Students attending classes in the Belle Plaine Community School District this fall will notice a lot of new and different things – expanded facilities at both attendance centers, more than $100,000 in new computers and software, a revised student handbook and a new principal.

During its regular meeting Wednesday night, the Belle Plaine Board of Education tackled a wide range of topics. Principal Dennis Phelps submitted his resignation after two years in the district. He has accepted the post of superintendent in the Harmony School District in southeast Iowa. Jamie Harmening, an elementary special education teacher, also submitted her resignation. She is moving to the Cedar Rapids School District.

Superintendent Bill Lynch said the process of replacing Phelps began with the board’s acceptance of his resignation. The job opening will be posted in the district as the next step. He said he is confident the district will find a competent replacement. At Wednesday’s meeting, he thanked both Phelps and Harmening for their service.

In other personnel news, the board approved the appointments of Ryan Ridout as assistant boys’ basketball coach and Nick Gallagher as assistant wrestling coach.

Contracts were approved for support staff and food service personnel with a three percent increase in the package. The board also approved the contract with the Belle Plaine Education association for the district’s teachers. The new contract calls for an addition of $250 to the base salary, with extracurricular salaries calculated off of the new base. The district will continue to pay single health insurance premiums plus $190 per month toward family coverage.

Lynch reported on the progress of construction at both the Longfellow and junior-senior high school buildings. He said while the buildings will not be completely finished by the first day of school, the new classrooms and other facilities will be in use. He said some of the things to be completed will include outside site work, including landscaping and playgrounds. The good news for students and teachers working in the buildings early in the school year is that all classrooms in the district will now be air conditioned.

The superintendent presented a list of computer hardware and software that the district will be able to purchase thanks to its share of a settlement of a class action lawsuit against Microsoft. Belle Plaine will receive $105,628.30. The high school will receive 33 new laptop computers and more than $25,000 in software. At the junior high, 10 laptop computers will be purchased, along with $7,389 in software.

At the elementary level, there will be 26 new computers for the lab and more than $20,000 in software.

Lynch and activities director Greg Walton also told the board that Chelsea Savings Bank has agreed to donate money for the purchase of a new football scoreboard at the high school, at a cost of approximately $15,000. The scoreboard will also have a stopwatch feature for track meets.

The board also gave its final approval for the creation of an alternative school. The class will be shared with the HLV School District and will be housed in the Victor building. Kirkwood Community College will assist in the curriculum for the program, which is expected to serve at least 13 students. The total budget for the first year of the program will be $75,538.40, with the cost split between the two districts. Lynch also said that this will be a structured program and transportation will be provided.

The board also approved revisions to the student handbooks. Revisions were made to the good conduct policy, outlining penalties for use of alcohol or tobacco or other infractions. Students found in violation of the policy will no longer be able to assume leadership roles, such as team captains, homecoming or prom royalty, etc. for one year.

In other action, the board approved bids from Sara Lee Bakery and Anderson Erickson for food products for the upcoming year and with Heartland Co-op for fuel for district vehicles. The board also approved the annual trip by FFA members to the national convention in Indianapolis in October.