BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA 

BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, Wednesday, December 18, 2019, 6:00 PM 

BENTON COMMUNITY CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE BOARD ROOM 

304 1ST STREET, VAN HORNE, IOWA 52346 

1. Board Meeting Opened: 6:00 P.M. with a call to order by Board President Pat Stepanek. 

Present: Directors Becker, Reinhardt (left meeting at 6:10 p.m.), Ludeking, Stepanek, Thompson and Upah. 

ABSENT: Directors Ludeking and Nolte. 

Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Doug Embray, Dr. Bieschke, Anna Upah, Jason West and Phil Eastman 

A quorum was declared present. 

2. Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda: 

Dr. Ewell noted updated change for legislative coffee for the board now being rescheduled to January 6, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., Central Office Board Room. 

3. Approval of Agenda: 

Action #85 Approval of Agenda 

Motion by Becker, second by Thompson to approve agenda. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

4. Recognition: 

President Stepanek recognized Director Reinhardt for his service to the Benton Community School District and for his years of service to the Benton Community School Board with the presentation of a plaque and event pass. 

Action #86 Resignation 

Dr. Ewell recommended accepting Wayne Reinhardt’s, Board Director 6’s resignation as presented and directed the Board Secretary to publish the notice in the Cedar Valley Times of the board’s intent to fill the vacancy by appointment pursuant to Iowa Code 279.6 

Motion by Becker, second by Upah to accept Wayne Reinhardt, Board Director 6’s, resignation as presented and to direct the Board Secretary to publish the notice in the Cedar Valley Times of the Board’s intent to fill the vacancy by appointment pursuant to Iowa Code 279.65. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

5. State Representatives 

Item moved to January 6, 2020 to Central Office Board Room to start at 10:00 a.m. 

6. Open Forum 

No Public Comment 

7. Food Service Department Mid-Year Report 

Item moved to January 15, 2020 regular board meeting. 

8. Student Testing and Assessments 

Counselor presentations – Assessment and Testing information. 

Item moved to January 15, 2020 regular board meeting. 

9. School Improvement 

Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) Information 

Item moved to January 15, 2020 regular board meeting. 

10. EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS: 

Action #87 Dr. Ewell & Dr. Bieschke recommended acceptance of the request for early graduation as presented – Anna Thompson. 

Motion by Thompson, second by Becker to accept early graduation request as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

11. High School Course Guide for 2020-21 

Action #88 HIGH SCHOOL COURSE GUIDE FOR 2020-21 

a. Course revisions 

b. Dr. Ewell, Ms. Upah, & Dr. Bieschke recommended acceptance of the High School Course Guide for 2020-21 as presented. 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to accept High School Course Guide for Fiscal 21 as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

12. ADMINISTRATION REPORT 

a. Administration Report 

b. ISASP Results 

c. Stephanie’s Journey 

Items moved to January 15, 2020 regular board meeting. 

13. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY EXTENSION 

Dr. Ewell recommended setting the date of January 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. for the public hearing for the Benton Community School District’s Resolution to participate in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.21. ISL data handout 

a. RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO PARTICIPATE 

b. SET PUBLIC HEARING DATE 

Action #89 Instructional Support Levy Extension 

Motion by Becker, second by Thompson to set public hearing for ISL, Instructional Support Levy for January 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. for the public hearing for the Benton Community School District’s Resolution to participate in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.21. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

14. BUSINESS SERVICES 

Action #90 Preliminary Warrants 

Doug Embray reported on the following and Dr. Ewell and Mr. Embray recommended approval of the Financial Reports as presented: 

PRELIMINARY WARRANTS 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve warrants as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Action #91 Financial Reports 

1. GENERAL FUND REPORT 

2. ALL FUNDS REPORT 

Motion by Thompson, second by Becker to accept financial reports as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

15. FACILITIES 

Dr. Ewell and Doug Embray recommended a review of RFP’s 

No action on this item. Moved to January 8, 2020 work session to start at 6:00 P.M. 

EARLY RETIREMENT ACCEPTANCE 

Action #92 Early Retirement Acceptance 

Dr. Ewell recommended accepting the retirement request as presented. 

 Jane Svestka – Director, Food Service Program – Year 1, FY’20 

Directors discussed the exemplary performance of the District’s Food Service Program and commended Director of Food Service Jane Svestka for her dedication to the duty assignments and responsibilities. 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to accept Jane Svestka’s resignation and acceptance of early retirement. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

16. POLICY 

a. Dr. Ewell recommended review and revisions of the following policies as presented. 

Action #93 Policy Review 

 Policy 101 – Legal Status of the School District 

 Policy 102 & 102.R1- Long-Range Needs Assessments 

 Policy 905.4 105 – Tobacco/Nicotine-Free Environment 

 Policy 200.2 – Benton Community School District 

 Policy 202.4 – Board Vacancies 

 Policy 203 – Conflict of Interest 

 Policy 204 – Code of Ethics 

 Policy 205.1 – Board Member Liability 

 Policy 206.1 – President 

 Policy 206.2 – Vice President 

 Policy 208.1 – Temporary Committees of the Board AD HOC COMMITTEES 

 Policy 300 – Role of School District Administration 

 Policy 302.1 – Superintendent-Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment 

 Policy 302.6 – Superintendent Professional Development 

 Policy 302.7 – Superintendent Civic Activities 

 Policy 303.2 – Administrator Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointments 

 Policy 401.3 – Nepotism 

 Policy 401.6 – Personnel Relations to Administration and to the Board 

 Policy 704.6 – Gifts, Grants and Bequests 

 Policy 920 – Naming of District Facilities and Events – NEW SAMPLE POLICY 

 Example policy – from Urbandale – Naming of District Facilities and Events 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to table board policy action to January 15, 2020 regular board meeting. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

17. CONSENT AGENDA 

Action #94 Consent Agenda 

a. Dr. Ewell recommended that the approval of the entire consent agenda. Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to accept consent agenda as presented with the exception of item #4 Facilities Use Request to discuss separately of consent agenda. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

b. CONSENT AGENDA 

Personnel 

1. HIRES 

a. Miranda Bistline – Special Education Associate, Keystone Center 

b. Kayla Schrader – Special Education Associate, Atkins Center 

c. Lisa Ward – Early Childhood Special Education, Atkins Center 

2. RESIGNATIONS 

a. Wendy Plotz 

b. Tina Vogt 

c. Holly Kimm 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

a. 11-25-19 Minutes 

4. FACILITY USE REQUESTS 

Action #95 Request for Usage 

Motion by Thompson, second by Becker to table discussion and approval considerations for facility use to the regular January 15, 2020 board meeting. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

18. UPCOMING EVENTS – information only 

a. Superintendent information 

 Work Session – Jan. 8, at 6:00 p.m. 

 Next Regular meeting – January 15, 2019 

b. AT-RISK/DROP OUT – January meeting 

c. CENSUS – PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATIONS WITH SCHOOLS 

 STATE OF IOWA INFORMATION 

19. ADJOURNMENT 

Action #96 Adjournment 

Motion by Becker, second by Thompson to adjourn meeting. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.