently doesn't run and has electrical issues.