Board Minutes - 2023.02.20

Independence Community School Board Meeting

Regular Meeting

February 20, 2023

PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing for the Proposed 2023-2024 School Calendar started at 5:50 pm at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on February 20, 2023. Board members present: Kim Hansen, Charlie McCardle, Gina Trimble and Eric Smith. Also attending: Supt. Reiter and Board Secretary Morine. Guests: John Klotzbach, Audrey Hill and Joe Olsen.

No public comments were received. The public hearing ended at 5:56 pm.

REGULAR MEETING

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by President Kim Hansen at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on February 20, 2023. Board members present: Kim Hansen, Charlie McCardle, Gina Trimble and Eric Smith. Also attending: Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine. Guests: John Klotzbach, Audrey Hill and Joe Olsen. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Smith moved to approve the agenda, but striking Policy 605.3 from second reading. McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Smith moved to approve the consent items 3A-E with changes to the following minutes:

January 17^th Minutes:

New Business B. Course Registration guide - amending the sentence "Trimble amended the motion to change credits to course periods for the seniors" with "In particular, the board discussed the minimum attendance requirement for seniors. Trimble amended the motion to change the senior attendance requirement to be based on course periods instead of credits."
New Business D. PPEL Resolution - remove the extra decimal point in one instance of sixty-seven cents. Change "...Voter PPEL vote of .67 cents." to "...Voter PPEL vote of 67 cents."

January 26^th Minutes:

The Board met with Grundmeyer Leader Services to begin (rather than being) the process of a superintendent search.

Trimble second with changes. Motion carried 4-0.

Supt Reiter thanked the following retirees for their many years of teaching at the Independence School District and wished them the best. Trish O’Loughlin – 20 years, Lori Bowers – 31 years, Virginia Lake – 18 years.

A. Approval of the minutes of the public hearing on January 17, 2023, the regular meeting on January 17, 2023, the special meeting on January 18, 2023, and the work session on January 26, 2023.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
1.	605.1* and 605.1R1*	Instructional Materials Selection and Selection of Instructional Materials Regulation
2.	605.2* and 605.2R1*	Instructional and Library Materials Inspection and Display and Instructional and Library Materials Inspection
3.	~~605.3, 605.3E1, 605.3E2, 605.3E3, 605.3E4 (new), and 605.3R1 (rewrite)~~	Objection to Instructional and Library Materials, Instructions to the Reconsideration Committee, Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Materials Request Form, Sample Letter to Individual Challenging Instructional or Library Materials, Request to Prohibit a Student form Checking Out Specific Library Materials, and Reconsideration of Instructional and Library Materials Regulation
4.	605.4*	Technology and Instructional Materials
5.	605.5*	School Library

First Readings:

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
1.	605.6, 605.6E1, and 605.6R1*	Internet – Appropriate Use, Elementary Internet Access Form, Secondary Internet Access Form, and Internet – Appropriate Use Regulation
2.	605.7* and 605.7R1*	Use of Information Resources and Use of Information Resources Regulation
3.	606.1*	Shared Students
4.	606.2*	Class Size – Class Grouping
5.	606.3*	Homework
6.	606.4*	School Ceremonies and Observances
7.	906.1* and 906.1E1*	Community Use of School District Facilities & Equipment and Community Use of School District Facilities & Equipment Exhibit
8.	606.5	Animals in the Classroom
9.	606.6	Student Production of Materials and Services

C. Approval of Resignations

NAME	ASSIGNMENT	DATE
Lori Bowers	East Elem Title I Reading Teacher	End of 2022-2023 School Year
Tonya Coonrad	West Elem 7.25 hr Special Ed Para	01/31/2023
Sonya Elzey	JSH Special Ed Teacher	End of 2022-2023 School Year
Virginia Lake	District Teacher Librarian/Media Specialist	End of 2022-2023 School Year

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

NAME	ASSIGNMENT	SALARY	DATE
Heather Linsley	West Elem 7.25 hr Special Ed Para	$13.65/hr	02/13/2023
Julie Magee	Central Office Administrative Assistant	$17.50/hr	02/13/2023
Stephanie McCrea	ECC 4.5 hr Special Ed Para	$15.50/hr	02/13/2023

E. Approval of Financial Reports

1. Bills – Director McCardle reviewed the bills – Smith will review in March

2. Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

Comments from the Public - Joe Olsen reported that the Little Free Art House and Mini Gallery of Arts had been reinstalled in front of the Administration Building. LACES is the funding source for the supplies and Allison Anderson has volunteered to oversee keeping the supplies stocked. Thank you, Joe, LACES and Allison, for promoting art in the community.

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – McCardle had attended many activities and reported it is great to see the facilities being used. Trimble congratulated the Girls and Boys Wrestling program on their great seasons. PPEL post cards had been mailed out and you can vote at the courthouse now. Smith reported he had heard concerns about the 9^th grade registration being held on a Wednesday after 6 pm. He had participated in World Read Aloud. The facilities committee had met. Smith attended the IASB Student Success meeting in Des Moines. Hansen reminded people to vote on March 7^th as the PPEL Levy and District 1 director are on the ballot. Special thanks to Mitch Barnett for filling in the board vacancy for the short period of time. Congratulations to the wrestlers for their success, good luck to the boys basketball team during post season play and to the students attending the WAMAC Individual Speech contest. Congratulations to our two students that performed at the ALL State Large Group Speech as that is a huge accomplishment. Hansen encouraged board members to watch the IASB webinars. Hansen and Supt Reiter attended the Day on the Hill as was able to talk to a few of our legislators. Trimble mentioned that she has been following legislative issues and is very concerned about their discussions and we all need to have more discussions with our legislators on topics of concerns. Supt Reiter attended and presented awards at the ALL State Speech contest and was very proud of our students. Congratulations to the wrestlers, boys bowling team that went to state and the one girl that qualified for state bowling. The Chamber Banquet is coming up and we have multiple staff nominated for Teacher of the Year.

C. Presentations

1. Board Goal #3 – District Financial Presentation led by Superintendent Reiter and Director

of Finance Laura Morine. Supt Reiter indicated that all financial indicators have increased over the last few years but we need to continue to monitor and work on all the financial indicators.

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

A. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – weekly checks on the West Elementary carpet look good. East and West Elementary need to identify what rooms need the floor deadbolts. Smith indicated there were three open item and only one had a target date.

B. Review the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee – the next meeting is scheduled for February 23^rd at 5 pm

NEW BUSINESS

A. Consider Approval of the 2023-2024 Proposed School Calendar – Trimble moved to approve the 2023-2024 Proposed School Calendar. McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

B. Consider Approval of the Hawkeye Stages Quote for Two Charter Buses on May 13, 2023 – McCardle Moved to approve the Hawkeye Stages Quote for Two Charter Buses on May 13, 2023 for the band t perform at the Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference in Des Moines. Smith second, motion carried 4-0.

C. Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – October/November 2023: Michael Haden and FFA Members to Indianapolis, IN for National FFA Convention. McCardle moved to approve the travel request form October/November 2023: Michael Haden and FFA Members to Indianapolis, IN for National FFA Convention. Smith second, motion carried 4-0.

D. Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – November/December 2023: Michael Haden to Phoenix, AZ for the National Association of Agricultural Educators Convention. Smith moved to approve the travel request form - November/December 2023: Michael Haden to Phoenix, AZ for the National Association of Agricultural Educators Convention. Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

E. Consider Approval of the Proposed Hawkeye Community College (HCC) Courses for the 2023-2024 School Year – Smith moved to approve the proposed Hawkeye Community College (HCC) Courses for the 2023-2024 School Year. McCardle second, motion carried 4-0.

F. Consider Approval of the Farm Leases (North Parcel and South Parcel) for 2023-2024 – Smith moved to approve the Farm Leases (North Parcel and South Parcel) for 2023-2024. Trimble second, motion carried 4-0.

G. Consider Approval of the Independence Board Resolution for Budget Guarantee that the Board of Directors of the Independence Community School District will levy property tax for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa – Trimble moved to approve the Independence Board Resolution for Budget Guarantee that the Board of Directors of the Independence Community School District will levy property tax for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa. McCardle second. Roll call vote: Hansen – aye, McCardle – aye, Smith – aye, Trimble – aye. Motion carried 4-0.

H. Discussion of the IASB Student Ambassador Program – Smith is involved with the IASB Student Ambassador Program. His plans are to be intentional in communicating to reporters and legislators that he is not speaking for the Independence Community School Board. As a member of this program he does not plan to speak on positions that the Independence Community School Board does not support. There is no policy nor recommended best practice for balancing individual board members statements with school board policy.

ADJOURNMENT - Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. McCardle second, motion carried 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 pm.

___________________________________ ___________________________________

Kim Hansen, President Laura Morine, Board Secretary

lmorine@indeek12.org Mon, 10/17/2022 - 09:28