Board Minutes - 2021.04.19

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 JSH Auditorium, Independence, Iowa on April 19, 2021.    Board members present:  Eric Smith, Kim Hansen, Matt O’Loughlin, Jennifer Sornson and Gina Trimble.  Also attending:  Superintendent Reiter, Board Secretary Morine, administrators, Josh Johnson, CRAEA rep and local press. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited along with a moment of silence to honor Sergeant Jim Smith.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Trimble moved to approve the agenda with the removal of 7D – List of Graduates.  Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.   Board Policy states that seniors need to have the National Career Readiness Assessment and the board will need to waive the requirement for this year.

 

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

A. Approval of the minutes of the regular meeting on March 15, 2021, the public meetings on March 29, 2021, and the public hearing and special meeting on March 29, 2021.

B. Approval of Resignations

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

DATE

Mackenzie Hupke

JSH Assistant Softball Coach

04/09/2021

Terri Janaszak

West Elem 5.75 hr Sp Ed Para

End of FY2020-2021

Cindy Michels

East Elem 7.0 hr Sp Ed Para

04/09/2021

Vicky Neumann

West Elem 5.5 hr Sp Ed Para

End of FY2020-2021

Megan Slessor

East/West Elem K-4 Extended Learning Program Teacher

End of FY2020-2021

Deb Williams

JSH 7.0 hr Sp Ed Para

03/31/2021

 

C. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments

NAME

PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT

NEW ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Kate Grover

East Elem 2nd Grade Teacher

West Elem 3rd Grade Teacher

$46,100*

08/17/2021

Danielle Oaks

West Elem 6th Grade Teacher

West Elem 5th Grade Teacher

$41,432*

08/17/2021

*Pending 2021-2022 Negotiations

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

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Aaron Atwood-Blaine

JSH Math Teacher

$61,438*

08/17/2021

Kayla Kanellis

East/West Elem Math Interventionist

$40,283*

2 Year Contract**

08/17/2021

Joel Knipe

JSH Band Teacher

$42,581*

08/16/2021

Joel Knipe

JSH Band Director

$4,502*

08/16/2021

Joel Knipe

JSH Summer Band Director

$1,732*

07/01/2021

Hayley Krogh

JSH Assist Boys Soccer Coach

$2,565

3/16/2021

 

Colton Lueck

JSH Math/Science Teacher

$41,432*

Two Year Contract**

08/16/2021

Ross Onken

Bus Garage 4.25 hr Bus Driver

$17.75/hr

05/03/2021

Lisa Preuss

JSH Summer School Para

$15/57/hr

06/14/2021

Seth Rupprecht

JSH Summer School Teacher

$30.00/hr

06/14/2021

Seth Rupprecht

East Elem Sp Ed Teacher

$40,283*

08/17/2021

 

*Pending 2021-2022 Negotiations

**Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds

E. Approval of Financial Reports

     1.  Bills – Director Sornson reviewed the bills. Trimble to review for May.

     2.  Budget Report

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

  1. Comments from the Public - none
     
  2. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – Smith expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone for the efforts since the tragic death of Sergeant Smith this past week. There were many items that needed to be juggled to prepare the facility, deal with the grief and continue educating students.  Secondly, IASB is having training on June 9th for the new Superintendent Evaluation tools and hoped the board could do that training as a group.  Hansen echoed Smith appreciation of efforts in preparing for and hosting the funeral in our district. Trimble said how proud she was of the district, community and state during this difficult time and that the Jr/Sr High School would be seen very positively in the eyes of the state with all the time and efforts that were put in. Trimble also wanted to thank all those involved with the prom events over the weekend as it went very well. Sornson echoed the sentiments and stated that we showed perseverance and will continue to be there for the family.  O’Loughlin also thanked everyone and that Independence should be very proud of what we have here.  Superintendent Reiter thanked the Crisis Team and everyone that put in a lot of time into the whole week.  These efforts were noticed and appreciated by many.  He also thanked the Board for approving the time and the use of the facility.  Reiter reported that the amount of Federal ESSER III funds were announced and the district would be receiving about $1.4 million dollars. Twenty percent of these funds needs to be used towards learning loss or academics.   We will try to focus more than the twenty percent of the funds on our students as well as air quality, health and cleanliness of the buildings.
     
  3. Presentations

     1.  Portrait of a Graduate – Erin Burmeister and Josh Johnson gave an update on the progress of the Portrait of a Graduate.   This is a process to help determine what an ICSD graduate should look like. The team will be reaching out to the community and businesses for their input as well.

 

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 Food Service Report

     5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report

     6.  Director of Transportation Report

 

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Return to Learn Plan Update – Supt. Reiter indicated a lot of work was put into creating the Return to Learn Plan and now we need to know how to plan for the end of the pandemic.  What should that look like?  He will continue to have conversations with the Buchanan County Public Health regarding this.
     
  2. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – The project seems to progressing well and ahead of schedule.  The trusses had arrived without the anticipated delay.  Interior work is also making progress.

 

NEW BUSINESS

      A. Consider Approval of the Construction Change Orders – Hansen moved to approve the two change orders in the amount of $51,724.58.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.

  1. Consider Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding with Luther College for the 2021-2022 Academic Year – O’Loughlin moved to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with Luther College for the 2021-2022 Academic Year.   Hansen second, motion carried 5-0.
     
  2. Consider Approval of the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission Natural Gas Program Participation Agreement for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 – Trimble moved to approve the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission Natural Gas Program Participation Agreement for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022.  Sornson second, motion carried 5-0.
     
  3. Consider Approval of the Independence Community School District Graduate Candidates for 2021 – Struck from the agenda.
     
  4. Consider Approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with Cedar Falls Community Schools for Men’s and Women’s Swimming for 2021-2022 – Sornson moved to approve the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with Cedar Falls Community Schools for Men’s and Women’s Swimming for 2021-2022.  Trimble second motion carried 5-0.
     
  5. Discuss Upcoming School Board Director Vacancy – A resignation letter was received from Director O’Loughlin effective at the conclusion of the May 18th board meeting.  Smith thanked O’Loughlin for his service to the district.  A public notice will be placed in the paper to inform the public of this vacancy.  Since it is less than 180 days before the next regular school board election, the board will appoint to fill the vacancy until November 2021.   In November, election papers will need to be filed in order to be placed on the ballot to finish out the remaining two years of the vacated term.

 

ADJOURNMENT – Sornson moved to adjourn the regular meeting.  O’Loughlin second, motion carried 5-0.   Meeting was adjourned at 7:00 pm.

 

Exempt Session

The board discussed negotiations strategies.   Session ended at 8:05 pm and no official action was taken during the exempt session.

 

 

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