Board Minutes - 2021.12.16

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Eric Smith at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on December 16, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Charlie McCardle and Gina Trimble. Kim Hansen attended via Zoom. Absent: Brad Bleichner.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, directors, local press and guests. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – McCardle moved to approve the agenda, Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Trimble moved to approve the consent items.  McCardle second.   Hansen had correction to committee assignments.  City Council Liaison – Bleichner & McCardle and Bleichner’s term ends in 2023.  Smith would like to strike the addition of “and vice president” from the last sentence in Policy 200.2 – Organization of Board of Directors.   Also assign Bleichner to the Mentor/Volunteer Advisory Board rather than Smith.  Motion carried 4-0.

     A. Approval of the minutes of the regular/annual and organizational meeting on November 15, 2021.

     B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

     First Readings:

     C. Approval of Resignations

    D. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

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

     F. Approval of Financial Reports

          1.  Bills – Director Smith reviewed the bills – Trimble will review in January

          2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public. - none

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Smith reviewed the action items from the previous month and all were completed.  Trimble and Hansen had attended the Iowa School Board Convention with Supt. Reiter.  McCardle indicated he had attended all the holiday concerts so far this year and they were excellent.   Supt. Reiter is scheduling meeting dates for the PPEL Committee and the Calendar Committee for the first part of January.  The SBRC Committee approved the district’s request for additional spending authority for the Hazardous Abatement of $64,480.47.  The auditorium equipment is starting to show its age and we are starting to look into updating the lights, sound and electronic components. 

C. Presentations

     1.  Therapy Dog – Christie Litterer presented a request to the board to allow “Archie”, her Labradoodle therapy dog to become a therapy dog at East Elementary.   A grant from the McElroy trust was received to help offset some of the costs. 

        2.  Robotics Team Update – Six students that participate in the Robotics program brought their robot and presented to the board what the Robotics team was all about and provided a short demonstration on how the robot works.  Advisor Charles Bare provided moral support and let the students do the presentation. Good luck to the team in their competitions this year.  

     3.  Iowa School Performance Profile – Erin Burmeister presented the performance profile data that was just released and was very excited to report that the ratings for the district substantially increased from last year.  The district was higher than the state average in almost every area.   Burmeister gives credit to the teachers as they have worked very hard in teaching the standards. 

         4.  Supt Reiter presented Eric Smith with a Better Boardsmanship Award from the Iowa School   Board Association since he was not able to attend the convention.

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. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project - The next punch list meeting is scheduled for the first part of January.   Progress is being made with the restroom project.

2. Update from the Junior/Senior High School Grading Coalition – Burmeister and Howard said they have been responding to individual requests about the grading system as questions arise as well as continuing the book study.

C. Consider Approval of Student Learning Goals 2021-2022 – Trimble moved to approve the Student Learning Goals for 2021-2022.  McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Consider Approval of the Construction Change Order(s) – McCardle move to approve the Construction Change Order.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0

B. Consider Approval of the Bid from SEE Electric, LLC for HVAC Upgrades – Trimble moved to approve the bid from SEE Electric, LLC for HVAC Upgrades for the JSH and West buildings.    McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

3. Discussion of the East Elementary School Filtration Project Using ESSER Funds - Randy Braden with Goetze Dental presented information on portable surface and air purification machines that could be used in the East classrooms, locker rooms, etc. 

D. Consider Approval of the Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) Application (At Risk Drop Out Prevention) in the Amount of $508,311.00 – School Improvement Director Burmeister presented the AtRisk/DropOut prevention plan to the board.   Trimble moved to approve the Modified Supplemental Amount (MSA) Application (At Risk Drop Out Prevention) in the Amount of $508,311.00.  McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

E. Consider Approval of the Operating Agreement with St. John’s School – McCardle moved to approve the Operating Agreement with St. John’s School.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

F. Consider Approval of Transferring $460.35 of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) Funds to the Activity Fund Account. Trimble moved to approve the reallocation of $460.35 of DECA funds to other Activity Fund accounts since DECA has been inactive for over three years.   McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.  

G. Closed Session – Trimble moved to go into a closed session as provided in Section 21.5(1)(k) of the Iowa Code; To discuss information contained in records in the custody of a governmental body that are confidential records pursuant to Section 22.7, Subsection 50.  McCardle second.  Roll call vote:  Hansen – aye, McCardle – aye, Smith – aye, Trimble -aye.   Moved into closed session at 8:05 pm.  Building Principals Howard, Reed and Reidy were also in attendance.

Exited the closed session at 8:30 pm and no official actions were taken during the closed session.

ADJOURNMENT – McCardle moved to adjourn the meeting. Trimble second, motion carried and the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm. 

EXEMPT SESSION - Board discussed negotiations Strategies.   Session ended at 9:00 pm.

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