The Ottumwa Board of Education unanimously approved the purchase of the Market on Main building at 331 E. Main in downtown Ottumwa for $500,000. The agreement includes a contingency where the Ottumwa Regional Legacy Foundation, the building's current owner, will pay back $50,000 in March 2021 and 2022, reducing the overall cost to $400,000. The closing date has been set for January 4, 2021. Superintendent Mike McGrory will update the board in late November on plans to open the facility. While the programming is obvious, he shared, "the purchase also provides an opportunity to connect with Indian Hills and connect to the community. We also think it can be a connection to the downtown as well as really be a community resource with events."
Other action items included:
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Recognized five staff members who were nominated and selected as Employees of the Month for October, including Allison Adams, fifth-grade teacher, James Elementary; Kelsi Eakins, guidance counselor, OHS; Stephanie Hart, associate at Horace Mann Elementary; Salud Leyva, secretary, Wilson Elementary; and Anna Wilke, language arts teacher, Evans Middle School.
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Voted unanimously to continue participation in the Instructional Support Levy. The new resolution includes funding through a state income tax surtax as well as property taxes rather than solely property taxes. The percentage of the surtax is to be determined by the board each year. The resolution is for five years.
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Accepted an early retirement offer for employees with at least 10 years of service who are 55 or older.
- Accepted an early resignation incentive for individuals who don't qualify for early retirement but plan to leave the district at the end of the school year. Individuals must notify the district by December 16 to be eligible.
- Approved the purchase of new scoreboards at Evans Middle School to replace the current 25-year-old boards. Total cost is $26,500 not including installation.
- The maintenance department purchased a new truck from Vaughn Automotive for $32,241.