Board Minutes - 2020.11.16

Board Minutes - 2020.11.16

PUBLIC HEARING
The Public Hearing to Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program for the District started at 5:50 p.m. at the Jr/Sr High School Auditorium, Independence, Iowa on November 16, 2020. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  No public comments were presented.   Public Hearing adjourned at 6:00 pm. 

REGULAR MEETING
 

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Eric Smith at the Jr/Sr High School Auditorium, Independence, Iowa on November 16, 2020.    Those physically present: Eric Smith, Board Secretary Laura Morine, Steve Noyes and newspaper representative. Board members attending virtually:  Kim Hansen, Matt O’Loughlin, Jennifer Sornson and Gina Trimble, along with building administrators and directors. Supt. Reiter was absent. 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA–Sornson moved to approve the agenda. Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS–Hansen moved to approve the consent items.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.

A. Approval of the minutes of regular meeting on October 19, 2020.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

802.7

Vandalism

2.

802.8

Energy Conservation

3.

802.9

Contract for Maintenance Services

4.

802.10

Intangible Assets

5.

803.1

Disposition of Obsolete Equipment

6.

803.2

Lease, Sale or Disposal of School District Buildings and Sites

7.

803.3

Vacant Facilities

8.

804.1

Facilities Inspections

9.

804.2

District Emergency Operations Plans

10.

804.3

First Aid

11.

804.4

Facilities Security

12.

804.5

Employee Safety Inservice

13.

804.7

Asbestos Containing Material

14.

804.8

Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injector Supply

 

First Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

900

Principles and Objectives for Community Relations

2.

901.1

Public Examination of School District Records

3.

901.2

Board of Directors and Community Relations

4.

902.1

News Media Relations

5.

902.2

News Conferences and Interviews

6.

902.3

News Releases

7.

902.4

Students and the News Media

 

8.

902.5

Employees and the News Media

9.

902.6

Live Broadcast or Videotaping

10.

902.7

Unmanned Aircraft or Aerial Systems

11.

903

Other Intradistrict Relations

12.

904.1

School - Community Groups

13.

904.2

Community Resource Persons and Volunteers

14.

904.3 and 904.3E1

Visitors to School District Buildings and Sites and Volunteer Interest Information

15.

904.4

Public Conduct on School Premises

16.

904.5 and 904.5R1

Distribution of Materials and Distribution of Materials Regulation

17.

905.1

Transporting Students in Private Vehicles

18.

905.2

Advertising and Promotion

19.

906.1 and 906.1E1

Community Use of School District Facilities and Equipment

20.

906.2

Tobacco/Nicotine-Free Environment

21.

907 and 907.R1

District Operations During Public Emergencies and District Operations During a Public Health Emergency Regulation

 

C. Approval of Resignations

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

DATE

Mark Geertsma

Assistant Girls Basketball Coach

10/28/2020

Robert Hocken

Bus Garage 4.25 hr Bus Driver

10/28/2020

Heather Nefzger

JH Cross Country Coach

End of 2020-2021 School Year

Ryan Ruffcorn

JH Boys Basketball Coach

11/03/2020

 

D. Approval of New Hires (pending acceptable background checks)

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Brad Arnold

Assistant Boys Basketball Coach

$2,771

11/16/2020

Matt Fuelling

JH Boys Basketball Coach

$1,603

12/17/2020

Kayla Kanellis

Elementary Remote Learning Teacher

$26,927 (pro-rated for BA 1st Year Teacher)

11/13/2020

 

E. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Smith reviewed the bills

     2.  Budget Report

     3.  Financial Settlement Statement as of June 30, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

  1. Comments from the Public. No public comments.
  1. Comments from the Board, Including Committee Assignment Updates – Smith stated the board meeting was being held remotely as he feels the board is not a cohort of the school and this reduces the risk of spreading illness and realizes that it is in contrast to the students doing in person instruction, but as a move so that student in person instruction may continue. He also thanked the sponsors of fall play for their work in providing this opportunity to the students. The students did a great job.
  1. Comments from the Superintendent – Supt Reiter was not present.
     
  2. Presentations

  1. K-12 Literacy – Erin Burmeister, Sue Henkes, Lyndzi Roth, Kerry Pasker and Lori Bowers presented information on what is going on with literacy in all of the buildings.  

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal – Mr. Howard was coaching a game and not present at this time. Smith highlighted that a social/mental health grant for the staff was received, thanks to Mrs. Frye for writing that grant.  Trimble questioned how many JSH students were required to change from remote to every day instruction. Burmeister will get those numbers to the board members, but clarified that only those students that were identified as At-Risk and failing a class were required to come back.

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal – Trimble thanked Mr. Hupke for his Veterans Day video.

     3.  West Elementary Principal

     4.  East Elementary/Early Childhood Center Principal

B. District Director Reports

     1.  Activities Director Report – AD Putz reported that the winter sport coaches are using the same mitigation protocols that the fall sports coaches followed.  However, new guidelines are that only two spectators are allowed for the participating athletes.  Unfortunately, student managers, cheerleaders and coaches are not included to have additional spectators at this time per the state’s guidelines.  Wrestlers are practicing in small cohorts and limiting the numbers in locker rooms.  Masks for coaches are optional just as they were in the fall.

     2.  Director of School Improvement Report

     3.  Director of Technology Report

     4.  Director of Food Service Report

     5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

     6.  Director of Transportation Report

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Return to Learn Plan Update – the District Leadership Team’s regular meeting is Wednesday. The team keeps a close eye on the district’s COVID Dashboard. There are more elementary students in quarantine but that is due to out of school exposures.  The Hybrid Plan at the JSH seems to be working in mitigating the student’s exposure. The team realizes they need to be responsive, day to day.
     
  2. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – HSR(architect firm) is on schedule to push out the bids in mid-December.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Consider Approval to Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program for the Independence Community School District.  Trimble moved to approve the Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program for the Independence Community School District.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of District Student Learning Goals – O’Loughlin moved to approve the District Student Learning Goals.  Sornson second the motion. Burmeister reviewed the goals with the board.  The goals are developed in teacher groups, then goes to the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) for approval and then to the board for approval. Due to the pandemic there has been a gap in data but they are moving forward the best way possible. The motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with Lied Center Consortium Program for the 2021-2022 School Year – Sornson moved to approve the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with Lied Center Consortium Program for the 2021-2022 School Year in the amount of $1,596.01.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with River Hills Consortium Program for the 2021-2022 School Year – Hansen moved to approve the Application to the School Budget Review Committee for Special Education Administrative Costs Associated with River Hills Consortium Program for the 2021-2022 School Year in the amount of $9,590.02. O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) Application Fall 2020 On-Time Funding Modified Allowable Growth for Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2019 – Trimble moved to approve the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) Application Fall 2020 On-Time Funding Modified Allowable Growth for Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2019, in the amount of $147,232.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Independence Community School District Early Graduation Applicants for January 2021 – Hansen moved to approve the Independence Community School District Early Graduation Applicants for January 2021.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of Vacation Pay Out – O’Loughlin moved to approve the vacation payout for the staff member that had more than 5 days but not to pay out more than 10 days. Hansen second the motion. After board discussion motion failed 0-5.  Board may consider extending the date in which the vacation needs to be used.

ADJOURNMENT - Sornson moved to adjourn the regular meeting.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0. Regular meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm.

 

_____________________________________         ___________________________________
Eric B. Smith, Chair                                                                 Laura J. Morine, Board Secretary

 

 

dawn.gibson.cm… Wed, 06/30/2021 - 14:09