Board Minutes - 2021.05.18

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Eric Smith at the JSH Auditorium, Independence, Iowa on May 18, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Matt O’Loughlin, Jennifer Sornson and Gina Trimble.  Also attending:  Superintendent Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, and local press. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited

FRIENDS OF EDUCATION

A. Iowa School Board Recognition Month – Superintendent Reiter thanked our current Board of Directors for their time, resources and energy in helping make our district the best it can be.  Their dedicated service has not gone unnoticed. 

B. Retiring Teachers – Postponed as the teachers had another engagement for the evening.  

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Trimble moved to approve the agenda with the addition of the transfer of Paul Upmeyer to  .8 FTE Jr High Band/.2 Auditorium Manager from Elementary Band. O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.

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

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on April 19, 2021, the special meeting on April 21, 2021, and the public meetings on May 5, 2021.

B. Approval of Resignations

C. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

*Pending 2021-2022 Negotiations

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

*Pending 2021-2022 Negotiations

E. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Trimble reviewed the bills – Hansen will review in June

     2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public - none

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Smith extended his congratulations to all the graduates. Hansen and Trimble also congratulated the graduates and recognized the spring sports teams for their success this year.    Supt. Reiter announced that the Legislators approved the waiver for the missed student day due to Sergeant Smith’s funeral.  Students last day will be May 26^th, the certified staff will make up the day.  Supt. Reiter had been in contact with Tia Burkhart from Buchanan County Public Health and the Iowa Department of Public Health and the CDC are not in agreements regarding masks.  A special thanks to the retiring support staff for their support of our students and teachers:   Dick Mason, Terri Janaszak, Vicki Neumann, Brenda Hulse, Sandy Johnson and Marlyce Kotouc.

C. Presentations

     1.  At-Risk – Kris Martin & Erin Burmeister

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal

     3.  West Elementary Principal

     4.  East Elementary/Early Childhood Center Principal

B. District Director Reports

     1.  Activities Director Report

     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 – Supt. Reiter is working with HSR on HVAC improvements for the West and JSH building.  This expense will be covered by ESSER funds and not the bond proceeds.  Hoping to return to some normalcy for the next school year.  Starting with summer school in July.
    
2. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – The construction is progressing as planned.
    
3. Discussion of the Revision of the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) Contract for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 – Hansen had questions regarding the IESP contract as not all the verbiage was placed in the contract.  Morine indicated that the language would be placed in the handbook like previous years and what wasn’t in the handbook would be brought to the board when they approved the graduated salary schedule.   Hansen moved to amend the Amendment for the 2021-2022 to the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) contract that was previously adopted on April 21, 2021 to include the following language that was agreed upon during negotiations and appears on the signed tentative agreement:    Add: Days for those no school excess days when set 45 days in advance to #2 in Article VIII – Employee Work Year B. after professional development.   Add the language of #3 Meeting with the Superintendent and/or SBO monthly.  Date and time to be determined.    Add the language of #4 – MOU- to create a hiring guide for all categories based on experience, similar to the custodian table, set by August 1, 2021.   The amended amendment will be reviewed with the Board president and IESP chief negotiators prior to it being posted on the district website by June 21, 2021.  Second by O’Loughlin, motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Consider Approval of Rescinding the COVID Safety Guidelines Approved by the Board on September 21, 2020 – Trimble moved to approve Rescinding the COVID Safety Guidelines Approved by the Board on September 21, 2020.  Sornson second. After board discussion, motion carried 3-2 with Hansen and O’Loughlin voting nay.
    
2. Consider Approval of the Construction Change Orders – Sornson moved to approve the Construction Change Orders.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
    
3. Consider Renewal of the Letter of Continuation of the Iowa Department of Human Services –Buchanan County Juvenile Court School Coach Contract #JUV-18-LS-1-001 Fourth Amendment for 2021-2022 – O’Loughlin moved to approve the Consider Renewal of the Letter of Continuation of the Iowa Department of Human Services Buchanan County Juvenile Court School Coach Contract #JUV-18-LS-1-001 Fourth Amendment for 2021-2022.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.  Trimble would like to review in April 2022  prior to the renewal.
    
4. Consider Approval of the Registration and Meal Rates for 2021-2022 – Trimble moved to approve the Registration and Meal Rates for 2021-2022.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.
    
5. Consider Approval of the Bread Bid from Pan-O-Gold for 2021-2022 – Hansen moved to approve the Bread Bid from Pan-0-Gold for 2021-2022.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
    
6. Consider Approval of the Milk Bid from Prairie Farms for 2021-2022 – Sornson moved to approve the Milk Bid from Prairie Farms for 2021-2022.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
    
7. Consider Approval of the AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2021-2022 –Trimble moved to approve the AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2021-2022.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
    
8. Consider Approval of the Agreement for Food Service Operations between Kidsville and Independence Community School District for 2021-2022 – O’Loughlin moved to approve the Agreement for Food Service Operations between Kidsville and Independence Community School District for 2021-2022.   Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.
    
9. Consider Approval of the Lease Agreement with Moser Preschool and Daycare through July 31, 2022 – Trimble moved to approve the Lease Agreement with Moser Preschool and Daycare through July 31, 2022. Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.
    
10. Consider Approval of the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Kidsville for 2021-2022 – Hansen moved to approve the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Kidsville for 2021-2022.    O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
     
11. Consider Approval of the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Moser Preschool and Daycare for 2021-2022 – Sornson moved to approve the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Moser Preschool and Daycare for 2021-2022.   Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.
     
12. Consider Approval of the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and St. John Catholic School for 2021-2022 –Trimble moved to approve the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and St John Catholic School for 2021-2022.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
     
13. Consider Approval of the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Wee Care Preschool for 2021-2022 – Sornson moved to approve the Statewide 4-Year Old Voluntary Preschool Contract with Independence Community School District and Wee Care Preschool for 2021-2022.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
     
14. Consider Approval of the Joint Education Service Agreement between Hawkeye Community College and Independence Community Schools for the Summer of 2021 – Trimble moved to approve the Joint Education Service Agreement between Hawkeye Community College and Independence Community Schools for the Summer of 2021.   O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.
     
15. Consider Approval of the 2021-2022 Catastrophic Insurance Renewal –Trimble moved to approve the 2021-2022 Catastrophic Insurance Renewal.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
     
16. Recognition of Director O’Loughlin’s Service - Supt Reiter thanked and presented a plaque to Director O’Loughlin for his time on the board.  Thank you, Matt O’Loughlin for your service to the district.
     
17. Discuss the Board Member Replacement Process – President Smith walked the board through the process of replacing the vacant position.  Anyone interested in filling the vacant position for 6 months should contact a current board members or Laura Morine to obtain a questionnaire to be filled out and returned by June 10^th.  The board will meet on June 15^th to select the replacement. This seat will then be up for re-election in the fall.

ADJOURNMENT – O’Loughlin moved to adjourn the regular meeting.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.   Meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.

EXEMPT SESSION

The board moved to the JSH library for negotiations strategies discussions.   Session ended at 8:40 pm and no official action was taken during the exempt session.

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