Board Minutes - 2022.09.19

APPROVAL OF AGENDA – Hansen moved to approve the agenda. McCardle second, motion

carried 5-0

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

1. Approval of the minutes of the work session on August 8, 2022 and the regular meeting on

August 15, 2022.

B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

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 McCardle reviewed the bills – Smith will review in October

     2.  Budget Report

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

A. Comments from the Public - None

B. Comments from the Board/Superintendent – McCardle shared how much fun he has had while taking pictures during Homecoming activities.  Smith shared the results of the IASB Special Delegate Assembly was 94% support to change the association’s bylaws to allow membership with any national school board association.  Supt Reiter stated the start of the school year went well. Supt Reiter continues to work in partnership with the city and county on childcare issues.   We are really going to push teacher retention and recruiting during the upcoming legislative session along with increased SSA rate. After the Certified Annual Report (CAR) was filed our General Fund continues to be healthy.  ESSER funds have helped that healthy balance. Best of Luck with the upcoming Homecoming week.

The board meeting recessed at 6:10 pm to address technology issues. The meeting resumed at 6:13 pm.

C. Presentations

     1.  High School Baseball Outfield – Matt Miller reviewed the updates to the facilities over the last few years and the ongoing issue with drainage in the outfield. Brian Eddy presented options to resolve the drainage in the outfield. Their recommendation is to install turf and have it funded 100% by private donations.  Asking for the board’s approval to proceed before they continue to solicit donations and the project wouldn’t start until it was fully funded.

     2.  District’s Professional Learning – Erin Burmeister gave an update on the District’s Professional Learning plan that was submitted to the State.

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

A. Review East/West Elementary Construction Project – Supt. Reiter said the outstanding issues are: Fire rated doors have arrived and will be installed on Friday. Still working on the carpet adhesion issue.  Smith brought up the water drainage from the West Elementary roof.

B. Review Grade Inflation Task Force – Smith gave an overview of the data that was available from Powerschool from 2016 to 2022. This task force will continue to meet.

C. Grading Coalition Update – Burmeister thanked Principal Kleman for his active participation. The communication has been updated and letters out to parents. The Coalition decided to continue with the 4-point scale with the 0.5 increments for this school year.  The “4” needs to be defined in the proficiency scale and provide opportunities to the students to obtain the “4”.   The Coalition also feels like there needs to be more training of staff. The conversion will continue to a letter grade.

D. Review the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee – Supt Reiter provided the list of committee members and looking for a meeting date to talk about setting goals for the district. Hansen moved to appoint Trimble to the board.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.  

NEW BUSINESS

A. Consider Approval to Convert the Baseball Outfield to Turf with 100% Donated Funds – Hansen moved to approve to Convert the Baseball Outfield to Turf with 100% Donated Funds and Labor.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

B. Consider Approval of Softball Upgrades with 100% Donated Funds and Volunteer Support – McCardle moved approve of Softball Upgrades with 100% Donated Funds and Volunteer Support.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0. 

C. Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form – November 2022 – Michael Doyle to Fort Worth, TX – McCardle moved to approve the Travel Request Form – November 2022 – Michael Doyle to Fort Worth, TX.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

D. Consider Approval of the Charter Bus Contact for Charter No. 122309 with Tri-State Travel for the High School Marching Band for October 8-9, 2022.   Hansen moved to approve the Charter Bus Contact for Charter No. 122309, in the amount of $5090, with Tri-State Travel for the High School Marching Band for October 8-9, 2022.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

E. Consider Approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with East Buchanan Schools for Robotics for the 2022-2023 School Year – Hansen moved to approve the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with East Buchanan Schools for Robotics for the 2022-2023 School Year.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.

F. Consider Approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, and Boys Bowling for 2022-2023.  Hansen moved to approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with East Buchanan Community School District for Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, and Boys Bowling for 2022-2023.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

G. Consider Approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with Jesup Community School District for Girls Bowling, Girls Wrestling, Boys Soccer, and Girls Soccer for 2022-2023 – Hansen moved the approval of the Cooperative Sharing Agreement with Jesup Community School District for Girls Bowling, Girls Wrestling, Boys Soccer, and Girls Soccer for 2022-2023. Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

H. Consider Approval of the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) Membership for 2022-2023.  McCardle moved to approve the School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) Membership for 2022-2023.  Bleichner second, motion carried 5-0.

I. Consider Approval of the Allowable Growth for Negative Special Education Balance – Hansen moved to approve the Allowable Growth for Negative Special Education Balance in the amount of $23,722.65.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.

J. Discussion of the September 13th PPEL Referendum Vote – The September 13^th PPEL Vote lacked 17 votes to pass.  Supt. Reiter outlined options on how to move forward. March 7^th is the next available vote before the PPEL Referendum expires.  Supt Reiter believes that even though we asked to increase the PPEL levy by $0.27 that the overall tax rate would not increase. The Board will have a work session the first part of October to explore the PPEL vote and capital needs.    

K. Closed Session

We need a motion to recess to a 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.

McCardle moved to move into closed session. Bleichner second.  Roll call vote:   Smith-aye, Trimble-aye, Bleichner-aye, Hansen-aye, McCardle-aye.  The board recessed at 8:08 pm.  The meeting resumed at 8:15 pm.

Moved into closed session at 8:15 pm.  No official action was taken during the closed session and the session ended at 8:55 pm.

ADJOURNMENT – Hansen moved to adjourn the meeting.   McCardle second, motion carried 5-0 and the meeting adjourned at 8:56 pm.

______________________________                     _________________________

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

                                                                                     Minutes created by listening to Facebook

                                                                                     Live as Mrs.Morine was absent from meeting.