Board Minutes - 2022.03.21

Independence Community School Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

March 21, 2022

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Vice Chair Kim Hansen at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on March 21, 2022. Board members present: Charlie McCardle, Gina Trimble, Kim Hansen and Brad Bleichner. Eric Smith and Board Secretary Morine attended virtually. Also attending: Supt. Reiter, administrators, directors, local press and guests. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

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

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

A. Approval of the minutes of the public hearing and regular meeting on February 21, 2022, the public meetings on February 24, 2022, the work session and special meeting on March 7, 2022, and the public meetings on March 14, 2022.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
1.	403.8, 403.8R1, 403.8R2, 403.8E1, 403.8E2, and 403.8E3 (Rescinded)	Employee Vaccination/Testing for COVID-19, Employee Vaccination/Testing for COVID-19 Regulation, Required Notices to Employees, Employee Personal Attestation of Vaccination Status, Medical Accommodation Request Form, and Religious Accommodation Request Form
2.	400*	Role of and Guiding Principles for Employees
3.	400.1*	Employee Procedures and Benefits Manual
4.	401.1*	Employee Orientation
5.	401.2	Equal Employment Opportunity
6.	401.3*	Employee Conflict of Interest
7.	401.4*	Nepotism
8.	401.5 and 401.5E1	Employee Complaints and Employee Complaint Form (Reviewed and Revised 01/17/2022)
9.	401.6* and 401.6R1*	Employee Records and Employee Records Regulation
10.	401.7*	Employee Relations to the Administration and to the Board
11.	401.8	Employee Involvement in Decision Making
12.	401.9	Use of School District Facilities & Equipment by Employees
13.	401.10	Use of School District Materials for Internal Communications
14.	401.11*	Limitations to Employment References
15.	401.12*	Travel for the Board of Education, Administrators and Employees
16.	401.13*	Employee Activity Passes
17.	401.14*	Recognition for Service of Employees
18.	401.15*	Employee Political Activity
19.	401.16*	Credit Cards
20.	401.17	Internet Acceptable Use Policy for Staff
21.	401.18	Email Acceptable Use Policy for Staff
22.	401.19	Meeting Expenses
23.	401.20	Employee Expression (Policy Adopted 09/20/2021)

First Reading

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
1.	402.1*	Release of Credit Information
2.	402.2* and 402.2R1	Child Abuse Reporting and Child Abuse Reporting Regulation
3.	402.3, 402.3E1, 402.3E2, and 402.3R1*	Abuse of Students by School District Employees, Abuse of Students by School District Employees Complaint of Injury to or Abuse of a Student by a School District Employee, Abuse of Students by School District Employees Report of Level I Investigation, and Abuse of Students by School District Employees Regulation
4.	402.4*	Gifts to Employees
5.	402.6*	Employee Relations to the Public
6.	402.7*	Employee Outside Employment
7.	402.8*	Employee Telephone Calls
8.	402.9*	Solicitations from Outside
9.	402.10	District Landline and Cellular Telephone Usage

C. Approval of Resignations

NAME	ASSIGNMENT	DATE
Charles Bare	JSH .5 FTE National Honor Society Sponsor	End of 2021-2022 School Year
Tina Daniels	JSH 8.0 hr Night Custodian	03/09/2022
Linda Hanna	East Elem 2.25 hr Cook/FS Worker	End of 2021-2022 School Year
Karen Hoaglan	East Elem 5.5 hr Special Ed Para	End of 2021-2022 School Year
Trish O’Loughlin	JSH .5 FTE National Honor Society Sponsor	End of 2021-2022 School Year
Tammy Silberstein	East Elem 7.0 hr Regular Ed Para	End of 2021-2022 School Year

D. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

NAME	PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT	NEW ASSIGNMENT	SALARY	DATE
Jami Crawford	East Elem Full-Time Substitute Teacher	East Elem 2nd Grade Teacher	$41,361*	08/17/2022
Scott Kleve	.5 FTE Assist Softball #’s Coach	Assist Softball Coach	$2,930	05/02/2022

*Pending 2022-2023 Negotiations

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

NAME	ASSIGNMENT	SALARY	DATE
Tina Daniels	JSH 8.0 hr Night Custodian	$13.15/hr plus $224 pro-rated night stipend	03/07/2022
Kerry Northrop	JSH Family & Consumer Science Teacher	$48,685*	08/17/2022
Kerry Northrop	JSH .5 FTE FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Sponsor	$818*	08/17/2022
Michaela Schuler	JSH 7.5 hr In-School Suspension Monitor	$11.85/hr	03/08/2022

*Pending 2022-2023 Negotiations

F. Approval of Financial Reports

1. Bills – Director Hansen reviewed the bills – McCardle will review in April

2. Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

Comments from the Public – None
Comments from the Board/Superintendent – McCardle complimented the students and staff on a great musical. He also enjoyed band night and appreciated the students encouraging other students. Bleichner and Trimble also indicated that the musical was very enjoyable and kudos to all involved. Smith indicated that he had attended President’s Training along with Hansen. He participated in a mock termination session as well as stressed that emails are part of public records. Hansen echoed the success of the musical. She also wanted to acknowledge and congratulated the three students that were selected to perform at AllState Speech, those that participated in band and vocal contests, Mock Trial and Jazz Orchestra making it onto the state level.

Supt. Reiter reported that the Governor’s retention pay went out in the March payroll. In April, he will propose to the board that all other staff should receive retention pay and it could be paid out of ESSER funds. There is a committee working on revamping the entry way to Leinbaugh Field thru donations, memorials, Trotter Trail committee and community members that are interested in the project. The Diversity committee meeting went well and will be meeting again. Supt. Reiter thanked the JSH staff for hosting a Career Fair and all the businesses that participated.

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

1. Junior-Senior High School Principal

2. Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal – Smith commented that the comparison of office referrals between years is skewed as last year was an outlier compared to this year.

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 – looking at upgrading the lights and sound in the Auditorium

4. Director of Food Service Report – Unfortunately it does not look like all students will have free breakfast and lunches next year and we will need to communicate that out this summer.

5. Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

6. Director of Transportation Report

OLD BUSINESS

Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt Reiter indicated that the hallway in West should be completed by the end of the week. Still waiting for warmer weather to complete the canopy on the west side of West Elementary. The West gym floor will be repaired and refinished this summer. There have been some minor HVAC issues at East and more mini splits have been installed. The board will have a walk thru of both buildings on April 11^th.

Update from the Junior/Senior High School Grading Coalition – Burmeister reported that there were great 1 on 1 conversations with parents during conferences. She is preparing data to share at the April board meeting. A survey was sent out to 7^th grade parents and that survey is still open for those parents that have not provided feedback. A team of ten teachers will be attending a conference on grading in Des Moines.

NEW BUSINESS

Consider Approval of the AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2022-2023 – Trimble moved to approve the AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2022-2023. Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

Consider Approval of the Cooperative Agreement by and between University of Northern Iowa and Cooperating Educational Agencies for the 2022-2023 Academic Year – McCardle moved to approve the Cooperative Agreement by and between University of Northern Iowa and Cooperating Educational Agencies for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

Consider Approval of the Agreement for Teacher Education Clinical Experience Placements between Independence Community School District and Morningside University for the 2022-2023 Academic Year – Trimble moved to approve the Agreement for Teacher Education Clinical Experience Placements between Independence Community School District and Morningside University for the 2022-2023 Academic Year. McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

Consider Approval of the Amendment of the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) Contract for 2022-2023 Fiscal Year – Trimble moved to approve the Amendment of the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) Contract for 2022-2023 Fiscal Year. Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0. This is the 4^th year of the 5-year contract.

Consider Approval to Purchase a Main Street Banner for Independence’s 175th Birthday – Trimble moved to approve to pay $200 to purchase a Main Street Banner for Independence’s 175^th Birthday. McCardle second motion carried 5-0.

F. Discussion on Weighted Grading – Supt Reiter reported that some districts did weighted grading for the more difficult classes and other districts did not. Dyersville Beckman was the only district in the WaMaC conference that we had heard back from that weighted their AP classes. Cedar Falls also weights their AP classes. All board members weighed in on the discussion. Reiter indicated that changes like this should flow thru the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC). Discussion on weighted grading will continue at future board meetings.

ADJOURNMENT - McCardle moved to adjourn the meeting. Trimble second, motion carried

5-0. Meeting was adjourned at 7:30 pm

EXEMPT SESSION – Board discussed negotiations strategies. No official action was taken during the exempt session. Session ended at 8:02 pm.

________________________________ _________________________________

Kim Hansen, Acting Chair Laura Morine, Board Secretary

lmorine@indeek12.org Fri, 10/22/2021 - 12:48