School Board Approves Funds For Speakers, Liaison Officer

The Glenwood Community School District Board of Directors has approved payments for a pair of speakers this spring at the high school.

The board unanimously approved a total of $3,350 in speaking fees at last Monday’s regular monthly board meeting.
Glenwood Superintendent Devin Embray said he didn’t feel the fees were an unreasonable sum.

“We’ve had speakers that cost anywhere from $5,000 to $7,000 for national speakers,” Embray said. “These two will be speaking and spending a lot of time throughout the day talking and in groups.”

Tony Vincent, Inc. will be paid $2,850 to present one 90 minute and three 90 minute breakout sessions for the district’s optional professional development day for certified staff at Glenwood Community High School March 29. Vincent is a Council Bluffs-based consultant specializing in technology-based teaching. His “Learning in Hand” program focuses on teaching teachers to integrate digital tools in the classroom to help students be productive and creative.

The board also approved a $500 payment to Equip 2 Equip and speaker Alli Van Rokel for an opening message speech and day of on-site work at the district’s career fair being held at the high school April 13. Equip 2 Equip is an Omaha-based life and career coaching and training consultant and Roekel will speak on identifying strengths and informing good choices for the future.

In other board news:

* The board voted to approve an agreement with the Glenwood Police Department to provide a school liaison officer for the district for eight hours each day that school is in session for the 2016-2017 school year. The cost to district is $33.50 per hour, per officer utilized, or $59,920 for the entire school year.
The liaison officer will serve as the district’s truancy officer in addition to providing security, assisting in investigations and serving as liaison between the district and the criminal courts.

* The district approved the school calendar for the 2016-2017 school year. Glenwood will begin  classes Aug. 23. The Christmas break will commence Dec. 23 and run to Jan. 2. Classes will release for the summer May 26, 2017.
* The district renewed its cooperative sharing agreement with the Council Bluffs Lewis Central School District for girls swimming and diving.

* The Glenwood Band Parents Association presented photographs of the school’s new band uniforms. The 150 new uniforms, which will replace the school’s now 20-year-old uniforms, are scheduled to be ready for the 2017-18 school year. The price tag is $61,230, with the bulk of the costs to be covered by the Band Parents booster organization. The school district is contributing $10,500 to the purchase.