Board member recalled to active National Guard duty
Dan Swanson expects leave July 1 for training, eventually Iraq
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Woodhull - AlWood school board member Dan Swanson, re-elected to another term this spring and serving as board secretary, told the board Monday he has been re-called to active duty in the National Guard.Swanson will leave July 1, reporting to Fort Benning, Ga., for weapons training, convoy operation and learn about Iraq culture.
By late July, he said he would report to Iraq.
"In this day of technology, I hope to continue communications with the school and administration. I would like to continue membership on the school board and will have access to technology," Swanson said.
"My tour is for 400 days, I'll probably return August of 2008, and I appreciate the support I have had in the past regarding military duty," he added.
"We thank you for your service to our country, it means a lot to you and to us too, and good luck," board president Mike Holt said.
On another subject, Holt said, "The ROWVA school board is excited about consolidation with AlWood and would like to start moving ahead. We will establish a committee of ten, meeting sometime in July with a consolidation vote likely in the spring of 2008."
The board was asked to consider an agreement to rebate property taxes to the Dream Development, to include several businesses at the west edge of Woodhull.
The 10-year rebate would be total for the first five years and pro-rated to a zero amount the next five years, Superintendent Shannon Bumann said.
"This is an outstanding development, a positive thing for the growth of the community and it's nothing we (the district) have now," Bumann said.
'We're certainly willing to take a look at the plan," board president Mike Holt said.
In other business, the board:
- Adopted the student handbook changes, as presented last month.
- Accepted bids for supplies, including milk from Jerry's Dairy, Rock Island; bread from Interstate Brands Corporation, Davenport; and diesel and unleaded gasoline from Herr Petroleum, Galesburg.
- Will submit their Safe Routes to School plan for the grant.
- Plans to consider a ROWVA/AlWood cross country program.
- Approved early graduation for students Kelsie Bedford, Jenna Bennison and Caitlyn Diffenbaugh, pending completion of all credits.
- Appointed Ron Hoburg as delegate to the IASB convention and Steve Norberg as alternate.
- Accepted the resignations of Brooke Bainbridge as middle school math teacher; and Brian Lynch as assistant baseball coach.
- Employed David Mills of Lincoln as high school social studies teacher and A and R football coach; Sara Humphrey of Cambridge as middle school math teacher; Bob Bent of Altona as assistant A and R football coach; Nick Sotto of Silvis as frosh-soph baseball coach and assistant A and R assistant junior high football coach; Tonya Henry as bus driver; Rhonda McKinley of Woodhull as middle school cheerleading coach.
- Presented Middle/High School Principal Scott Petrie with a plaque in appreciation of his years working in the district.
"This means a lot, I've worked as principal and teacher, and taught a lot of your kids as well," Petrie said.
He will be employed with the Black Hawk Area Special Education District.
