BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, Monday, April 13, 2020, 6:00 PM
BENTON COMMUNITY CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE BOARD ROOM
304 1ST STREET, VAN HORNE, IOWA 52346Board Meeting Opened: 6:00 P.M. Meeting was held both at the Central Administration office and electronically with a call to order by President Pat Stepanek.
Pres. Stepanek announcement: This meeting is held electronically as per Iowa Code
Section 21.8 which permits a governmental body to conduct a meeting by electronic
means. Public access will be provided to the extent reasonably possible. The notice of
the meeting on our school website indicating the “place from which the communication
originates and where/how public access is provided to the conversation”, and meeting
minutes will be kept. To receive the audio link, please follow the directions outlined on
the front page of our website at http://www.benton.k12.ia.us
2020-21 Budget Hearing
Open at 6:03
Hearing ends at 6:04
No action taken, no public comment.
FY 2020 Budget Amendment
Open at 6:05
Hearing ends at 6:06
No action taken, no public comment.

Call to Order:
Present: Directors Stepanek, Becker (6:20), Upah, Ludeking, Thompson, Werning, and
Nolte. Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Doug Embray, and Dr. Bieschke.

Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda
Add to agenda – Volunteer Softball Coaches

Action Item #145 – Certified Budget
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the 2020-21 Certified Annual Budget as
presented.Roll Call Vote: Stepanek, Upah, Ludeking, Thompson, Werning and Nolte.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item#146 – FY 2020 Budget Amendment
Motion by Thompson, second by Ludeking to approve the FY’20 Budget Amendment as
presented. Roll Call Vote: Stepanek, Upah, Ludeking, Thompson, Werning, Nolte.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Open Forum – No public Comment

Action #147 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action #148 – Pandemic Resolution
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the Pandemic Resolution effective
through April 30, 2020.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action #149 – Continuous Learning Plan During Closure – Until April 30, 2020
a. VOLUNTARY EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES – VIRTUAL
LEARNING PLAN
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the virtual learning plan as a fluid
document to add, revise, on a daily basis and place trust in Dr. Ewell and Administrative
Team to exploit, add, and update as they see fit no later than the next regularly
scheduled board meeting.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Pandemic Plan and Reopening Plan – Draft
No action – for information only

Action Item #150 – Business Services
The Board will review and consider the following warrants and financial reports.
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the Business Services warrants and
reports as presented.
a. WARRANTS
i. PRELIMINARY WARRANTS
ii. ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
iii. SUMMARY OF PAID WARRANTS
b. FINANCIAL REPORTS
i. GENERAL FUND REPORT
ii. ALL FUNDS REPORT
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Page 3– April 13, 2020

Action Item #151 – District Developed Service Delivery Plan (DDSDP)
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the Benton Community District Developed
Service Delivery Plan as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #152 – Policy Review
The Board will review and consider revisions to the following policies:
a. School Facilities Use policies
b. School Volunteer policies
c. Policy 210.2 – Regular Board Meeting
d. Policy 404.2 – School Volunteers
e. Policy 404.2R1 – School Volunteers
f. Policy 404.2E1 – Volunteer Disclosure Statement
g. Policy 404.2E2 – School Volunteer Letter
h. Policy 404.2E3 – School Volunteer Record Check Request
Policy 404.2E4 – School Volunteer Letter Two
Motion by Becker, second by Thompson to approve the policy revisions as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action #153 Out of State Trip
Postponement Option
Motion by Ludeking, second by Nolte to approve the option for the trip to Spain to be
postponed until June of 2021.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action #154 – Consent Agenda
The Board will review and consider the approval of all Consent Agenda items.
PERSONNEL – all hires are contingent on an approved background check/fingerprinting
and appropriate degree and licensure.
i. Hires

Emma Cochrane – Secondary Social Studies

• Jacob Reid – Secondary Industrial Technology
• Melissa Barnard – Secondary Secretary – Building/Admin. & Guidance
• Taylor Dengler – 7-8th Vocal Music, Assistant Show Choir, MS Show Choir
• Larry Carlson – Teacher Leadership – Instructional Coach

Data Team Leaders
a. Emily Bishop – Elementary Counselor Data Team Leader
b. Kayla Hahn – 1st/3rd Grade Atkins Elementary Data Team Leader
c. Rachel Kruse – 1st/3rd Grade Atkins Elementary Data Team Leader
d. Levi Montague – 5th Grade Norway Intermediate Data Team Leader
e. Alyssa Schmuecker – Music Data Team Leader
f. Carolyn Spading – AK/Kindergarten Atkins Elementary Data Team Leader
g. Emilie Trumpold – 4th Grade Norway Intermediate Data Team Leader

Erin Janss, Bowling Coach

Assistant Volunteer Softball Coaches
ii. Tiffany Moore
iii. -Angie Gorkow
iv. -Matt Miner
v. -Anna Stenberg
vi. Resignations

• Rayne Hoey – Secondary Science
• Sean Bredl – Science
• Seth Meyne – Industrial Tech.
• Blair Brown – 7th Gr. English/LA & Sr. English Instructor
• Larry Carlson – Middle School Math

vii. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – March Board Meeting Minutes

Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the consent agenda as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Superintendent
A. Updates

Action Item #155 – EXEMPT SESSION, NON-ORGANIZED EMPLOYEES as per
Iowa Code Section 21.22(8.3)
a. Motion: Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the FY21 employee
wages and salaries as presented:
i. Transportation
$2.40 increase route pay
$.25 hourly increase shuttle routes, (not incl. Preschool route)
ii. Mechanic & Warehouse worker
$.40 hourly increase on hourly wage
iii. Food Service
$.37 hourly increase on hourly wage
iv. Maintenance/Custodial
$.25 increase on hourly wage
$100 Shirt allowance – directed by Custodial Managers
v. Associates
$.30 increase on hourly wage
vi. Building Secretarial
$.40 increase on hourly wage
vii. District Secretary positions
$.43 hourly increase
Karen Lough – base salary $40,000
Melisa Venneman – base salary $40,000
viii. Health Care Professional
.40 hourly increase
ix. Mechanic
$.40 hourly increase
x. Directors
$1,500 merit increase
Add – Dawn Morris – Director – Food Service – base salary $40,000
Add – Melody Spence – Director District Office – base salary $50,000
xi. Administration – as per merit and promotion/job changes/add’t duties
Rob Arnold – $6,000
James Bieschke – $2,000
Phillip Eastman – $4,000
Doug Embray – $0
Ryan Junge – $2,000
Shawn Pfiffner – $2,600
Anna Upah – $6,000
Jason West – $2,000
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the wages as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #156 – Adjournment – 9:46 p.m.
Motion by Upah, second by Nolte to adjourn Board Meeting.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE