Board Minutes - 2021.07.19

REGULAR MEETING

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 July 19, 2021, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Jennifer Sornson, Gina Trimble and Brad Bleichner.  Also attending:  Supt. Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, and local press. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Sornson moved to approve the agenda with adding a new agenda item:  G. Consider Approval of the High School Band and Choir Charter Bus Contract for December 2021 to Florida. Bleichner second, agenda approved 5-0.

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

1. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on June 21, 2021 and the special meeting on June 24, 2021.

B. Approval of Resignations

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

D. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Smith reviewed the bills – Sornson will review in August, Trimble in September,

          and Bleichner in October

     2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

1. Comments from the Public – none

2. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Supt. Reiter reported that the district has a new company to host our board policies, agendas and minutes on the website.  These items are now searchable.  Dunkerton approve to share a Transportation Director with us.  Elementary summer school has started.  The Voter Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy is set to expire in 2023.  Currently the levy is at .40 cents and we need to look at possibly increasing that levy amount to cover maintenance costs for the buildings. Supt. Reiter also reviewed a couple of the legislative changes for education. 

C. Presentations

     1.  Discussion of Board Policies 503.1 and 503.4 and the Good Conduct Code in the Coach/

          Sponsor Handbook – JSH Principal Howard presented the difference between the two and will work on finding new terminology to help distinguish between the Student Conduct and Good Conduct polices.   

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal

     2.  Junior-Senior High School Assistant Principal

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

1. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt. Reiter gave an update on the construction projects. The West Elementary project seems to be on track to finish on time, whereas the East Elementary project has had a couple major delays  challenges with asbestos mitigation and paint. Board discussed whether the construction would be completed in time to start school as scheduled.

2. Consider Approval of the IASB Legislative Priorities – Sornson moved to discuss the legislative priorities. Trimble second.  After some discussion, Sornson moved to amend the motion to select:                      Mental Health, Supplemental State Aid, Local Accountability and Decision Making, and Preschool as the district’s legislative priorities. Trimble second the amendment and motion carried 5-0.

NEW BUSINESS

1. Consider Approval of the Construction Change Orders – Trimble moved to approve the two Construction Change Orders. Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.

2. Consider Approval of the High School Marching Band Charter Bus Contact for October 9, 2021– Trimble moved to approve the High School Marching Band Charter Bus Contract with Windstream.  Hansen second motion carried 5-0.

3. Consider Approval of the Buchanan County Success Center Handbook for 2021-2022 – Sornson moved to approve the Buchanan County Success Center Handbook for 2021-2022. Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

4. Consider Approval of an Audit Proposal – Trimble moved to accept the Audit Proposal from Carney, Alexander, Marold & Co., LLP for 2022 thru 2024. Bleichner second motion carried 5-0.

E. Consider Approval of the Resolution Authorizing Transfer of General Fund to Student Activities Fund for Expenses Remaining Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Activities – Hansen moved to approve the Resolution Authorizing Transfer of General Fund to Student Activities Fund for Expenses Remaining Due to COVID-19 Pandemic Activities in the amount of $25,000. Sornson second. Roll call vote:  Sornson - aye, Trimble – aye, Bleichner – aye, Hansen – aye, Smith – aye.    Motion carried 5-0.

F. Consider Approval of the Updated 2021-2022 School Calendar – There was no motion on this agenda item and no action was taken.  

G. New Item:  Consider Approval of the High School Band and Choir Charter Bus Contract for December 2021 to Florida – Hansen moved to approve the High School Band and Choir Charter Bus Contract for December 2021 to Florida.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

ADJOURNMENT – Sornson moved to adjourn the meeting. Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.  Meeting was adjourned at 7:37 pm.

WORK SESSION

The work session was held following the regular board meeting. Student Improvement Director Burmeister and JSH Principal Howard gave a presentation on what Standard Reference Grading looks like compared to traditional grading.  Burmeister and Howard is recommending Standard Reference Grading for 7^th grade as that has been their grading system since Kindergarten.  The board directed that an update from the Junior/Senior High School Grading Coalition be added as old business to regular board meetings for the upcoming year while the grading coalition completes their work.

Work session ended at 8:45 pm.

___________________________________           ___________________________________

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