Board Minutes - 2023.08.21

Independence Community School Board Meeting

  Regular Meeting

August 21, 2023

The 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 August 21, 2023.  Board members present: Kim Hansen, Gina Trimble, Eric Smith, Audrey Hill and Charlie McCardle. Also present: Superintendent Phillips, Board Secretary Morine.  Admin/Directors:  JHS Principal Kleman, Asst JSH Principal Hupke, West Principal Reed, School Improvement Director Burmeister.  Press representative, John Klotzbach. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Motion by Smith, second by Hill to approve the agenda.  Motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – Motion by Smith, second by McCardle to approve all the consent items with the following changes to Board Policy 604.05. The added language is italicized.  “Tuition for concurrent enrollment courses, as citied in the yearly contractual agreement between ICSD and postsecondary institutions, is paid for by the Independence Community School District.” 2. “Students will not be required to purchase textbooks for concurrent courses that are listed for Fall and Spring Semesters in the Joint Education Service Agreements between ICSD and postsecondary institutions. Hansen reviewed the bills and there were nine bills where amounts need to be corrected and each of the board members received a spreadsheet of those changes.  The amounts will be updated before checks go out.  Motion carried 5-0.

     A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on July 20, 2023.

     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 Hansen reviewed the bills – McCardle will review in September

         2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

    A. Comments from the Public. – none

    B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Board members gave their monthly reports and welcomed back staff and students.  Supt. Phillips thanked the administration and directors for their support in welcoming back the staff.  Board retreat is set for October 19^th.   Currently there are six students, one teacher and one para for the Four Oaks program.  The district is fully staffed, other than looking for two full time substitutes. One having an emphasis on K-6 and the other with JSH emphasis.  Supt. Phillips has been in contact with Invision and will be setting up meetings for the facility planning process. She also thanked the board for their support as we kick off a new year.

REPORTS

   A. Building Administrator Reports

        1.  Junior-Senior High School

        2.  West Elementary/East Elementary/Early Childhood Center

   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

NEW BUSINESS

  A. Consider Approval of the Changes to the 2023-2024 Elementary and JSH Student Handbooks – Motion by Smith, second by Trimble to approve the Changes to the 2023-2024 Elementary and JSH Student Handbooks with following changes: 1. On page 51 for Preparticipation Information for Athletics that on the referenced web site "Activity Forms Handbooks" have the "Physical Activity Contract 2019-2020" file be removed and replaced with a form appropriate for 2023-24. 2. On Page 52 for Heat Related Decisions Regarding Practices/Events, that the URL be replaced with the URL https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HeatIndexChart.pdf  &…; Motion carried 5-0.

  B.  Consider Approval of the Changes to the 2023-2024 Coach-Sponsor Activities Handbook – Motion by Smith, second by Trimble to approve the Changes to the 2023-2024 Coach-Sponsor Activities Handbook with the following change:  On Page 32 for Heat Related Decisions Regarding Practices/Events, that the URL be replaced with the URL https://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/HeatIndexChart.pdf  &…; Motion carried 5-0.

3. Consider Approval of the 2023-2024 Buchanan County Success Center Handbook – Motion by Smith, second by Trimble to approve the 2023-2024 Buchanan County Success Center Handbook. Motion carried 5-0.

4. Consider Approval of the Joint Education Service Agreement between Hawkeye Community – Motion by Trimble, second by Smith to table the Joint Education Service Agreement between Hawkeye Community in order to get clarification on why we are approving the agreement again, what changes were made and way, also clarify the language for summer school classes.   Motion carried 5-0.

  E.  Consider Approval of the Agreement between Independence Community School District and Atlantic Bottling Company through 08/23/2028 – Motion by Smith, second by McCardle to approve the Agreement between Independence Community School District and Atlantic Bottling Company through 08/23/2028 pending review by legal counsel and addendum the school lunch program is excluded.  Motion carried 5-0.

ADJOURNMENT – Smith moved to adjourn the meeting.  McCardle second.  Motion carried 5-0 and the meeting adjourned at 7:02 pm.

________________________________________    ______________________________________

Kim Hansen, President                                                Laura J. Morine, Board Secretary