Board Minutes - 2021.06.21

EXEMPT SESSION

At 5 pm, the board held an exempt session in the Supt. Office for negotiations strategies discussions. Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Jennifer Sornson, Gina Trimble, Brad Bleichner and Superintendent Reiter. Session ended at 5: 45 pm and no official action was taken during the exempt session.

Prior to the start of the meeting, the board acknowledged and thanked our retiring teachers after listening to their retirement plans.

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 June 21, 2021, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Jennifer Sornson, Gina Trimble and Brad Bleichner.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, directors, retirees and local press. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited

FRIENDS OF EDUCATION

A. Retiring Teachers - the board recognized and thanked Diane Kinseth, David Lang, and Bonnie O’Brien who retired at the end of this school year and Donalyn Pogue and Dan Putz who retired last school year.  We appreciate their many years of dedication to education and enjoy your retirement!

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Sornson moved to approve the agenda but strike Admin/Director salaries from item P-Consider Approval of the Classified Non-Union, District Exempt Non-Union, Certified Non-Union and Administrative/Director Contracts for 2021-2022.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Sornson moved to approve the consent items.  Trimble second, motion carried 4-0 as Bleichner abstained.

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on May 18, 2021 and the special meeting on June 15, 2021.

B. Approval of Resignations

C. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

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

*One Extended Contract Day

E. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Hansen reviewed the bills. (Smith- July, Sornson-August, Trimble-September)

     2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public - none

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Trimble reported she had attended the 8th & 9th trip to Washington DC. This is not a school sponsored trip but our teacher, Amy Gustafson organizes the trip.  Trimble said we should be proud of the students as they were well behaved and had great learning opportunities.   Sornson reports she had taken the Iowa Leadership Standards training.   Supt. Reiter reported that the Kindergarten roundup numbers were looking close to previous years of about 100 students including JK students.  Principal Reidy updated that number to 112 as of last Friday.   Supt Reiter will be attending the National Federation of State High School Associations in Florida the week of June 28^th.

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal – Principal Howard reported there are now 41 students attending summer school

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal

     3.  West Elementary and East Elementary/Early Childhood Center Principals

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 gave the last Return to Learn Plan Update.  The Covid Tracker will be taken off the website before the end of the month.  The staff are still discussing what they learned from the pandemic and what procedures will be kept.
    
2. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt. Reiter updated the board on the East/West Construction projects.
    
3. Consider Approval of the Amendment to the Revision of the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) Contract for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 – Hansen moved to approve the Amendment to the Revision of the Independence Educational Support Personnel (IESP) Contract for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Consider Approval of the Construction Change Orders – Bleichner moved to approve the Construction Change Orders.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.
    
2. Consider Approval of the HSR Associates, Inc. Professional Fee Proposal for Air Quality Upgrades –Trimble moved to approve the HSR Associates, Inc. Professional Fee Proposal for Air Quality Upgrades.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
    
3. Consider Approval of the EMC Annual Insurance Proposal – Sornson moved to approve the EMC Annual Insurance Proposal with a premium increase $8,559 (3.45%).  Many districts are seeing a double-digit increase. Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.
    
4. Consider Approval of the 2021 Renewal Proposal with SU Insurance Company - Hansen moved to approve the 2021-22 Renewal Proposal with SU Insurance Company for equipment breakdown insurance.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.
    
5. Consider Approval of the Tri-County Child and Family Development Council, Inc. 2021-2022 Contracted Services Agreement - Sornson moved to approve the Tri-County Child and Family Development Council, Inc. 2021-2022 Contracted Services Agreement.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
    
6. Consider Approval of the Food Service Director Shared Services Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for 2021-2022
    
7. Consider Approval of the Human Resource Director Shared Services Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for 2021-2022
    
8. Consider Approval of the Buildings & Grounds Manager Shared Services Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for 2021-2022
    
9. Consider Approval of the School Social Worker Shared Services Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for 2021-202
    

Bleichner moved to approve items F-I -All sharing agreements with East Buchanan for 2021-2022..  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

10. Consider Approval of the Transportation Director Shared Services Agreement with Dunkerton Community School District for 2021-2022 - Trimble moved to approve the Transportation Director Shared Services Agreement with Dunkerton Community School District for 2021-2022.  Sornson second motion carried 5-0.
     
11. Consider Approval of the PowerSchool Access Agreement with Grant Wood Area Education Agency for 2021-2022 - Sornson moved to approve the PowerSchool Access Agreement with Grant Wood Area Education Agency for 2021-2022.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.
     
12. Consider Approval of the Special Education Delivery Plan - Hansen moved to approve the Special Education Delivery Plan.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.
     
13. Consider Approval of the 2021-2022 Elementary and JSH Student Handbooks - Trimble moved to approve the 2021-2022 Elementary and JSH Student Handbooks. Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
     
14. Consider Approval of the 2021-2022 Coach-Sponsor Activities Handbook - Trimble moved to approve the 2021-2022 Coach-Sponsor Activities Handbook.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.  In August the board would like to discuss the Policy 503.1 Student Conduct, the Policy 503.4 -Good Conduct Policy, and the Good Conduct Code from the Coach-Sponsor Activities Handbook.
     
15. Consider Approval of the Board Resolution to Transfer Funds of up to $10,000.00 for Protective Athletic Equipment - Trimble moved to approve the Board Resolution to Transfer Funds of up to $10,000.00 for Protective Athletic Equipment.  Hansen second.  Roll call vote:  Smith – aye, Sornson – aye, Trimble -aye, Bleichner – aye and Hansen – aye.  Motion carried 5-0.
16. Consider Approval of the Classified Non-Union, District Exempt Non-Union, Certified Non-Union, and Administrative/Director Contracts for 2021-2022 – Bleichner moved to approve the Classified Non-Union, District Exempt Non-Union, Certified Non-Union, and Administrative/Director Contracts for 2021-2022.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.
     
17. IASB Legislative Priorities – the board will review the IASB Legislative Priorities and the individual board members will let Board Secretary Morine know their top three priorities by July 12^th.  are due to IASB

Board Secretary Morine left the meeting at 7:26 pm

18. Closed Session - Trimble moved to enter closed session as provided in Section 21.5(1)(i) of the Iowa Code; To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. Sornson second.  Roll call vote:  Smith – aye, Sornson – aye, Trimble -aye, Bleichner – aye and Hansen – aye.  Motion carried 5-0 and the board entered into closed session at 7:30 pm.

The Board took a recess at 8:42 pm.

Superintendent Reiter left the meeting at 8:42 pm.

The Board meeting resumed at 8:48 pm.

Closed session ended at 9:30 pm and no official action was taken during the closed session.

19. Superintendent’s Contract – Sornson moved to approve a one-year extension, a raise of $5,800 and add a market adjustment of $5,500 to the Superintendent’s contract.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

ADJOURNMENT – Trimble moved to adjourn the meeting.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.  Meeting was adjourned at 9:33 pm.

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