Powell serves last meeting as Ironwood Area School's superintendent

By MEGAN HUGHES

[email protected]

Ironwood — The Ironwood Area School District is drawing to a close in its search for a new leader, as Superintendent Travis Powell attended his final meeting on Monday.

Powell has been with the Ironwood Area Schools for six years and has taken a position as director of instructional services with the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District.

After a lengthy search, the school board announced at Monday’s meeting that they approved the hiring committee to enter into final negotiations with superintendent candidate Daniel Martinson. If all goes well, Martinson will be hired officially at a future board meeting.

Martinson currently holds the position of assistant principal and athletic director at the Ironwood School District.

During the meeting, the board also approved the administrator’s master contract, which is a comprehensive contract that includes the position of K-12 principal, assistant principal, athletic director, special education supervisor, food service director and business manager.

Powell also presented the board with the proposed budget for the 2024-2025 school year.

According to the presentation, the school is expecting to see $10,248,000 in general revenue.

At the end of 2023-24 school year, the school had a fund balance of around $3.7 million.

Powell said that the 2024-2025 school year should see a similar number, expecting a $3.6 million balance at the end of the year.

In other news, the board voted at the meeting to accept a bid from Richland Homes, LLC, in the amount of $501 to purchase the Norrie Property, and gave the superintendent and board president authorization to sign any and all documents necessary regarding the closing of the sale.

Additionally, the board voted to hire several employees, including Cody Kurta as the 7-12 special education teacher of the emotionally impaired; John Lorenson, Angi Stenjem, Kirsten Heil, Kristy Dums, Sydnee Lorenson and Sable Wood as summer custodians; Elizabeth Regnier as summer school program lead paraprofessional; and John Grewe and Glenda Valone as summer school paraprofessionals.

The school also received the resignation/retirement of K-12 secretary Candee Wiemeri and fourth grade teacher Dawn Wolfe.

According to K-12 principal Melissa Nigh, the school is working on filling additional positions within the school, with plans to interview few candidates in coming weeks.

“Filling positions with fully licensed teachers has been challenging, and this is going to be an ongoing problem,” said Nigh in her report. “School districts across the country are having the same difficulties. We are working to find the best candidates possible.”

According to Nigh, she took 14 teachers to Minneapolis in the prior week to attend a PLC conference, and was extremely pleased with all they were able to take away from the experience.

In other news, the board also:

—Approved the minutes of their May regular meeting and June special meetings as presented.

—Approved the Finance Committee and Curriculum Committee meetings as presented.

—Approved the adoption of the Character Strong series of curriculum for Grades K-6 as presented.

—Approved the NEOLA policy updates from February 2024 as presented.

—Approved Powell to call for bids on milk and bread for the school lunch program for the 2024-25 school year.

—Adopted the MHSAA Membership resolution for the 2024-2025 year as presented.

—Approved the MASB membership renewal as presented.

—Awarded the bid for student accident insurance to 1st Agency in the total of $8,323 for the 2024-2025 school year.

—Heard the Strategic Planning update for June.

—Heard reports from the assistant principal, athletic director and food service director.