BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 6:00 PM
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM
President Becker 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.
Regular Meeting
1. Call to Order: 6:01 P.M:
Present: Directors Becker, Ludeking (Zoom), Nolte (Zoom), Stepanek (Zoom), Thompson, Upah (Zoom), and Werning (Zoom). A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, Doug Embray, Zoom Attendance: Anna Upah, Jason West, Tim Lyons Ryan Junge, Shawn Pfiffner, Phil Eastman, Dawn Driscoll, Tom Gerhold, and Tyler Maschino.
2. Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda
No action
3. Open Forum
No Public Comment
Senator Elect Dawn Driscoll and Representative Tom Gerhold joined via Zoom. Topics of discussion included goals for upcoming legislative session, mental health supports, transportation equity, increasing the budget for education, bond referendum timelines, highway 30 intersection (Blairstown corner), and school vouchers.
4. Action Item #45 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
5. Motion #46, Bus Bids
Motion by Stepanek, second by Upah to buy three 77 passenger buses from Hoglund Bus and one lift bus from School Bus Sales for a total purchase price of $458,187 to be funded from Fund 33, SAVE Capital Projects.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
6. Motion #47, SBRC Adjustment Request
Motion by Nolte, second by Stepanek to approve the SBRC application for supplemental weighted dollars as presented. Enrollment Out, and LEP Instruction Beyond 5 Years
SBRC REQUEST – $150,083.68
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
7. Early Retirement Plan – Review
No action, review only.
8. Action Item #48 Covid-19 Status
a. State Waiver Approved for Online Learning
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the school district to move to online remote learning from Nov. 11 – Nov. 18 with the option for the superintendent to determine continued online remote learning until Nov. 29, with a return date of Nov. 30 or Dec. 1, depending upon staffing shortages and student absences due to Covid-19 related situations.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
9. Action Item #49 – August 10th Storm Damage
Motion by Stepanek, second by Nolte to proceed with Option #1, Purchase/Construction and Restoration of the stadium press box to 500 square feet and to explore the resources provided by FEMA for future improvement considerations.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
10. School Improvement Report
No action. Student services program attributes shared by Ryan Junge and Phil Eastman.
11. ADMINISTRATION
No Action. Superintendent Ewell shared enrollment data and charts.
Administration Report
Superintendent – Enrollment report
Enrollment data and charts
Kdg. – 6th Elementary class enrollment trend
12. Action Item #50, Business Services
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
13. Action Item #51Consent Agenda
A. Personnel – All hires are contingent on an approved back ground check/fingerprinting and appropriate degrees.
I. Hires
a. Jacob Reid – Assistant MS Wrestling Coach – Recommendation
b. Hudson Johnston – Jr. High Boys Track Coach – Recommendation
II. Contracts
a. Kal Goodchild – Driver’s Ed Contract
III. Meeting Minutes
b. Board Meeting Minutes – 10-21-20 Board Meeting Minutes
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the consent agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
14. Superintendent
A. Update and Report
i. Enrollment update, more charts and trends
ii. Covid-19 Update
1. Dashboard created
iii. Tier 1 Hybrid online learning with our teachers and curriculum
1. # of student on Tier I Hybrid – Each Admin. Will Report
IV. IASB Convention Schedule
B. Board Goals – update and Progress
i. Goal #4 Update: Facilities & Infrastructure Goal – Update
1. OPN listening sessions with staff Nov. 10 & 11
2. Dec. 9, 6:00 p.m. – Committee meeting, will be held virtual on Zoom
3. 5Maps Update
a. Monday, Nov. 9 – Learning session with mayors and other community leaders.
b. Examples from 5Maps – data I’m currently working on, more to come.
i. General data – Numbers of students in and out of district by area
1. Map #1
2. Map #2
ii. Goal #5 Update: Marketing and Customer Satisfaction – Update
1. MS/HS Wall Signage
2. Central Office Door Signage
3. Central Office Building Signage
4. Promotional Booklet in progress
5. Promotional Video book in progress – will be shared with realtors and developers.
13. Action Item #52 Adjournment – 8:46 P.M.
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to adjourn.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
