L’view welcomes new members, organizes

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

The Lincolnview Local Board of Education welcomed two new members and also selected a new board chair during its first meeting of the new year.

New members Kirk Berryman and Michelle Gorman were sworn into their first terms on the board, while Eric Germann was elected president of the board for the coming year. Cindy Miller was named board vice president.

During the tax budget meeting, the board approved the district tax budget, following a presentation by Lincolnview Treasurer Troy Bowersock, who pointed out that the district’s tax valuation had jumped from approximately $86 million to $110 million, mostly because of the new agricultural valuations done in 2011.

While that could also lead to additional tax revenues for the district, Bowersock also had less positive news: 27 percent of Lincolnview students were on the Free and Reduced Lunch program — the highest percentage ever for the federal lunch program that assists needy children.

The cost of the lunch program, one of the lowest-cost programs in the area, was bumped up a nickel for the coming school year, and could see another 5 cent increase, Bowersock said.

During the organizational meeting, Germann was also reappointed legislative liaison for the board, while Miller was chosen as the student achievement liaison.

The board also unanimously approved advertising for bids for a new nine-passenger van. Superintendent Doug Fries said having a second van could be more cost-effective for transporting small groups of students, since driving two small vans could be less expensive than taking a school bus when a small group of students is involved.

Also Tuesday, the board authorized a contract with Julian & Grube Inc. to perform a state-mandated auditor of the district’s Medicaid school program and also approved applying for the National After-School Care Snack Program.

The sixth grade trip to Washington, D.C., was also authorized by the board for October 1-6.

The board also approved an overnight trip for the varsity wrestling team to travel to Van Buren for a tournament.

Although meetings will normally be the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., the February meeting had to be moved up, as pertains to both date and time, to accommodate board schedule conflicts. The February meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, February 9.