Board Minutes - 2024.04.15 Public Hearing/Reg Meeting

  

Independence Community School Board Meeting

Public Hearing and Regular Meeting

April 15, 2024            

PUBLIC HEARING

A public hearing for the Independence Community School District Property Tax Levy Fiscal Year July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 and the Budget Amendment for the FY23-24, at 6:00 pm at the Administration Office, 1207 1st St West, Independence, Iowa on April 15, 2024. Board members present: Kim Hansen, Gina Trimble, Charlie McCardle, Audrey Hill and Mitch Barnett.  Also attending Supt. Phillips and Board Secretary Morine, Principals: Kleman, Hupke, Reed and Reidy, Directors: Burmeister, Putz, O’Brien and Noyes. Also, four community members and teacher Maddie Wegmann.  There were no public comments and the public hearing ended at 6:04 pm. 

REGULAR MEETING

The regular meeting of the Independence Community School Board was called to order by President Kim Hansen at 6:04 pm at the Administration Office, 1207 1st St West, Independence, Iowa on April 15, 2024. Board members present: Kim Hansen, Gina Trimble, Charlie McCardle, Audrey Hill and Mitch Barnett.  Also attending Supt. Phillips and Board Secretary Morine, Principals: Kleman, Hupke, Reed and Reidy, Directors: Burmeister, Putz, O’Brien and Noyes. Also, four community members and teacher Maddie Wegmann. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

AGENDA – McCardle moved to approve the agenda. Barnett second, motion carried 5-0.

CONSIDERATION OF ACTION ON CONSENT ITEMS - Motion by Hill, second by Trimble to approve the consent items.  Motion carried 5-0.  Thank you and best wishes to the retirees and those moving on.  We appreciate your dedicated service to our students and the district.   

        A. Approval of the minutes of the public hearing and regular meeting on March 18, 2024, the public hearing and special meeting on March 25, 2024, and the public meetings on April 9, 2024.

        B. Approval of Board Policies (*changes noted)

Second Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

501.11*

Student Release During School Hours

2.

501.12*

Pregnant Students

3.

Delete Policy

501.13

Married Students

 

4.

501.14*

Students of Legal Age

5.

501.15*

Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Sending District

6.

501.16

Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Receiving District

7.

501.17

Homeless Children and Youth

8.

Delete Policy

501.18

Student Work Permits

9.

502.01*

Student Appearance

10.

502.02*

Care of School Property/Vandalism

11.

Delete Policy

502.03

Use of Bicycles

12.

502.04*

Use of Motor Vehicles

 

First Readings:

 

POLICY #

POLICY NAME

1.

502.05* and 505.05R1

Student Expression and Student Publications and Student Expression and Student Publications Code

2.

502.06

Student Complaints and Grievances

3.

502.07

Student Lockers

4.

502.08

Weapons

5.

502.10*, 502.10E1, and 502.10R1*

Search and Seizure, Search and Seizure Checklist, and Search and Seizure Regulation

6.

502.11

Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies

7.

503.03, 503.03E1, and 503.03R1

Fines – Fees – Charges, Fee Waiver Application, and Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures

8.

504.01*

Student Government

9.

504.02*

Student Organizations

10.

504.04*

Student Social Events

11.

504.05

Student Performances

12.

504.08

Student Activity Program

 

 

 

 

 

C. Approval of Resignations

 

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

DATE

Garry Anderson

JSH JH Girls Wrestling Coach

04/08/2024

Kaitlyn Craft

East Elem Special Ed Teacher

06/04/2024

Brenda Hearn

JSH JH Volleyball Coach

04/04/2024

Gina Homan

JSH .5 FTE Large Group Speech Director

04/02/2024

Marsha Lehs

Bus Garage 4.5 hr Bus Para

03/14/2024

Valerie Maximovich

District Volunteer Mentor Coordinator

05/31/2024

Kathy Meyer

East Elem Kindergarten Teacher

05/31/2024

 

 

 

 

         D. Approval of Transfers/Reassignments/Changes

NAME

PREVIOUS ASSIGNMENT

NEW ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Susan Gonterman

West Elem 6.75 hr Special Ed Para

West Elem 7.0 hr Behavior Interventionist Para

$17.85/hr

04/08/2024

Ashley Nehl

West Elem 7.0 hr Special Ed Para

West Elem 7.25 hr Special Ed Para

$14.55/hr

04/08/2024

 

 

 

 

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

NAME

ASSIGNMENT

SALARY

DATE

Amber Ciesielski

West Elem 7.0 hr Special Ed Para

$14.10/hr

04/08/2024

 

          F. Approval of Financial Reports

              1.  Bills – Director McCardle reviewed the bills – Barnett will review in May

              2.  Budget Report

         G. Grants

              1.  Subaward Agreement Between Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency   

          Management and Independence Community School District

 

         H. Approval of Change Order (CO) #2 Bid Form 1 and 2 for Independence CSD 2024 Baseball Field Improvements

ANNOUNCEMENTS, COMMUNICATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

  1. Comments from the Public - none.

 

     B. Presentations

          1.  District Website – Technology Director Noyes announced the district’s new website would be live on Tuesday, April 16th.  The website is the same address:  https://www.indeek12.org.  Thank you to Fusion Forward for there assistance in developing the new website. The focus of the new website is the ability to navigate it easily and have a community focus. Noyes also announced that school registration will open July 13, 2024 at 6:00 am.  

 

     C. Comments from the Board/Superintendent -The board members gave their reports and they have been busy with school activities and meetings. The IASB Summit on Student Success will be held June 11, 2024 for the board members to attend if possible. The board recognized the retirees for their years of service to the district and wish them well in retirement.  Superintendent Phillips announced that there would be a new awards and recognition event to recognize students for their achievements and awards that would not be included in the Dollars for Scholars event.  This event will be held before Baccalaureate on April 15th.  If there are awards from the community, churches or other activities that should be recognized, please contact JHS Principal Kleman.

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

          5.  Director of Buildings & Grounds Report*

          6.  Director of Transportation Report

OLD BUSINESS

      A. Discussion of Final Fiscal Year 2022 Audit

President Hansen excused the administrators and directors.

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Consider Approval of the Amended 2023-2024 Certified Budget. - Trimble moved to approve the Amended 2023-2024 Certified Budget.  Hill second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Proposed 2024-2025 Certified Budget. - Trimble moved to approve the Proposed 2024-2025 Certified Budget.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.  Morine reviewed the FY24-25 Budget with the board. The tax rate for FY24-25 did decrease slightly.
  1. Consider Approval of the Independence Community School District Graduate Candidates       for May 2024. - Trimble moved to approve the Independence Community School District Graduate Candidates for May 2024.  McCardle second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Travel Request Form - May 2024: Maddie Wegmann and the Thespian Troupe to Rock Island, IL. - McCardle moved to approve the Travel Request Form – May 2024. Second by Barnett. Maddie Wegmann presented on the activities of the new Thespian Troupe. Motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Renewal of the Letter of Continuation of the Iowa Department of Human Services Buchanan County Juvenile Court School Coach Contract #JUV-24-SB-1-002 #1 Amendment from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. - Trimble moved to renew the Letter of Continuation of the Iowa Department of Human Services Buchanan County Juvenile Court School Coach Contract #JUV-24-SB-1-002 #1 Amendment from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.  Hill second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Iowa College and Career Transition Counselor (CCTC) Initiative Shared Personnel Agreement between Independence Community School District and Hawkeye Community College. - McCardle moved to approve the Iowa College and Career Transition Counselor (CCTC) Initiative Shared Personnel Agreement between Independence Community School District and Hawkeye Community College.  Trimble second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Work-Based Learning Coordinator Contract between Central Rivers Area Education Agency and Independence Community School District. - Trimble moved to approve the Work-Based Learning Coordinator Contract between Central Rivers Area Education Agency and Independence Community School District.  Barnett second, motion carried 5-0.
  1. Consider Approval of the Agreement with CrisisGo for Safety iResponse with Mapping as the Crisis Preparation and Response Platform for ICSD.  - Hill moved to approve the Agreement with CrisisGo for Safety iResponse with Mapping as the Crisis Preparation and Response Platform for ICSD.  Barnett second, motion carried 5-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT – McCardle moved to adjourn the meeting.  Barnett second, motion carried 5-0 and the regular meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm.

EXEMPT SESSION – Negotiations Strategies

The board entered an exempt session to discuss negotiation strategies immediately after the special meeting. There were no official business transactions.  The exempt session ended at 9:23 pm.

Respectfully Submitted:

______________________________________      _____________________________________

Kim Hansen, Board President                                  Laura Morine, Board Secretary