Oskaloosa school board met in regular session and after honoring retiring staff, announced the elimination of extra contracts for five staff members. This does not mean the loss of any teaching positions.

The board opened the evening with a reception to honor eight retirees whose combined service to the district amount to more than two centuries. Shirlee Gallagher is retiring from elementary special education after 43 years and is the longest serving retiree. Mike Sash as a middle school physical education instructor has taught for 38 years and Jay Harms, high school social studies for 31.

Kristen Sarver (27 years), Susan Knox (22), Pam Behning (19), Jan Dodd (18) and Dee Thostensen (13) received recognition plaques from superintendent Russ Reiter and board president Tom Richardson.

In trying to reign in some costs for the next school year, seven staff members will have extra duty contracts eliminated. Two of the seven have requested a hearing and those will be in closed session on May 18 at 6 p.m.

Chase Weber, Betsy Luck and Steve Kaisand will no longer receive a stipend for weight room coverage. Amy Simmons will have her contract days reduced from 15 to 10 days, and Patricia Erckenbreck will have her role as middle and high school librarian reduced by five days.

Board member Carl Drost made it clear the board is not reducing staff members or teaching positions but just reducing the extra stipends and hours to perform duties.

In other personnel matters, the board accepted the resignations of Hanna Laucamp, first grade; Alexis Shipman, fourth grade; Shelby Lucas, fourth grade; Josh Bandstra, middle school industrial arts; and Joe Kane as high school special education.

The board approved the hiring of Alex Edwards to teach second grade for the next school year at a salary of $34,515.

The board approved the purchase of a Citrex Server from One Net IT Solutions. The five-year contract includes support, upgrades, software and licensing for 150. Cost of the contract will come from the district’s PPEL Fund in the amount of $198,745.63.

Approved Jason Carter/Remax to handle the sale of the school-constructed house on South M Street. Reiter told audience members that the house would be open on Thursday from 3-5 p.m. for tours.

In other business:

Held a public hearing and approved a budget amendment for the 2015-16 budget due to the 1:1 computer project.

Approved a service agreement with Timberline Billing to handle the district’s Medicaid services billing

Heard presentations on supplemental education at the elementary and the high school Multi-tiered support services program

Next regular meeting will be Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m.

Story provided by RD Keep

On April 28, 2016, Colfax area residents received calls from persons portraying themselves as members of the Internal Revenue Service and demanding payment for back taxes. The number was 330-284-7362. This type of phone call is usually an attempt to get someone to provide credit card and personal information to the caller.

Jasper County residents are reminded to not provide any personal information to unknown or unreliable callers. In the event that you are unsure of the validity of the call, the Des Moines IRS office number is 515-664-6618, or you can report a scam at www.irs.gov

There have also been recent fraud cases involving the internet, Facebook or other social media. This type of case usually involves a local resident who accepts a friend request, or email from an unknown person. The unknown person relates details of their life and that they are looking for a relationship. Due to their current financial situation, they need the local resident to help them out by sending them money. The local resident is usually asked to send certified checks or money orders to a bank or third party. In nearly all of these types of cases, the local resident never actually has a face to face meeting with the person.

Finally, an additional fraud case involves someone calling an elderly person claiming to be a grandchild who is in another state. The “grandchild” has been arrested and needs money for bond. In these cases, the local resident will actually be given phone numbers to call. The calls will be answered and persons will identify themselves as an authority which may take credit or debit card information to “help post bond”.

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind people to be cautious when providing personal information to unknown or unreliable sources. We also encourage you to review this information with your family members, especially older family members.

Press release from the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office