BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 6:00 PM
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM

Regular Meeting

Call to Order: 6:02 P.M:
Present: Meeting was called to order by President Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Stepanek,
Thompson, Upah, and Werning. A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, Doug Embray, Jason West, Shawn Pfiffner, Anna
Upah, Ryan Junge, Rob Arnold and Tim Lyons.

Action Item # 121 – Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional
Items for the Agenda
Dr. Ewell presented an additional item for consideration for the consent agenda. A request
to add the invoice from the Benton County Sheriff’s Department for our SRO, Tyler Brandt
in the amount of $69,768.54.
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve additional billing from the Sheriff’s
Department.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Open Forum – No public comment.

Action Item #122 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Nolte, second by Ludeking to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #123 – SBO and Board Secretary – Oath of Office
Dr. Bieschke was appointed at the May Meeting and was sworn into office today as the
official SBO and Board Secretary by Doug Embray. In addition, $50,000 bond approved in
June for EMC for Board Secretary liability (errors and omissions).
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the School Business Official position and
Board Secretary appointment, as well as the $50,000 bond with EMC for Dr. James
Bieschke for the school year beginning July 1, 2021.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #124 – Registration Fees
The Board analyzed annual expenditures vs. revenue for annual school fees. Fees will increase by $7 for book/technology fees at the elementary, $5 increase for MS/HS. Convenience fee for online payments is included in this increase. In addition, the activity card fee was increased by $5. These fees fall within the range of other schools in our area.
FY22 REGISTRATION PRICES
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the 2021-2022 registration fees.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #125 – Meal Prices
Benton Community Schools Food Service will operate under the Seamless Summer Option Program (SSO) for 2021-2022. This allows meals to be served to students at no cost through June 2022.
Motion by Upah, second by Werning to approve the Benton Community School Food Service Program to operate under the Seamless Summer Option for the 2021-2022 school year.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #126 – Handbooks
a. ALL EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK
i. Middle School/High School Staff Handbook (& elementary as specific topics apply)
ii. (will be included with All Employee Handbook)
b. 2021-2022 BC Elementary Parent & Student Handbook – K-6th
c. 2021-2022 MS/HS Student Handbook
revisions (Primarily Name Changes)
d. HS Course Handbook
e. Preschool Handbook Fee for 3-year old Preschool is currently $130, change fee to $135.
f. 2021-2022 Activities Handbook revisions
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve handbooks with revisions presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #127 – Band/Choir Trip – Spring 2022
The band and vocal departments are seeking approval to depart on June 6, 2022 and return on June 13, 2022 for their New York trip. The itinerary is not yet finalized, but will be consistent with past trips.
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the June 6 start date for the Band/Choir trip for FY’22.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #128 – Disposal of Obsolete Equipment Items to sell:
a. Used playground mulch, used rubber tiles, used playground edging/curbs.
b. Other – classroom materials/books, possibly old furniture.
c. Resolution and public hearing to sell used cargo trailer/concession stand
Motion by Ludeking, second by Nolte to approve the sale of obsolete equipment and materials as per policy.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #129 – ESSER III Update and Plan
Current plan.
ESSER III funds (one-time grant funds) – June 1, 2021 – June 30, 2023
a. ESSER III PLAN – FY22, FY23 TO BE DETERMINED (Pending any grant funds remaining)
b. Learning Loss
i. Summer literacy and reading program K-6 – IN PROGRESS
ii. Pandemic Recovery Instructors – Learning loss/acceleration of learning – IN PROGRESS
c. Other – anticipated approved uses for grant funds
i. Online Virtual Academy – Success Center – will be deployed in the fall
ii. Tanager – increase therapist position to 2.0 – IN PROGRESS
iii. Professional development – Staff, learning acceleration, understanding needs of our students, Iowa Youth Mental Health First Aid Health training, counselor training, suicide prevention
iv. Therapy Dog(s) – IN PROGRESS
v. Telephone system – DEPLOYED SUMMER 2021
vi. Bus monitoring systems – IN PROGRESS
vii. Food Service Vehicle/Van to deliver meals
viii. Laptops/ chrome books, iPads for students – COMPLETED – in use this coming school year
ix. Online learning software, LMS, apps, hotspots, communication with staff, parents, students
Motion by Ludeking, second by Thompson to apply and implement all current ESSR III grant initiatives and seek to input per grant regulations.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

School Improvement Report
Dr. Ewell and Dr. Bieschke provided an update to the Board regarding the work of the FSAC Committee.
Committee Generated master plan ideas
June 9, 2021 FSAC committee meeting
Possible Funding scenarios
Update on new hires and transfers
Update only – no action taken.
Administration
Administration Report
Facilities Update
i. Valerie Hermsen Memorial Donation
ii. Derecho Repairs Update
Storm Damage Update

Action Item#130 – Bus Monitoring System
COMPETITIVE QUOTES
  ZONAR – $55,341 (includes annual fees of $14,616)
  UniteGPS – $49,310 (includes annual fees of $12,828)
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the UniteGPS bus monitoring system.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #131 – EMC Insurance
Motion by Stepanek, second by Ludeking to approve the property and liability insurance invoice as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #132 – Business Services
June 30 is the fiscal year close and work has begun to finalize the year and prepare for FY’22.
A. WARRANTS
WARRANTS
SUMMARY OF PAID WARRANTS
FY 22 DISTRICT INSURANCE
B. FINANCIAL REPORTS
GENERAL FUND REPORT
ALL FUNDS REPORT
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #133 – Consent Agenda
Motion by Ludeking, second by Upah to approve Consent Agenda as presented
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

Action Item #134 – Policy Review
Motion by Thompson, second by Stepanek to approve the following actions to noted policies for review/revision:
POLICIES for REVIEW:
  Policy 501.1 – Student Attendance
  Policy 501.6 – Entrance Admissions
  Policy 501.10 – Student Release During School Hours – no changes
  Policy 501.17 – Attendance at Events Outside of School
  Policy 502.5 – Use of Motor Vehicles
  Policy 502.6 – Weapons
  Policy 502.7 – Smoking, Drinking, and Drugs
  Policy 502.12 – Student Work Permits
  Policy 503.1R – Student Conduct Administrative Regulation
  Policy 503.2 – Student Suspension – revisions
  Policy 503.2R1 – Student Suspension Regulation – delete, included with policy 503.2
  Policy 503.3 – Student Expulsion
  Policy 503.11 – Fines, Fees, Charges
  Policy 503.11R1 – Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures
  Policy 503.11E1 – Student Fee Waiver Application
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Superintendent UPDATE & REPORT
SIAC
a. Agenda and notes from meeting
THERAPY DOG update
BOARD ELECTION INFORMATION
Book Study – Schools Cannot Do it Alone – Schools Cannot Do IT Alone BOOK STUDY
. Read Part I for July board meeting
List – new employees, transfers for 21-22
i. GOAL #4 UPDATE: FACILITIES & INFRASTRUCTURE GOAL – UPDATE
RECENT FSAC MEETINGS
a. June 9, 2021
Upcoming FSAC Meetings – June 30, 2021
iii. GOAL #5 UPDATE: MARKETING AND CUSTOMER SATISFACTION – UPDATE
1. ✔*New website and app up and going! https://www.benton.k12.ia.us/
2. ✔District informational/promotional booklet – complete – hard copies provided
3. Promotional and informational video clip – in progress,
4. ✔ Newspaper stories with Cedar Valley continue
iv. Demographic Study update
Action Item 135 – Adjournment
Motion by Werning, second by Upah to adjourn at 8:35 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE