January 08, 2020

A meeting of the Belle Plaine Community School District Board of Education was held on Wednesday, January 08, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine.

Members Present: Val Coffman, Rima Johnson, Ben Reineke, Alicia Jacobi

Members Absent: Stephen Beck

Administration Present: Chad Straight, Heather Coover, Todd Werner

Board Secretary Present: Stacey Kolars

Visitors Present: Interested Patrons

Press Representative: None

The meeting was called to order by President Coffman at 6:30 p.m.

AGENDA

Motion Reineke, second Johnson to approve the agenda with the exception of omitting Old Business Item #3 regarding discussion of parking at Longfellow. This item will be placed on a future agenda. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS

The consent agenda items were considered. There was motion by Johnson, second by Jacobi to approve the consent agenda items. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried. The consent agenda items that were approved are listed below:

1. Approval of the minutes of the December 11, 2019 meeting, and the December 18, 2019 special board meeting.
2. Approval of bills and financial statements.
3. Personnel/Business Items:
4. Acceptance of the resignations: Kristen Hartz resigned as assistant softball coach.

PRINCIPAL REPORTS-Secondary Principal, Todd Werner and Elementary Principal, Heather Coover gave their respective reports to the board.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Superintendent Straight gave his report to the board

COMMUNICATIONS

There were no communications.

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

1. Action/Discussion on Solon Board Workshop by IASB-Discussion took place regarding the upcoming board workshop at Solon. No action was taken on this item.

2. Action/Discussion on January Board Workshop-Discussion took place regarding the January 14, 2020 board workshop to tour the facilities and discuss PPEL/SAVE budget/goals. No action was taken on this item.

3. Discussion of Longfellow Parking –This item was omitted from the agenda and will be placed on a future agenda.

4. Discussion of January 30, 2020 Board Workshop-

Discussion took place regarding transportation and attendance to the January 30, 2020 board workshop and legislative forum in Brooklyn, IA.

BUSINESS ITEMS

1. Approval of Employment of Personnel-No action was taken on this item.

2. Approval of Second Reading of Board Policies 600-602-4-

Discussion took place regarding changes to board policies 600-602.4. There was motion by Reineke, second by Johnson to approve the second reading with the changes as discussed. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

3. Action/Discussion of Placement of Elementary Sign-Superintendent Straight informed the board the new signs arrived last week. Superintendent Straight recommended the placement of the Longfellow sign needs to face traffic as it comes toward Longfellow so the sign itself will be viewable from the highway as people pass. Superintendent Straight also recommended the tree in front of the school be cut down, as it has died and will impede the placement of the new sign. There was motion by Reineke, second by Jacobi to place the new sign perpendicular to the school so it may be seen from the highway, as well as to remove the dead tree in front of Longfellow. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

4. Approval of Resolution/Application to SBRC for Modified Supplemental Amount for Drop-Out Prevention Funds –There was motion by Jacobi, second by Johnson to approve the application to the SBRC for Modified Supplemental funding for Drop-Out Prevention in the amount of $143,275. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

5. Action/Discussion on Early Retirement Plan-Superintendent Straight presented information to the board regarding the Early Retirement Plan from 2018-2019. After discussion, there was motion by Reineke not to offer the early retirement benefit plan for the 2019-2020 school year. Motion died for lack of a second. No other motion was proposed. The board will discuss the early retirement plan at a future meeting. No action was taken on this item.

Future agenda items discussed were: February 12^th, 2020 agenda items. Possible workshop on February 26, 2020 regarding academic goals.

There was motion by Jacobi, second by Reineke to adjourn the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

January 14, 2020

A special meeting of the Belle Plaine Community School District Board of Education was held on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine.

Members Present: Val Coffman, Rima Johnson, Ben Reineke, Alicia Jacobi, Stephen Beck

Members Absent: None

Administration Present: Chad Straight

Board Secretary Present: Stacey Kolars

Visitors Present: None

Press Representative: None

The board toured the Lincoln Junior High Building and the Jr/Sr High School prior to the special meeting.

The meeting was called to order by President Coffman at 6:30 p.m.

AGENDA

Motion Reineke, second Johnson to approve the agenda. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

BUSINESS ITEMS

1. Action/Discussion on Bids for the Cafeteria Improvement Project-Superintendent Straight presented five bids that were received for the cafeteria improvement project. The bids were as follows:

• Don Gardner Construction, Waterloo, IA-Total bid with alternates: $296,404
• Garling Construction, Belle Plaine, IA-Total bid with alternates: $287,500
• Huff Contracting, Waterloo, IA-Total bid with alternates: $318,939
• LEJAS Corporation, Tempe, AZ-Total bid with alternates: $399,389
• Peak Construction Group, Inc., North Liberty, IA-Total bid with alternates-$347,300

After review and discussion there was motion by Beck, second by Jacobi to approve the base bid with the alternates from Garling Construction. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

Future agenda items discussed were: February 12^th, 2020 agenda items- discussion regarding parking at Longfellow, shared librarian position, 6^th grade class to junior high location.

There was motion by Reineke, second by Johnson to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 p.m.

A board workshop was held after the meeting was adjourned. Topics discussed were PPEL/SAVE priorities.

Val Coffman, Board President Stacey Kolars, Board Secretary