The Knoxville School Board has given its approval to a three-way agreement with the Pella and Pleasantville School Districts to share their Human Resources operations.

The three districts would have a single HR department and split the associated costs; they cite the state’s efforts to encourage school districts to operate in an efficient manner as motivation for entering into the deal. It will run for two years beginning on July 1st.

The school board also renewed a similar agreement between Knoxville and Pella to share their Business Management and Transportation Management operational employees.

Board members approved bids for several expenses, including a new roof for Northstar Elementary; Exterior Solutions was awarded the contract after submitting a bid of $267,000.

Embark IT won the contract to provide new computer servers for $47,000; CDW will provide the district’s new iPad cases at a cost of just over $70,500; and some minor asbestos abatement will be performed by Environmental Property Solutions at a cost of $6,300.

The board also approved its schedule of fees for students for this coming year; meal prices will be going up slightly, but other fees will remain the same:

Student Breakfast $2.00

Adult Breakfast $2.50

K-5 Student Lunch $2.75

Milk $0.60

6-12 Student Lunch $3.00

Adult Lunch $4.25

And they also formally approved the list of graduates for the Class of 2019; a total of 137 students will be part of the class. Nineteen received early graduation, so 118 students will be receiving their diplomas this Sunday.