The Class of 2025 at South Hamilton High School are getting set for Sunday’s commencement ceremony at the school gym in Jewell. South Hamilton School superintendent Heather Holm on Monday night said 37 seniors will receive diplomas in the 2:00 p.m. The awards dinner, program and Baccalaureate ceremony is set for Wednesday evening. The Senior Walk and graduation practice is this Thursday, May 15.
With the end of the school year, summer projects will take effect in the South Hamilton building and grounds in June. The work will include new fencing at the football field, restroom fixture updates in the football concession stand and press box installation at the softball field. The concession stands for the upcoming baseball and softball season will be ready for the season after the remodeling over the spring season.
The South Hamilton board approved new operational sharing agreements for curriculum director, special education director and transportation director. Operational sharing allows Iowa school districts to share certain administrative positions with other districts or entities. In return the state provides additional funding to incentivize cost savings and efficiency.
The South Hamilton school board approved moving forward with renewing the Voter-Approved PPEL at the current rate of $1.00 per $1000 taxable valuation. The election will be held this November to align with a regular election. PPEL (Physical Plan Equipment Levy) funds may be used for building and grounds improvements and repairs, equipment, buses and vehicles, technology and non-instructional software.
A new or used van for special education students was approved for purchase with a lift up of $90,000 to be used solely for special education with special education funds.
In other matters at the Monday meeting the South Hamilton board approved the certified staff contracts and extracurricular contracts as presented with a package salary increase of 3,14 percent.
The classified staff contracts with a 3 percent raise for next school year was approved. The date of June 16 was set for two public hearings. One of them is for the transfer of funds to the South Hamilton flexibility account. The second hearing for June 16th is to borrow up to $7.5 million for future project including an auxiliary gym.
In personnel matters the South Hamilton School Board approved resignation for Tammy Schafer-Schwerin as a football and basketball cheer coach, Darrell Paulsen as a girls track and boys cross country coach and Katelyn Bell as dance coach. The following hirings were approved. They include Jamie Reisetter as special education teacher and Jay Heeren as head boys basketball coach. Summer school contracts were approved for Ashley Flatebo, Taylor Riley, Allison Hassebrock, Gail George, Lori Vincent Molly Wingert, and Rachel Soderberg, Ava Nolte and Krista Swenson.
The South Hamilton Board Monday evening approved the administrative, director and other contracts with 3 percent raises for the 2025-26 school year.