BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 

IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA 

BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18, 6:00 PM 

DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM 

1. Call to Order Regular Meeting: 6:02 P.M: 

Present: Meeting was called to order by President Becker, Directors Ludeking, Nolte, Stepanek, Thompson and Upah attending. Absent: Werning. A Quorum was declared present. 

Also Present: Dr. Pamela Ewell and Dr. James Bieschke , Anna Upah, Rob Arnold, Jason West, Phil Eastman, Shawn Pfiffner, Ryan Junge, Isaiahn Powell, Lauren Tandy, Brylee Bastian, Jared Lancaster, Rachel Bergert, Payt Bergert, Kasey Hullett, Sandy Fribley, Jessica Bolar, Hunter Semelroth, Lacey Johnson, Allison Bys,. 

2. Action Item #13 – Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda 

Add – donation from Salt Creek for Pandemic – amount of $500. Dr. Ewell publicly stated appreciation for this donation. 

Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve additional agenda item. 

MOTION CARRIED  ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

3. Open Forum 

No public comment. 

4. Introductions of New Staff Members 

a. Lauren Tandy – 2nd Grade, Keystone 

b. Lacey Johnson, Band/Music, Norway 

c. Rachel Bergert, Title I/Strat II, Norway 

d. Payt Bergert, 4th Grade, Norway 

e. Brylee Bastian, 1st Grade, Atkins 

f. Jessica Bolar, Kindergarten, Atkins 

g. Allison Bys, MS Science 

h. Sandi Fribley, 7-12 Family & Consumer Science 

i. Kasey Hullett, HS English 

j. Jared Lancaster, HS Band 

k. Isaiahn Powell, MS/HS Business 

l. Hunter Semelroth, MS Science 

5. Action Item #14 – Approval of Agenda 

Motion by Thompson, second by Ludeking to approve agenda as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED  ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

6. Action Item #15 – School Improvement Report: 

DISTRICT ACTION PLAN/GOAL 

Motion to approve the District Action plan by Upah, second by Nolte. 

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

7. Action Item #16 – Face Masks & Buses 

Motion by Thompson, second by Ludeking that while riding our school buses, face masks should be worn per the CDC guidance; however, we understand the importance each family places on making their own decision as to how they want to proceed with their children. 

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

8. Administration Report – 

a. Administration Report 

No action – presentation only. 

9. Facilities Update: 

Derecho repairs are progressing well with only a few items left to be completed. MS/HS roof, Norway bus barn, Atkins ball field scoreboard, and MS/HS football field goalpost are currently waiting to be completed. 

We have addressed the Atkins small area roof leak and hope to have repairs completed next week. 

No action – information only. 

10. Action Item #17 – Return to Learn Plan – Revised 

a. RETURN TO LEARN PLAN – REVISED 

Motion by Nolte, second by Stepanek to approve the 2021-2022 Return to Learn Plan as presented 

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

11. Action Item #18 – Public Activity Cards 

Motion by Upah, second by Thompson to approve the public and patron activity card price adjustments as presented. 

$50.00 – A 10-punch activity pass card 

$75.00 – all year activity pass card. 

$25.00 – 10-punch card for out of the district senior citizens when requested $50.00 – for an all year senior citizen activity pass card when requested 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

12. Voted PPEL – Physical Plant and Equipment Levy 

Discussion regarding a voted PPEL. 

No action was taken at this time. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

13. Action Item #19 – Revenue Purpose Statement – Notice & Resolution 

Motion by Stepanek, second by Nolte to approve the Notice FOR THE BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO INCLUDE A REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT ON THE NOV.2, 2021 ELECTION BALLOT FOR BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT and the Resolution for a Revenue Purpose Statement to be on the Sept. 1 Special Meeting agenda for Board consideration. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

14. Action Item #20 – Business Services 

Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve warrants and financial reports as presented. 

WARRANTS 

a. WARRANTS 

 FY22 

 GAAP 

b. SUMMARY OF PAID WARRANTS 

 FY22 

 GAAP 

c. FINANCIAL REPORTS 

 GENERAL FUND REPORT 

 ALL FUNDS REPORT 

d. FALL PAY SCHEDULE 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

15. Action Item #21 – Consent Agenda 

Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve Consent Agenda as presented. 

HIRES 

a. Chelsea Moser- Special Education – MS/HS assigned 

b. Dawn Embretsen – Assistant Varsity Volleyball 

c. LeAnn Nolte – .5 Interventionist Position at Atkins for FY22 

d. Emily Fitzgerald – Pandemic Recovery Associate, Atkins, FY22 

e. Beth Pilcher – Dance Sponsor 

f. Payt Bergert – 7th Grade Asst. Football Coach 

g. Karen Lough – Primary Communication Assistant/website/PR/District level stipend 

h. Renee Bear – Communication Assistant/website/PR – MS/HS level stipend 

i. Ron Banghart – Bus Driver 

j. Shayla Andresen – Sign Language Interpreter – Special Education 

k. Christine West – Special Education Associate – Norway 

A. RESIGNATIONS 

1. LeAnn Nolte – .5 Pandemic Recovery Interventionist Position (at the end of the 21-22 school year) 

2. Emily Fitzgerald – Pandemic Recovery Associate (at the end of the 21-22 school year) 

B. CONTRACTS 

1. JESTER INSURANCE POLICY 

a) FLOOD/EARTH QUAKE, TERRORISM 

2. Tanager Place – Social Worker – Specialist Agreement – ESSER III 

3. Tanager Place Therapist Support Agreement – ESSER III 

4. Norway – Reunification Agreement 

C. MEETING MINUTES – 

1. July 21, 2021 – Meeting Minutes 

2. July 28, 2021 – Special Meeting Minutes 

D. INTERNAL TRANSFERS 

1. Terry Buelow – Bus Driver 

E. FFA and AG – annual field trips and event schedule 

F. Volunteers 

1. Katie Rickels – Pull Marching Band Trailer 

2. Thomas John Rickels – Pull Marching Band Trailer 

G. Adult Lunch Price – $3.95 

MOTION CARRIED  ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

16. Action Item #22 – Policy Review 

Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the reviewed and revised policies as presented. Policy 803.1, Disposition of Obsolete Equipment was removed from review. 

POLICIES for REVIEW: 

1. 2nd Reading – Policy 401.14 – Employee Expression (New policy), as per Iowa Code, mandatory 

2. Policy 303.4 – Administrative Salary and Other Compensation 

3. Policy 303.5 – Administrative Duties 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

17. Superintendent 

REPORT 

Back-to-School information 

A. Letter to Parents/Students 

B. NEW Video – about Benton Community Schools and our communities! 

a. Rough draft of our new video! https://youtu.be/ngVt1QBZcrg 

C. Bus Attendance System update 

a. Letter to parents 

D. IASB convention 

E. Board Elections 

F. Book Study – Schools Cannot Do it Alone 

18. Action Item #23 – Adjournment 

Motion by Stepanek, second by Nolte to adjourn meeting. 

MOTION CARRIED  ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.