BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 6:00 PM
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM

Board Meeting Opened: 6:00 P.M.
Call to Order
Present: Directors Becker, Ludeking (via Zoom link), Nolte (via Zoom link), Stepanek, Thompson, Upah, and Werning. A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Doug Embray, Dr. Bieschke, Jason West, Rob Arnold, Anna Upah and Phil Eastman.
Recognitions
a. Retirees
 Robert Albertsen – Bus Driver – 18 Years
b. Service Awards
 Don Gibney – 46 Years
 Larry Wiebke – 60 Years
This item was completed prior to the meeting, starting at 5:30 p.m. to be more considerate of the Covid 19 context.
Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda
No additions to the agenda as presented
Open Forum
No Public Comment
Action Item #26 – Board Officers – President and VP
Board Secretary opens for nominations for Board President. Director Stepanek nominated Roy Becker to be President of the School Board, nominations ceased, motion was made by Director Stepanek and was seconded by Director Nolte.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Board Secretary Embray reads the oath of office, acknowledges affirmation by Director Becker. President Becker assumes Board leadership.
Board President Becker opens nominations for Board Vice-President. Nomination for Theresa Thompson by Matt Nolte. Nominations ceased. Motion by Nolte for Theresa Thompson as Vice-President, seconded by Director Upah.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Board Secretary Embray reads the oath of office, acknowledges affirmation by Director Thompson. Vice-President Thompson assumes role of Vice-President of the School Board.
Action Item #27 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Stepanek, second by Upah to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
August 10th Storm Damage Updates – Executive Summary: Reports Listed Below
 Storm Damage District Summary September 2020
 Storm Damage Upgrades
 Atkins Scope of Service September 2020
 Benton Scope of Service September 2020
 Keystone Scope of Service September 2020
 Norway Scope of Service September 2020
No action to this item – information only.
Action Item #28 – FY’20 Budget Amendment
Motion by Thompson, second by Stepanek to hold the Fiscal Year 2021 Benton Community
Budget Amendment Hearing at 6:00 P.M. on October 21, 2020 and the regular meeting of
the School Board at 6:00 P.M. on October 21, 2020 at the Central Administration Office
Board Room, 304 1st Street, Van Horne, IA 52346
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Motion by Upah, second by Werning to approve Budget Amendment for Fiscal ‘21 for
publication.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #29 – Special Education Deficit – Allowable Growth
Motion by Stepanek, second by Thompson to approve special education deficit for FY’20 in
the negative amount of $660,344.88
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
School Improvement Report
a. AYP report (Adequate Yearly Progress report)
b. FAST assessment – began this week – Ms. Upah, Mr. West, Mr. Eastman
Administration
a) Administration Report
No action to this item – information only.
Action Item #30 – LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES – IASB
Motion by Upah, second by Stepanek to approve the following 4 legislative priorities: School
Funding policy, supplemental state aid, bond issue and mental health.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Motion by Upah, second by Stepanek to approve Theresa Thompson as our school board
representative for Delegate Assembly
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
5Cast Update
Information shared on current training and implementation of financial and modeling
software. No action taken on this item.
Action Item #31 – Fiscal Close of FY’20
Motion by Thompson, second by Stepanek to approve the Certified Annual Report for
FY’20.
FY 20 Summary
UAB Summary FY 20
New Money Summary IASB
CAR (CERTIFIED ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT)
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #32 – Business Services
Motion by Stepanek, second by Upah to approve warrants, financial reports, and fall pay
schedule as presented.
WARRANTS
 PRELIMINARY WARRANTS
 ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
 SUMMARY OF PAID WARRANTS
o FINANCIAL REPORTS
 GENERAL FUND REPORT
 ALL FUNDS REPORT
 FALL PAY SCHEDULED – Schedule
 National Economic Update September 2020
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #33 – HANDBOOKS
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the handbooks as presented.
 K-6th Parent and Student Elementary Handbook
 Middle School/High School Staff Handbook (& elementary as specific topics apply)
 HS Course Book
 Benton Secondary Curriculum & Assessment Manual
 Benton Elementary Curriculum & Assessment Manual
 Benton Community School District Preschool Program Handbook
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #34 – Policy Review
Motion by Werning, second by Stepanek to approve the policies as reviewed and revised.
Policy 705.1 – Purchasing-Bidding
Policy 802.2 – Requests for Improvements – Delete
Policy 403.2 – Employee Injury on the Job
Policy 403.3 – Hazardous Chemical Disclosure
Policy 403.6 – Substance-Free Workplace
Policy 403.6E1 – SUBSTANCE-FREE WORKPLACE NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES FORM
Policy 403.6R1 – Substance-Free Workplace Regulation
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #35 – Consent Agenda
A. PERSONNEL – all hires are contingent on an approved background check/fingerprinting and appropriate degree and licensure.
a. Hires
 Gene Pilcher – Head Jr. High Wrestling Coach
 Lorie Kesl – Technology/Library Associate – Keystone
 Hunter Semelroth – Assistant 7th grade football coach
 Andrea Nolan – a.m. bus stop supervisor
 Mackenzie DeVries – p.m. bus stop supervisor
 Breanna Smothers – Bus Associate
 Kody DeNeve – Bus Driver
 Tiffany Moore – assistant 8th grade Volleyball
 Jill Ary – Special Ed Associate, MS/HS
b. Resignations
 Sheila Wagner – Associate, MS/HS
 Candi Benesh – Secretary, Keystone
 Gary Boddicker – Bus Driver
 Janice McLaughlin – Food Service
c. Contracts
i. Recover Health of Iowa, Inc. – nursing services for student(s) medically fragile Nurse – Anderson Gale
ii. Tanager Agreement
d. Lane Changes
i. FY’21 Lane Changes – Revised
e. Fundraisers FY21
f. Open Enrollment
i. Denied – Emmanual Dineen
g. Meeting Minutes –
i. Board Meeting Minutes – August 19 Board Meeting
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the consent agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Superintendent
a. UPDATE & REPORT
i. Superintendent leave – Nov. 23, 24
ii. COVID-19 – Update
Number of students on Tier I Hybrid remote/online learning with our teachers and our curriculum.
a. 126 students as of 9/15/20
b. Board goals – update and progress
i. GOAL #4 UPDATE: FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE GOAL – UPDATE
ii. GOAL #5 UPDATE: MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION – UPDATE
iii. IASB Convention – all online, November 10 & 17–19, 2020
Action Item # 36 – Adjournment
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to adjourn meeting at 8:06 P.M.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE