Board Minutes - 2024.01.16

Independence Community School Board Meeting

  Regular Meeting

January 16, 2024

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 1st St West, Independence, Iowa on January 16, 2024.  Board members present: Kim Hansen, Gina Trimble, Mitch Barnett, Audrey Hill and Charlie McCardle.  Also present: Superintendent Phillips, Board Secretary Morine.  Admin/Directors:  JHS Principal Kleman, West Principal Reed, East Principal Reidy, School Improvement Director Burmeister, Technology Director Noyes. Guests: Matt Miller, Michael Murphy, Michael Haden, Michael Thomas, Alen Hilliard, Carson Hanaway and Michael Thomas’s family. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

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

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS – President Hansen indicated an adjustment to the new assignment for Erin Maurer. It should be: 21 hours per week as the East Elementary Behavior Interventionist and 14 hours per week at BCSC.  Motion by Trimble, second by Hill to approve the consent items with the adjustment. Motion carried 5-0.

     A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on December 18, 2023, the work session on January 8, 2024, and the public meetings on January 10, 2024.

     B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

200.04

Responsibilities of the Board of Education

2.

200.05

Board Member Social Media Engagement

3.

202.05

Individual Authority

4.

203

Board of Directors’ Conflict of Interest

5.

215

Public Participation in Board Meetings

6.

215.01

Public Complaints

7.

217.01

Board of Directors and Superintendent

8.

217.02

Board of Directors and Employees

9.

220

School Visitation by Board of Directors

 

 

First Readings:

 

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

401.02*

Equal Employment Opportunity

2.

701*and 701

R1*

Fiscal Management and Financial Metrics

3.

502.09*

Student Substance Use

4.

701.02*

Depository of Funds

Transfer of Funds

5.

701.04*

6.

701.05*

Financial Records

7.

701.06*

Governmental Accounting Practices

8.

703.01*

Budget Planning

9.

703.02 Rescinded

Spending Plan

 

     C. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

NAME

PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT

NEW ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Erin Maurer

BCSC 21.0 hrs/week Para

East Elem 21.0 14.0 hrs/week Behavior Interventionist Para and BCSC 14.0 21.0 hrs/week Reg Ed Para

$19.30/hr

12/11/2023

Hayley Patterson

East Elem 7.25 hr Behavior Interventionist Para

East Elem 7.0 Sp Ed Para

$14.35/hr

12/11/2023

Jeff Streblow

JSH 4.0 hr Night Custodian

JSH 8.0 hr Night Custodian

$14.60/hr +$344 prorated night stipend

01/03/2024

 

 

     D. Approval of New Hires (pending acceptable background checks

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Tim Darland

JSH JH Boys Basketball Coach

$2,500

12/18/2023

Lanie Dawson

East/West Elem Full Time Substitute Teacher

$211.17/day

TBD

Cole Zemple

JSH JH Girls Wrestling Coach

$2,082

12/18/2023

    E. Approval of Financial Reports

         1. Bills – Director Trimble reviewed the bills.  Hill will review in February

         2. Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

  1. Comments from the Public. - None
  1. Presentations

           1.  Baseball Field Project – Michael Murphy, LEI held a Prebid meeting today at the district.  There was only one attendee, but Michael expects more bids to be received.

           2.  FFA Chicken Project – Michael Thomas, Alen Hilliard, Carson Hanaway,               

                and Michael Haden – The FFA members gave a presentation on their upcoming Chicken Production Project.  A shed has been donated for this project, the FFA chapter will purchase the supplies, feed and 30 broilers this spring. This project will be managed by the ag classes, FFA chapter and Mr. Haden. When chickens are full grown, they will be taken to a USDA approved processor and then the dressed birds will be donated to the Independence Food Pantry. 

  1. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Board members gave their reports and they send their condolences to the Perry School District and community after their tragedy and loss of an administrator.  The board expressed major concerns regarding the Governor’s announcement of HSB #542 that would remove the educational and media services from AEAs. The district would have to use their own funds to procure the lost services the AEA currently provides.  Superintendent Phillips wanted to acknowledge all the people that it takes to make weather related decisions and these decisions are not taken lightly. Thanks to the Buildings and Grounds crew for their endless hours of moving snow, the transportation department to make sure roads are passable and the buses are running, the administration and staff that have had to make quick pivots in their plans as we approach the end of the semester.  Last Friday was declared a work from home professional development day and teachers were able to get there 8 hours in over the long weekend.   She thanked the board for their concerning thoughts regarding the tragedy at Perry and how important it is to continue to build relationships with all.  The administration team will be coming to the board with recommendations as they review the safety management in the district.   Superintendent Phillips commented on the new legislative session.  Changes are recommended from the DE on the Iowa School Performance Profile. With HSB #542, she absolutely agrees that there should be funding for teacher raises and a funding baseline for all teachers. However, she is concerned about the proposed changes for AEAs, the lack of support and services from the DE, and a potential cut of funding in education and media services for our district. Superintendent Phillips forwarded information regarding this bill out to the staff and hopes the bill goes through full process.       

 

REPORTS

     A. Building Administrator Reports

          1.  Junior-Senior High School

          2.  West Elementary

          3.  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 – Director Wendel thanked Geater Manufacturing and the Shirley Tekippe family for the donations.  On January 20th, the Sam Farrell Pool Tournament Benefit will also be donating some proceeds to the school’s lunch program.  Free and Reduced applications can be filled out at any time there is a change in a family’s income. Just a reminder that students need to have money in their lunch account or pay cash in order to purchase Ala Carte items. If you are interested in putting a cap on what your student is spending in Ala Carte, please contact Pam Wendel.

          5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

          6.  Director of Transportation Report – special thanks to the Williamsburg School District for helping our district out when we had bus troubles after an event. They loaned us a bus to get home and even had our bus fixed when we went down to pick it up. This is common for transportation departments to help each other out.  

NEW BUSINESS

  1.  Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – January 2024: Jon Carey and Brian Loughren to Tulsa, OK - Motion by McCardle, second by Trimble to approve the Travel Request Form – January 2024: Jon Carey and Brian Loughren to Tulsa, OK with sub costs paid by the district if necessary.
  1.  Discussion of AEA/IASB/SAI Day on the Hill/IASB Onboarding – The board discussed upcoming professional development for the board.  Morine will get the board members registered.

ADJOURNMENT – Motion by Trimble to adjourn the meeting.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.  Meeting adjourned at 7:15 pm

A small recess was taken and the work session started at 7:24 pm.

WORK SESSION

FACILITY ASSESSMENT – Kate Payne with Invision Architects discussed the educational facility assessment that the district had hired them to do.  Kate reviewed the condition of the East and West Elementary buildings, the current district’s educational needs as well as benchmarking department space use in each building.  The major concerns at East Elementary is that the critical infrastructure systems have reached their end of life, in particular, the HVAC and Electrical Systems.  The major concerns at West Elementary is the Wheel area which holds the bulk of the classrooms. The round shape is not efficient for educational spaces, does not present good visibility for safety purposes and there are classrooms with no daylight access.

A work session for facility planning is set for Feb 26th at 6:00 pm.

Work session ended at 8:49 pm and the board went right into an exempt session.

EXEMPT SESSION

NEGOTIATIONS STRATEGY SESSION – The board discussed negotiation strategies.   The exempt session ended at 9:25 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

 

__________________________________         _________________________________

Kim Hansen, Board President                              Laura Morine, Board Secretary