Board Minutes - 2022.02.21

Independence Community School Board Meeting

 Public Hearing and Regular Meeting

February 21, 2022

Public Hearing

A public hearing for the 2022-2023 Proposed School Calendar of the Independence Community School Board started at 5:50 pm at the Administration Office, 1207 1^st St West, Independence, Iowa on February 21, 2022.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen and Brad Bleichner.  Gina Trimble and Charlie McCardle attended by Zoom.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, directors, and local press. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

No public comments were received.  Hansen moved to adjourn the public hearing, Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0. The public hearing ended at 6:00 pm.

Regular Meeting

The 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 February 21, 2022.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen and Brad Bleichner. Gina Trimble and Charlie McCardle attended by Zoom.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, directors, and local press.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Bleichner moved to approve the agenda with the removal of the closed session, item #7E, Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Hansen moved to approve the consent items except Policy 400.1.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

      A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on January 17, 2022 and the special meeting on January 24, 2022.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

First Readings:

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
1.	403.8, 403.8R1, 403.8R2, 4038E1, 403.8E2 and 403.8E3 (Rescinded)	Employee Vaccination/Testing for COVID-19, Employee Vaccination/Testing for COVID-19 Regulation, Required Notices to Employees, Employee Personal Attestation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

 

	POLICY #	POLICY NAME
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)

 

C. Approval of Resignations

NAME ASSIGNMENT DATE Jeremy Carter JSH 8.0 hr Night Custodian 02/10/2022 Cody Eder JSH 8.0 hr Night Custodian 01/19/2022 Lonnie Hammond JSH Special Ed Teacher End of 2021-2022 School Year Donna Miller East Elem 2nd Grade Teacher End of 2021-2022 School Year Justin Putz JSH JH Boys Basketball Coach 02/15/2022 Sarah Quist JSH English/Language Arts Teacher End of 2021-2022 School Year Kylee Winn JSH Family & Consumer Science Teacher End of 2021-2022 School Year Kylee Winn JSH FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) Sponsor End of 2021-2022 School Year Leah Zweigle JSH 5.5 hr Cook/FS Worker 02/25/2022

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

NAME ASSIGNMENT SALARY DATE Jami Crawford East Elem Full-Time Substitute Teacher $193.03 day 02/03/2022 Alexander Farmer JSH Head Softball Coach $3,742 05/02/2022 Nicholas Holt West Elem Full-Time Substitute Teacher $193.03/day 02/09/2022 Janet McLaren West Elem 1.0 hr Morning Supervision Para $15.50/hr 01/31/2022 Theresa Mueller JSH Full-Time Substitute Teacher $193.03/day 02/07/2022 Pamela Wendel   Director of Food Service $19,578.87 (pro-rated) 02/28/2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E. Approval of Financial Reports

 1.  Bills – Director Bleichner reviewed the bills – Hansen will review in March

 2.  Budget Report

Hansen moved to approve the first reading of Policy #400.1 after some discussions.   Supt. Reiter will reach out to other districts regarding this policy and review the timeline and committee information.  Bleichner second, first reading was approved 5-0.

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public - none

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent - Bleichner inquired about weighted grading and would like more information for the next meeting.  Trimble attended the Conference Board meeting.  Trimble also congratulated the large group speech students and coaches.  McCardle congratulated West Elementary as the math and reading scores increased.  Supt. Reiter indicated the SSA rate of 2.5% was signed by the Governor and was disappointed the increase was not higher since the state is sitting on large reserve funds.  The Diversity Committee will meet on March 9^th.   March 7^th the board will meet with representatives from Central Rivers AEA to work on board goals. The April board meeting will be changed from the 18^th to the 11^th so that the board can approve the Certified Annual Budget before April 15^th.  Reiter and Morine will be attending a budget workshop on Thursday.  Supt. Reiter wanted to thank all of those that are working on revamping the entrance to Leinbaugh Field.

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 Buildings & Grounds Report

     5.  Director of Transportation Report

OLD BUSINESS

1. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt Reiter reported that the restrooms at West Elementary are 99% complete. The punch list for the projects is still being worked on. See Electric has started on the HVAC projects at the Jr/Sr High and West Elementary.

2. Update from the Junior/Senior High School Grading Coalition – Burmeister and Howard gave an update.  The coalition is still working on communicating out to staff and parents. In March, a team of teacher will be attending a grading conference in Des Moines.  Burmeister said they would be able to bring more information regarding data to the board in April.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Consider Approval of the 2022-2023 School Calendar – Hansen moved to approve the 2022-2023 School Calendar.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

2. Consider Approval of the Proposed Hawkeye Community College (HCC) Courses for the 2022-2023 School Year – Hansen moved to approve the Proposed Hawkeye Community College (HCC) Courses for the 2022-2023 School Year.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

3. Consider Approval of the Cooperative Agreement by and between Iowa State University and Independence Community School District – Hansen moved to approve the Cooperative Agreement by and between Iowa State University and Independence Community School District.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

4. Consider Approval of the Farm Leases for 2022-2023 – Hansen moved to approve the Farm Leases for the North and South Parcels for 2022-2023.  Trimble second, motion carried 5.0.

E. Closed Session – Struck from agenda

We need a motion to recess to a 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.

ADJOURNMENT - Bleichner moved to adjourn the meeting.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0 and meeting adjourned at 6:45 pm.

 

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Eric B. Smith, Chair                                                       Laura Morine, Board Secretary