Following a two-hour work session designed to review the new superintendent evaluation form, the Spencer Community Schools Board of Education will convene its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 24 in the board room of the central administrative offices, located at 23 E. Seventh St.

Approval of consent items, including minutes from the June 20 and June 24 board meetings, bills, a teacher employment and sharing agreement with the Spencer Family YMCA for $3,740 if the district provides school-year busing for the YMCA or for $5,280 if it doesn't, an Oct. 18 bus request from the Iowa Automotive Recyclers, and personnel recommendations will then be sought.

In personnel recommendations, board members will consider the resignation of Tara Johnson, Johnson teacher associate, and the hirings of Charles Wilkinson, bus driver, Tammie Radermacher, assistant cook, Jessie Hale, Spencer Middle School night custodian, Ana Gil, Lincoln teacher associate, Emily Classon, preschool teacher associate, Josh Pratt, assistant wrestling coach, Ryan Troxel, eighth grade boys basketball coach, Troy Thompson, assistant football coach, Sandy Van Wettering, high school administrative assistant, and Teresa Goehring, teacher associate first semester and elementary guidance second semester. The board will also consider increasing the salary of Brett VanderHoff, buildings and grounds supervisor, to $38,022. Transferring Dave Storm from assistant football coach to seventh grade football coach will also be contemplated.

Following a time in which visitors may address the board, a representative from Positively Spencer Youth is scheduled to present an update to board members. Elementary Principal Lucas DeWitt and SMS Principal Steve Barber will offer a look into changes made to 2008-09 student handbooks, and Assistant Superintendent Kathy Elliott is scheduled to present results from the most recent student assessments.

Mary Jo Smith, a Spencer School Improvement Advisory Committee member, will offer a recommendation that the district adopt described practices and curriculum components as its expectation for literacy in district classrooms.

Board members are also anticipated to take action on new job descriptions for the district's director of transportation, its assistant to the director of transportation and its bus drivers. They will also appoint the district's secretary/treasurer, the board's chief negotiator and a district truant officer.

Dates and times of 2008-09 board meetings will be set and changes to the district's 403(b) plan will be discussed. The federal government has recently placed more regulations on how these employee investments are reported and managed. Superintendent Greg Ebeling is recommending the use of a state plan through the Iowa Department of Administrative Services.

Board members will also discuss whether they'd like to allow district patrons to pay school bills over the Internet through the PaySchools online payment processing system. Tentative plans would be to start with lunch accounts and gradually expand the payable services allowed.

Additional topics listed under Thursday's "information/discussion" agenda item include an update on the board's previously-set SMART goal, an update on the old SMS auditorium, and comments regarding the upcoming board election.