Pekin Board Discusses Teacher Resignation

PACKWOOD – During the Jan. 13 meeting of the Pekin School Board, the board discussed the midyear resignation of Ag teacher Matt Jones. Superintendent Jeff Maeder stated he was not thrilled about a teacher leaving in the middle of a contract, but that he felt better about it because a long-term sub, former Ag teacher Justin Lamb, has agreed to cover Jones’s position for the rest of the semester. Maeder stated Lamb intends to return to retirement at the end of the year. Maeder recommended accepting the resignation and having Jones pay back half of his $500 retention bonus. Board member Sherry Bemis stated she was worried that accepting this resignation would set a precedent of the district letting people out of their contracts midyear, and that she wishes Jones either finished out the school year or at least gave earlier warning. She stated that teachers are hard to find and Pekin is already short-staffed, which leaves her uneasy at the idea of other teachers leaving suddenly. She suggested taking back all of the retention bonus, due to Jones breaking a commitment. She noted that, if the board doesn’t approve the resignation and Jones still leaves, there could be strict consequences for him from the Iowa Board of Education, likely including him having his teaching license taken away.

Board member JJ Greiner stated that it’s best practice for teachers to wait until their contract is filled before leaving. He stated this decision was not about Jones, but about setting a tone for what the board does in the future. Maeder stated he didn’t know if this set a precedent, because in this case there was a replacement lined up. Greiner stated that the positive of this was that the district had plenty of time to look for a permanent replacement. Board member Mike Sieren suggested adding verbiage to future contracts stating how the board enforces them. The board ultimately voted to accept Jones’s resignation, contingent on a full repayment of the retention bonus. Bemis cast the sole No vote.

Also at the Monday meeting, Maeder stated he was having conversations about a five-ten year facility plan and a potential elementary renovation project. He stated that the bond referendum for the elementary project could potentially go to a vote in November and that the prices for the project would increase roughly $500,000-$750,000 for each year the district waited.

Maeder stated he was still looking at sharing opportunities, reducing bus routes, transferring TLC funds to the general fund, contracting out transportation, custodial and technology services, and possibly reducing from three to two sections at the elementary to reduce the budget. He stated that he was not looking at letting go of specific staff members, but was looking at the staff number. Maeder stated he would give a plan to the board in February. Sieren asked if there had been any progress with operational sharing. Maeder stated another district had approached him about sharing HR, but that he wouldn’t be interested unless it saved money.

7-12 Principal Shawn Dorman noted that chronic absenteeism had been going up throughout the year and that, in December, 35.5% of Pekin students missed at least 10% of school days.