School district leases up for board’s review

Land, classroom space tops agenda concerns

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City School Board will discuss three leases at tonight’s 6:30 p.m. meeting.

The Charles City Community School District has entered into an agreement with the Northeast Regional Academy — a school to aid hearing and visually impaired students. According to an agenda item scheduled for tonight, the Iowa School for the Deaf has occupied 1,076 square feet of space since March 1. A lease agreement for $800 per month for 16 months — ending June 30, 2017 — has been prepared and tentatively approved by the Iowa School for the Deaf.

Another lease proposal School Board members will review is a cash rent farm lease between property owner Nick Bjelica and the Charles City FFA. The FFA would rent 42 acres in the area across Clark Street and south Comet Field. The lease would be written as having begun March 1 with a duration until Feb. 28, 2017.

The intent is to use this acreage as a learning tool with 27 acres being put into corn and 15 acres to be planted for hay. Besides a student farming opportunity, it was suggested the land could also be used for cross country practice.

The annual rent is set for $2,776. This would not be payable until after the crop is harvested or Nov. 1. Profits from the harvest would be used to support the FFA program. Bjelica has already approved the farm lease.

The lease to be discussed of the lease with the First Congregational Society of Floyd County for classroom space for the Carrie Lane Program. As of July 31 the existing lease will expire. With beginning of the 2016-17 school year the 500 N. Grand Building will no longer be used as the middle school as students move to the new building being built at the high school. Carrie Lane Program will be able to move their program to the 500 N. Grand building and will no longer require space at the First Congregational Society church. School Board members will consider allowing the lease to expire and moving the program to the 500 N. Grand building.

Other Agenda Items

— Personnel Resignations: Teresa Severin, Lincoln Elementary instructional assistant; Carrie Becker, library assistant

— Personnel Appointments: Tiffany Ranweiler, middle school English teacher, $40,860.