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Board votes to move Carrie Lane School back to First Congregational location

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

In what could be regarded as one step toward repurposing and selling the old middle school, the Charles City Community School District Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to move the Carrie Lane High School Program out of the building and back into the First Congregational Society of Charles City, its former location.

“This does have two benefits to it,” said school board President Robin Macomber. “Not only do we take the program and put it back where they felt it was more effective, at ease and more efficient; it also gets our building ready to be sold.”

“It’s a win-win,” said Charles City Superintendent Mike Fisher.

The old middle school — now referred to as the North Grand Building — had housed the program’s classrooms and offices for two school years. The district had leased space at the First Congregational Society location for the alternative high school program from August of 2008 through May of 2016. The church is located at 502 N. Jackson in Charles City. The alternative school has continued to hold commencement services at that location.

“This is in anticipation as we work on finding a repurpose for our North Grand facility,” said Fisher.

Carrie Lane High School is Charles City’s alternative high school program. The move is effective as of Oct. 1. The lease payment of $5,000 annually would be funded through the physical plant and equipment levy.

Fisher said, “$5000 is really just cost for them. They didn’t want to make any money, they just wanted to cover the cost.”

Fisher said that the directors and students in the alternative program have told him they’ve found the current location in the old middle school “less than desirable.”

“There aren’t a lot of windows, there’s not a lot of light,” he said. “They really enjoyed being in the church. It was a light, bright place, and there’s been a great community partnership in working with some of the church congregation.”

“I know the church has felt they really liked having (the school) there,” Macomber added. “I’ve been contacted numerous times and asked if there’s anything they can do to bring that group back in.”

Director Scott Dight wondered if the church location was accessible for disabled students and teachers.

“The only problem I have with going back there is, according to the lease agreement, the classrooms are on the second floor and there’s no elevator,” Dight said.

“That was a concern I had as well,” replied Fisher. “There is no elevator, however there are ground floor rooms available, so if we did have to make accommodations for a student with that need, we could convert those rooms to make sure those needs are met.”

The vote was 4-0 in favor of returning to the church location. Director Josh Mack was not at the meeting.

In late July, the school district said it was “seeking out interested partners and we are being met with great initial interest from several parties” regarding the North Grand Building. Fisher told the Press earlier this month that a facilities assessment and the future of the building are top priorities for the district.

“In the future, when the repurpose and sale of the North Grand Building happens, we don’t want to tell our operations crew that they have to move everything all at once.” Fisher said Monday.

School district officials said Monday that the public shouldn’t expect any kind of announcement in the coming weeks.

“There are no developments yet for the public, but I will say we’re excited about the many meetings we’ve been having,” Fisher said earlier this month.

The old middle school building, at 500 N. Grand Ave., currently contains central services — which is the school district’s business office, superintendent’s office and community engagement office — among other things. It stopped serving as general purpose classrooms when the new middle school opened two years ago.

In other business on Monday, the board asked for public comment in support for or against a resolution to expand funds from the district’s flexibility account for signage and campus beautification and a copier for the high school. The funds, in the amount of $27,430, were unexpended and non-obligated from the home school assistance program. Having received no comments, oral or written, the board unanimously approved the resolution.

In other action Monday, the board:

— Affirmed by consensus its support for the designation of Thursday, Sept. 27, as “Legendary Teacher Day.” The board encouraged the entire community to take time on that day and contact the “legendary teacher” in each person’s life and express gratitude for the difference that teacher made.

— Approved revising start times for regular school board meetings, from 6 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., to better accommodate board work schedules.

— Approved the request of modified supplemental state aid in the amount of $33,207.84 for the fiscal year 2018 excess Limited English Proficient costs, as recommended by the superintendent.

— Approved the Charles City School District’s joining the American Association of Personnel Administrators, at an annual fee of $495, as recommended by the superintendent.

— Approved the resignations of Stephanie Esparza, instructional assistant, effective Aug. 6; Annick Beaver, instructional assistant, effective Sept. 26; Theresa Sargent, bus driver, effective Sept. 26; and Karleen Sickman, 9th-grade softball coach, effective Sept. 25.

— Approved the appointments of Keisha Cunnings, POM/dance team, at a salary of $2,078, starting Aug. 27; and Holli Gorman, assistant varsity girls basketball coach, at a salary of $3,330, starting Sept. 25.

— Approved a one-yet leave of absence for Katelyn Stultz, middle school play director, starting Aug. 15.

— Approved the internal classified employee transfers of connection teachers Marilyn Heitz, Carrie Jones and Patti Miller.

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