IMG_2021The West Central Valley School Board met in regular session Wednesday. The Board officially approved Lance Ridgely as the next Superintendent of the West Central Valley School District. Ridgely introduced his family to the Board, who were in attendance, and Board President Harry Light presented him with a Wildcat baseball cap.

Then WCV Middle School Athletic Director Mary Pease and teacher Hanna Wilson presented a project request for new bleachers and a new press box at the football field. The bleachers specifically would cost about $30,000-$40,000. Pease believes the improvements are well worth the cost. “Our bleachers are unsafe. There’s broken boards. There’s warped boards. There’s loose boards. There’s boards missing. The press box, it’s pretty scary.”

The school will be submitting an application for the 2018 Dallas County Community Foundation grant cycle. The Board also approved a maximum of $20,000 from Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) funding to finish the project. This project would also implement handicap accessible seating.

Board Member Jenyse Belden then addressed the Board on implementing a student representative for the 2018-2019 school year. Belden pointed out that Winterset and Van Meter each have student representatives on their boards. The Board also continued its discussion on transitioning from Microsoft Office 365 to Google Apps. A recent survey prompted by Board Member Laura Weber showed two-thirds of teachers would rather utilize Google Apps than the current Office 365 suite. No formal action was taken on either item.

The Board also approved up to $25,000 for the purchase of a van and conducted the first reading of the proposed 2018-2019 school calendar.