Marion board seeks levy

MARIA STEIN - Marion Local officials are aiming to place a levy for the proposed new school facility on the November ballot.

Superintendent Mike Pohlman said details are not yet set in stone as the board must still pass resolutions to seek a levy. However, the November ballot is the goal.

Board members also will schedule a second community meeting in March to discuss the proposed facility and get feedback. Pohlman suggested either a March 20 or March 22 session at Tuesday's board meeting, and said they likely would hold the meeting in the high school gymnasium to accommodate a large crowd.

Plans have called for $18 million to pay for "the acquisition, construction, improvement, equipping and furnishing" of the proposed facility. Previously released plans call for a new amphitheater, a three-court gymnasium, locker rooms, a weight room, a community room and an industrial/ag education suite.

Pohlman said board members have already reviewed community feedback regarding the new facility and have been working with architect Garmann-Miller & Associates, Minster. Community members are encouraged to attend the next meeting and share their thoughts.

"It is so, so important that everybody in this community is informed and they know the facts, and they ask questions and receive the information," Pohlman said.

"The community asked so many different questions, hard questions sometimes. It's always tough to hear what may be perceived as negative responses, but we want that. We want to hear what the community has in mind," said board president Randy Bruns, referring to a prior community meeting in November. "It's not just going to be a rehash of what we talked about the first time. We made some changes and potential changes, we just looked at a ton of options, and we're ready for this meeting."

In other business, district treasurer Heather Cramer said a public hearing will be held during next month's board meeting to discuss the district's IDEA Part B and Title I funding. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. March 12.

"If anybody wants to come and provide feedback for how that money is spent for the next school year… they're able to voice their concerns," Cramer said.

The board also,

• hired Treva Fortkamp as groundskeeper on a one-year contract on an as-needed basis for $10.84 per hour.

• hired Lora Pohl as a special education co-teacher for $100 per day, eventually to be switched over to the minimum current teacher's salary.

• approved payment for the athletic secretary at $8.30 per hour.

• approved a contract with Chapel Hill Preschool for use of one room during the 2018-2019 school year at the cost of $2,000.

• approved continued funding of the termination benefits fund.

• approved Dan Thobe as a volunteer indoor track coach.

• approved contracted services with Dustin Thobe as a class 1 certified operator for the water supply systems at a rate of $400 per month.

• approved a 9-acre farm lease agreement with Dave Pohlman for one year, to commence on April 1 and end March 31, 2019, at a rate of $225 per acre.