AMBOY - A request from the Amboy Fire Department for use of the old Amboy Junior High property, a construction update on the new junior high building, and a revision of the school calendar were among the items discussed at the July 16 Amboy Board of Education meeting. 

The Amboy Fire Department followed up on its previous request for use of part of the “old” Amboy Junior High property to use as the site of a new fire department building. The fire department is continuing to move forward with their grant process for construction of the building and at some point, will need assurance that they have acquired the necessary property. Because COVID-19 has stalled some of the process, the fire department has not been given a deadline but they wanted to know if the school board had discussed the matter.

Board president Nicole Jones said with everything else that has happened this year, they have not discussed it further. She and board member Katie Pratt said they were waiting for more specific information on exactly how much of the land the fire department wanted and if there were any changes to the plan that was presented previously. The board also asked if the fire department had spoken to residents alongside the property for their input.

When asked by Pratt if the fire department expected the school district to donate the land, the fire department said yes, explaining that they have always supported the schools. It was also pointed out that to qualify for the grant, the fire department must find property that is not located in a flood plain, which is difficult to find in Amboy. A main concern for the fire department is that if they build a new facility outside of town, it will take them longer to get to emergencies in town including the schools.

The board agreed to set up a special meeting to further discuss the matter with the fire department.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Superintendent Joshua Nichols said work on the new junior high has been progressing with the foundation going in but now there is a snag. “It’s Nicor, we are still waiting for them and they are holding up the construction project,” he said. “If anyone knows someone from Nicor . . . we have been waiting for them since March.”
• The board approved a revision to the 2020-21 school calendar by adding Election Day as a school holiday. Nichols said the state has mandated that Election Day, this year on Nov. 3, become a school holiday. To make up for the day, the district will now be in session on Columbus Day.
• The board approved the purchase of two 2017, 66-passenger buses.

PERSONNEL

• Following closed session, the board hired Baylee Ricker as a second grade teacher and Mikayla Hussey as sophomore volleyball coach, both for the 2020-21 school year, and approved Katie Bulfer as grades 5-12 dean of students from Aug. 13, 2020 through June 30, 2021. They also accepted the resignation of Taylor Hicks as a paraprofessional.
• The board also approved a three-year (2020-2023) collective bargaining agreement between Amboy School District 272 Board of Education and the Amboy Education Association.

The next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20 at the Central School gym.