The 2022-23 school year at Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn will begin next Tuesday and the district is ready to welcome students to their classrooms.

Initial indications are that H-M-S will have more students to welcome. Final enrollment will not be determined for some time, but the district is anticipating over 30 newcomers.

That trend seems to apply at the high school, where at least 11 new students are enrolled.

"We continue to get more students, which is a great thing," Principal Nate Hemiller said during the board meeting on Monday.

He is also pleased with new furniture that was purchased for the high school.

"It has updated the building appearance significantly," Hemiller said. "We have received many positive comments from the staff that have been in setting up their rooms."

In terms of technology, freshmen will receive new surface laptops while other high school students will use the same computer they had last year. Middle school students will be issued Chromebooks during the first week of school.

One change at H-M-S Elementary is that preschool starts on Monday, Aug. 29, which is one week earlier than last year.

"We want to get as much time as we can with them," Principal Ashley Benz explained.

To address some of the district's transportation needs, the board authorized purchasing a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu at a cost of approximately $22,700.

Superintendent Patrick Carlin said the vehicle will be used for transporting students who require special services.

"We've got a lot of individual students going every which way," he noted. "A car makes a lot of sense for those students."

Personnel-related matters were also addressed. Resignations were accepted from Kevin Soden as Director of Buildings and Grounds and Transportation, and Melissa Ortiz as a middle school associate. Jeremy Niichel has assumed Soden's responsibilities on an interim basis.

Contracts were issued to Kristina Bush as a middle school associate, Julia Meyer as high school bowling coach and Kyle Vogt as a volunteer high school football coach.

Administrators again emphasized the challenge of recruiting personnel. Carlin said the number of new students is exciting, but it will impact class sizes or require additional services for some students

One program that may help address long-term staffing needs is the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship program. It provides opportunities for high school students and adults to work and earn a wage while learning the necessary skills and education to become a certified paraeducator or a licensed teacher in Iowa.

H-M-S is entering into a cooperative relationship with Morningside University, which will provide the education and work experience necessary to complete the requirements. The board's approval of the agreement also allows for similar agreements with other institutions.

In other business, Dave Treimer of Treimer's Insurance Agency reviewed the commercial property and liability insurance package for 2022-23. The "good news" is that the total premium of approximately $218,000 is lower than a year ago.

The premium for building and personal property coverage is increasing in line with the trend elsewhere; however, cost reductions were possible in other areas. That includes worker's compensation, which is partially the result of some staff being moved to a classification with a lower rate.

The board also agreed to waive the 90-day nonparticipation requirement for an open enrolled student. Carlin explained that a waiver can be granted if a student has experienced a tragic circumstance. In this case, the situation has been confirmed.

"Normally I would advise not to approve it, but in this situation it is a legitimate," Carlin said.

"I think in this case we would be punishing the student if we were to deny it," said Board Member Ryan Haack.