Johnston Eyes Adding a Non-Voting Student Member to the School Board

There could be a new seat at the  table in the coming months.

Board members agreed Monday to pursue the addition of a student representative to the board. The student representative would not have voting power, but could offer input on issues.

Carly Crist, Johnnston High School student council vice president, said input from students could be valuable.

"There are upcoming meeting topics that affects high school students," she said. "We see through the halls, like Ms. Wesling's class being filmed, we could provide input."

Jeremy Caracci, a sophomore, said he feels students voices aren't heard by the board from the sidelines.

"If we got student input on the board from the student body, I feel there wouldn't be a downfall," he said.

The discussion of adding a student representative first began two years ago. At that time, the district decided to form a student advisory committee, Superintendent Clay Guthmiller said.

The committee met quarterly during the 2009-10 school year.

John Dutcher, board member, questioned the equality of adding a student representative to the board.

He supported the seat, but wondered if the board should then "offer a seat on the board for a parent volunteer or a taxpayer in a different capacity."

The measure will now move to the policy committee for further discussion.

Iowa Association of School Board
The board voted 6 to 1 to cast a ballot for Julie Walter as representative to District 5B of the Iowa Association of School Boards Board of Directors.

Walter is running unopposed for a seat that was vacated.

"I'm so excited to do it," Walter said. "I will be a liaison to other school boards and visit their meetings."

Jill Morrill, board member, voted against the idea.

Facility Funding Options
The board heard options for paying for new facilities from Piper Jaffray during the Monday's work session.

Matthew Gillaspie, senior vice president of Piper Jaffray, laid out four options for the board.

The board could pay for new facilities with cash or grants, sales tax revenue bonds, general obligation PPEL capital loan notes, or general obligation school bonds.

Within the sales tax revenue bond option the district has about $52 million available for use. This option would not require a public hearing or public vote to continue.

The general obligation Plant and Physical Equipment Levy capital notes option would provide an estimated $24.8 million. The option also does not require a public hearing or vote, provided the community approves a new extension to the $1.34 PPEL during the already set February election.

PPEL money can only be used for capital projects within the district.

A 60 percent voter approval would be required for the use of general obligation school bonds.

If passed the board could ask for up to $79 million for facilities construction.

Land Purchase Update
Superintendent Guthmiller gave the board an update on the purchase of land for future school sites.

The situated west of Northwest 100th Street and north of Northwest 62nd Avenue, came at a price of $46,000 per acre. The total price would be an estimated $5.75 million.

Guthmiller said it was estimated the district would close on the land Dec. 29.
The land would be used for new facilities, the most discussed has been the already .

The board will meet again at 6 p.m. Jan. 9.