From Belle Plaine School Board Minutes

Belle Plaine, Iowa

April 10, 2019 Minutes

A public hearing and regular meeting of the Belle Plaine Community School District Board of Education was held on Wednesday, April 10, 2019 at 6:45 p.m. in the board room at Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine.

Members Present: Marie Stratford, Mike Bachelder, Brad Cook, Valerie Coffman, Rima Johnson

Members Absent: None

Administration Present: Chad Straight, Todd Werner, Heather Coover

Board Secretary Absent: Stacey Kolars

Visitors Present: Interested Patrons

Press Representative: None

The meeting was called to order by President Stratford at 6:45 p.m.

AGENDA

Motion Cook, second Bachelder to approve the agenda, with an addendum item to be added to the Business Items at #10-Discussion/Action Regarding Superintendent Contract. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

PUBLIC HEARING ON 2019-2020 BELLE PLAINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AND 2018-2019 BUDGET AMENDMENT – Superintendent Straight presented the 2019-2020 budget to the board. The current tax rate for the Belle Plaine Community School District for the 2018-2019 year is 16.31295 The proposed budget for the 2019-2020 would bring the tax rate to 16.61655.

There were no questions or comments from the public audience regarding the proposed budget for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

During the hearing, Superintendent Straight also presented the Amendment of the Current Budget to the board for the 2018-2019 fiscal year. Superintendent Straight recommended the board approve an increase in the current budget in the areas of Instruction, Total Support Services, Non-instructional Programs and Other Expenditures. Superintendent Straight explained this amendment allows for increased expenditures in the current budget, should unforeseen expenses take place. This amendment does not affect the current tax rate for the school district. There were no questions or comments from the public audience regarding the proposed budget amendment for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

APPROVAL OF THE 2019-2020 BELLE PLAINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET – After the public hearing for the 2019-2020 Belle Plaine Community School District Budget and 2018-2019 Budget Amendment took place, there was motion by Cook, second by Bachelder to approve the 2019-2020 School District Budget. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF THE 2018-2019 BELLE PLAINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AMENDMENT – After the public hearing for the 2019-2020 Belle Plaine Community School District Budget and 2018-2019 Budget Amendment took place, there was motion by Cook, second by Coffman to approve the 2018-2019 School District Budget Amendment. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS – The consent agenda items were considered. There was motion by Cook, second by Coffman to approve the consent agenda items. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried. The consent agenda items that were approved are listed below:

• Approval of the minutes of the March 20, 2019 meeting
• Approval of bills, payroll, financial statements

Personnel/Business Items

Acceptance of Resignations:

• Joanne Schminke submitted her resignation as Food Service Director
• Stew Timm submitted his resignation as Girls’ Asst. BB Coach
• Richie Puski submitted his resignation as Science Teacher.
• President Stratford thanked all those resigning for their service to the district.

PRINCIPAL REPORTS – Secondary Principal, Todd Werner and Elementary Principal, Heather Coover gave reports to the board on the following topics:

• 5th Graders trip to the symphony
• 6th Graders attended STEM activity at CC Amana
• ISASP testing began on April 3
• Thank you to Mrs. Mantz and the High School Student Council for the Egg Hunt that is being organized for the Prep K through 1st Grade Students
• Kindergarten Round-up
• 6th Graders-JH orientation
• Camp Wapsie-6th Graders
• Professional Development
• BP Freshmen Showcase-April 2

• BP/HLV Musical
• State Jazz Band-8th Place overall
• Request by Seniors – consideration of open campus during lunch for last 2 weeks of school.
• Thank you to the Belle Plaine EMTs, Sheriff Tippet, Belle Plaine Police Department, Reece Dodd and all the helpers during the mock accident that was staged for the high school students.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Superintendent Straight informed the board about the following items:

• A change order was received on the cafeteria from the asbestos removal company. New total with removing the two rooms from the project is $14,265
• Congratulations to the Jazz Band on their performance at State Jazz Band Competition. Their performance was outstanding
• The leadership team met yesterday and discussed many topics: ethics training, recently adopted state instructional framework, building projects and needs.
• The SIAC meeting went well. Topics of discussion included: Vocational programs, elementary/secondary data, Math, Reading, Science recommendations, TAP training.

COMMUNICATIONS

Congratulations were sent on behalf of the Board and Administration to Shalan and Kyle Knapke after the birth of their daughter, Genevieve.

BUSINESS ITEMS

Approval of the Employment of Personnel: There was motion by Bachelder, second by Cook to approve the following personnel:

2019-2020 TLC Mentor Teachers

• Beth Parrott
• Clara Kienitz
• Deb Maxwell
• Gina Miller
• Holly Gates
• Nathan Johnson

Elementary Teachers

• Kaylin Meck – 4th Grade
• Emily Wardenburg – 2nd Grade

All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

2. Hearing on the 2019-2020 School District Calendar – A public hearing was held on the proposed calendar for the Belle Plaine Community School District for the 2019-2020 school year. There were no questions or comments from the Public regarding the calendar.

3. Approval of the 2019-2020 School Calendar – There was motion by Cook, second by Bachelder to approve Superintendent Straight’s recommendation to approve the 2019-2020 school calendar at 180 days/1080 hours, with a start date of August 23rd, 2019 for students. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

4. Discussion/Action on Lunch Fees and Registration Fees 2019-2020 – Superintendent Straight presented the following recommendations for fees and registration for the 2019-2020 school year:

18-19 19-20

Breakfast $1.85 $1.95

Adult Breakfast $2.55 $2.65

Elem School Lunch $2.65 $2.85

Adult Lunch $3.75 $3.75

Milk $0.30 $0.30

Elem Reg. Fees $35 $35

Sec Reg. Fees $47.50 $47.50

Elem Act. Ticket $25 $25

Sec Act. Ticket $35 $35

Sec. Locker/Towel $20 $20

There was motion by Johnson, second by Coffman to approve Superintendent Straight’s recommendations for fees and registration for the 2019-2020 school year. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

5. Action/Discussion on Out-of-State Field Trip Request to Kansas City – Superintendent Straight recommended the board approve a field trip request from the music department for seniors to travel to Kansas City. Music teacher, Nathan Johnson explained he felt there were more music venue in the Kansas City area that were student appropriate, and considered it an nice opportunity for them. There was motion by Bachelder, second by Coffman to approve the field trip request to Kansas City. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

6. Action/Discussion on Library and Furniture Contract with ISG for Library – Superintendent Straight recommended the board move forward with remodeling portions of the library/media center at the junior/senior high school this summer, as well as accepting a contract from ISG Architects to purchase the furniture for the library. The board was presented information regarding a quote for the architect’s fee to assist the district in the bidding process for the media center furniture. The quoted fee for this bidding process was $5,440. The architect estimated that furniture costs would be approximately $64,000 for the media center. Drawings were also provided to the board for their review. Discussion took place regarding initial plans for the remodel project. After discussion, there was motion by Cook, second by Bachelder to approve accepting a contract with ISG Architects to bid out the furniture purchases for the media center for the quoted fee of $5,440. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

7. Action/Discussion on Cafeteria Furniture Bids – Superintendent Straight presented a tabulated bill listing from ISG Architects for the cafeteria. Superintendent Straight stated the architect felt that prices for purchasing furniture at this point would be beneficial, and that storage of the furniture would not be an issue. Bids were received from four companies: Education Environments-$7,384.67; Kirk Gross Company-$8,071.22; Premier Furniture-$15,828.20; Storey Kenworthy-$27,066.30. After review of the bids and a brief discussion, there was motion by Bachelder, second by Cook to approve Education Environments bid of $7,384.37 for furniture for the cafeteria. All voted, “aye” Motion carried.

8. Action/Discussion on Changing HS Band and HS Choir Extra-Curricular Pay – Superintendent Straight recommended the board approve the addition of a total of $5,000 to the high school band and choir extra-curricular pay ($2,500 per contract). Superintendent Straight explained that these positions had been decreased in the past because of low numbers of students participating. In recent years, the numbers have increased significantly. This increase would be in addition to the base pay, and would not be added to the salary schedule, but would be included in the handbook. There was motion by Cook, second by Coffman to approve the addition of $2,500 to both the high school band and high school choir extra-curricular pay for a total increase of $5,000. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

Closed Session: Superintendent Evaluation 21.5 (1)(i): “i. To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.”

The board went into closed session at 7:28 p.m. for the evaluation of the Superintendent per Superintendent Straight’s written request.

The board came out of closed session at 9:37 p.m.

9. Action/Discussion on Superintendent Contract – There was motion by Cook, second by Bachelder to approve a three year contract for the superintendent, and a total package raise for the 2019-2020 year equal to the total package raise approved for the non-union employees and administrators (2.53%). All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

There was motion by Cook, second by Coffman to adjourn the meeting at 9:38 p.m. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

Marie Stratford, President

Stacey Kolars, Board Secretary