Board Minutes - 2021.01.18

A regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Chair Eric Smith at the Independence Jr/Sr High School Auditorium, Independence, IA on January 18, 2021.  Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Matt O’Loughlin, Jennifer Sornson, and Gina Trimble, Superintendent Russ Reiter and Board Secretary Laura Morine.  Guests included the building administrators, directors, CRAEA rep Josh Johnson.   Absent from the meeting:  Cheri Reed, Justin Putz, and Chad O’Brien.  The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA - Sornson moved to approve the agenda. Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

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

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on December 21, 2020.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

 

Second Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

300

Role of School District Administration

2.

301.1

Management

3.

302.1

Administration and Board of Directors

4.

302.2

Administration and Employees

5.

302.3

Administration and Adjoining District Administration

6.

103*, 103.E1, 103.E2, 103.E3, 103.E4*, 103.E5, 103.E6, and 103.R1

Equal Educational Opportunity, Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination, Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination, Section 504 Student and Parental Rights, Discrimination Complaint Form, Witness Disclosure Form, Disposition of Complaint Form, and Grievance Procedure

7.

500 (rescinded)

Objectives for Equal Educational Opportunities for Students

8.

701.5*

Financial Records

9.

705.1, 705.1R1*, and 705.1R2 (new)

Purchasing – Bidding, Suspension and Debarment of Vendors and Contractors Procedure, and Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts

 

First Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

303.1

Superintendent Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment

2.

303.2

Superintendent Contract and Contract Nonrenewal

3.

303.3

Superintendent Salary and Other Compensation

4.

303.4

Superintendent Duties

5.

303.5

Superintendent Evaluation

6.

303.6

Superintendent Professional Development

7.

303.7

Superintendent Civic Activities

8.

303.8

Superintendent Consulting/Outside Employment

9.

304.2

Administrator Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment

10.

304.3

Administrator Contract and Contract Nonrenewal

11.

304.4

Administrator Salary and Other Compensation

12.

304.5

Administrator Duties

13.

304.6

Administrator Evaluation

14.

304.7

Administrator Professional Development

 

15..

304.8

Administrator Civic Activities

16.

305

Reduction in Administrative Positions

17.

306.1

Development and Enforcement of Administrative Regulations

18.

306.2

Monitoring of Administrative Regulations

19.

307

Administrator Code of Ethics

20.

308

Succession of Authority to the Superintendent

21.

309

Communication Channels

22.

409.2*, 409.2E1 (rescinded), and 409.2E2 (rescinded)

Employee Leave of Absence, Emergency Paid Sick Leave Request Form Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and Expanded Family and Medical Leave Request Form Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

I am requesting the Board waive the second reading of this policy and the rescinded exhibits as COVID -19 leave will be address in new business.

23.

503.1* and 503.1R1

Student Conduct and Student Suspension

I am requesting the Board waive the second reading of this policy and regulation.

24.

503.5*

Corporal Punishment, Mechanical Restraint and Prone Restraint

I am requesting the Board waive the second reading of this policy.

25.

503.6, 503.6E1, 503.6E2, 506.3E3, and 506.3R1

(All New) 

Physical Restraint and Seclusion of Students, Use of Physical Restraint and/or Seclusion Documentation Form, Debriefing Letter to Guardian of Student Involved in an Occurrence Where Physical Restraint and/or Seclusion was Used, Debriefing Meeting Document, and Use of Physical Restraint and Seclusion with Students

I am requesting the Board waive the second reading of this policy, the exhibits and the resolution.

 

C. Approval of Resignations

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

DATE

Chad Beatty

JH Football Coach

01/12/2021

Chad Beatty

JH Boys Track Coach

01/12/2021

Beverly Garrigus

Assistant Small Group Speech Numbers Director

01/12/2021

 

 

 

 

 

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

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Gina Homan

Small Group Speech Director

$2,155

01/04/2021

Kris Martin

JSH Mentor Teacher – At-Risk

$1,000

01/04/2021

E. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Hansen reviewed the bills.  Director O’Loughlin to audit in February

     2.  Budget Report

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

  1. Comments from the Public - No public comment
  1. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Since the second semester started today, Smith wanted to thank all the staff for their hard work to get us to this point.   All the board members agreed and wanted to thank the staff for their efforts. Sornson also stated that social distancing and masks still needs to continue.  Supt. Reiter reported that today was the first day that there were zero staff and zero students of not having COVID.  There are still a few staff/students that are quarantined due to their household members having COVID.  Doug Larson and Supt Reiter did a walk through of East and West to review the construction project as there needs to be a fast turnaround to get the project completed.  Chromebooks are scheduled to replaced this spring and the funding was budgeted, so Mr. Noyes in looking to get them ordered soon. Supt. Reiter received notification from the Buchanan Public Health that the school staff would be in the second wave of the COVID vaccine and would like to start making plans for the distribution.  The Central Rivers AEA donated a book, Schools Cannot Do It Alone by Jamie Vollmer to the board. The book is about building public support for public schools. When looking ahead for the May board meeting there may be a date change due to conflicts with athletics and concerts.

 

C. Presentations

     1.  Mentoring Program Update – Val Maximovich

     2.  Chapter 103 – Erin Burmeister

     3.  CRAEA Supports and Partnerships with ICSD – Josh Johnson

 

REPORTS

A. Building Administrator Reports

     1.  Junior-Senior High School Principal – Mr. Howard indicated there is a winter dance scheduled for February 27 and Prom is scheduled for April 17th.  Details for the dances are still being worked out.   They are also working out details regarding Homecoming and Homecoming Court.

     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 Food Service Report

     5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

     6.  Director of Transportation Report

 

OLD BUSINESS

A. Return to Learn Plan Update

B. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project

 

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Consider Approval of the Master Services Agreement with Frontline Technologies Group – O’Loughlin moved to approve the Master Services Agreement with Frontline Technologies Group.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of East/West Elementary Construction Project Bids – Hansen moved to approve the Larson Construction bid of $3,361,750 for the East/West Elementary.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.  There were three very competitive bids that included the five alternatives and all the bids came in under the projected costs.
     
  2. Consider Approval to Extend COVID-19 Leave Resolution – Sornson moved to approve the Extended COVID-19 Leave Resolution.  Hansen second.   Roll call vote: O’Loughlin – aye, Hansen- aye, Smith – aye, Sornson – aye, Trimble – aye.  Motion carried 5-0.
     
  3. Closed Session – Hansen moved to go into closed session as provided in Section 21.5(1)(k) of the Iowa Code; To discuss information contained in records in the custody of a governmental body that are confidential records pursuant to Section 22.7, Subsection 50.  Sornson second. Roll call vote: O’Loughlin – aye, Hansen- aye, Smith – aye, Sornson – aye, Trimble – aye.  Motion carried 5-0. Board moved into closed session at 7:12 pm.

Board exited closed session at 7:58 pm and no official transactions were conducted during the closed session.

ADJOURNMENT – Hansen moved to adjourn the meeting.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.  Meeting was adjourned at 7:59 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

 

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