Public comments and discussion accounted for the first half of the July meeting of the Fennimore School Board. held on July 23.  The two topics brought to the attention of the board were the football field conditions and the increase in co-curricular fees.

Joe Kelley spoke first and gave his concern that with the construction that the football field would not be ready for the home opener on Aug. 22.

He stated he recently saw fresh patches in the field and a long trench going through the south end zone from east to west, among other visible concerns, and also stated this spring during the thaw he witnessed machinery parked on the field, which he did not think was good for the field overall, which he referred to as “The Rock,” referencing its hard playing surface.

He also stated Fennimore High School’s field is subpar compared to the rest of the fields in the surrounding areas. 

District Administrator Jane Wonderling responded stating the field would be ready come the Aug. 22 home game against Iowa-Grant, and the field had been aerated, repaired, and seeded.

Kelley doubted Wonderling’s claim about the Aug. 22 date, and asked if they had a plan in case it wasn’t, to which Wonderling replied that the field would ready per the contractors.

Amanda Jahnke, like Kelley before her, stated that if “it’s about time or money, let us know, we want to help.”

Kyle Kinney also had concerns about the football field, stating he “just didn’t want the team to lose home games.” But he went on to say that he trusted Wonderling and the board’s claim the field will be ready Aug. 22.

Switching concerns, Katie Koestler, a special education teacher for the district, brought up the board’s decision last month to increase co-curricular activity fees to $50.

She felt the decision was made without much discussion, and was made to possibly subsidize money lost from a large number of unpaid school meal fees from the previous school year.

She used area school district examples that either the districts have a cap on the amount families pay, a flat fee, or a sliding fee.

Koestler stated she feared the increase in cost per activity would limit the co-cirricular students could be a part of.

Deanna Needham shared Koestler’s opinion that the raise in fees was a “quick decision,” and “this will impact kids with them having to choose or not be involved.”

She said personally for her children to continue their co-curriculars, it will cost her $700 for them to participate.

“It is not equable access for all,” she further stated.

Board member Herman Maier in response to the fee concerns, stated, “I’ve been a board member for over 30 years, and we have to work with numbers. We have a budget and sometimes we have to make cuts. It’s something we have to do.”

Fennimore School Board Vice President Peter Heberlein, sitting in for absent board president Peter James, then called for the public participation portion to end, which is allotted a time of 15 minutes, but went for nearly a half hour.

Construction update

Wonderling gave further construction updates in addition to the athletic field ones mentioned during public participation, stating the project is on budget and on time.”

Some highlights include:

•The elementary playground and handicapped ramp are completed.

•Building of new walls are complete at the elementary’s OT/PT (occupational and physical therapy) area. 

•The high school gym roofing project and roofing at both school additions were all but complete with some final details to be completed. 

•All interior walls are built and drywall is compete. 

Wonderling stated district is on schedule to open building on Aug. 25 for in-service, with the first day of the 2025-26 school year Sept. 2. 

Open houses are scheduled on Tuesday Aug. 26 from 4 p.m. until 6:30  p.m., for 4K, and Wednesday Aug. 27 for 5K - Seniors from 4 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. 

Other business

Custodian Rick Nelson submitted his retirement to the board after 12 years of employment. Nelson’s last day will be Aug. 31. 

Third grade teacher Samantha Schoenberg submitted her resignation to the board, after accepting a similar position at Iowa-Grant. 

The hiring of as a science teacher Theresa Stewart was approved by the board. Fennimore Middle/High School Principal Boone Tollefson stated Stewart was a 1994 graduate of Fennimore High School. 

Hayley Bender was also approved as 4K paraprofessional for the upcoming school year. 

The board also approved the hiring of Melissa Wiest, who previously taught second grade at st. Clements in Lancaster, as a new third grade teacher. 

Two athletic coaches were also approved. New varsity boys’ basketball coach Kevin Everson will also be the middle school track coach, and former JV boys basketball coach Coby Zwiefelhofer will coach this year’s eighth grade boys basketball team. 

The board also approved a number of volunteer coaches for fall sports and FFA. 

Lastly, the second year on a row, the board approved  an agreement between the district and the Highland School District for English teacher Shane Kieler to also serve as Highland’s librarian. 

Wonderling stated that there was “no problems” with it last school year and the agreement “worked great.” 

The next and last meeting of the Fennimore School Board before the new school year is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.