BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON REGULAR BOARD MEETING/ANNUAL MEETING,
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2021, 6:00 PM
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM
1. Call to Order Regular Meeting: 6:05 P.M:
Present: Meeting was called to order by President Becker, Directors Ludeking, Nolte, Thompson, Upah and Werning in attendance. Not in attendance: Director Stepanek.
A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Administration: Dr. Pamela Ewell, Dr. James Bieschke, Rob Arnold, Phil Eastman, Ryan Junge, Anna Upah, and Jason West. Also attending were Tim Lyons, Senator Driscoll, Representatives Gerhold, Cynthia Phillips, Matt Gillespie from Piper Sandler, and Tyler Maschino (via Zoom).
2. Action Item #35 – Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda
Added to Agenda – to Appoint a Director as Benton County Conference Board Representative.
Motion by Nolte, second by Ludeking to approve additional agenda item.
Theresa Thompson appointed as Benton County Conference Board Representative.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
3. Legislators – Rep. Driscoll, Rep. Gerhold
Discussion was held on the upcoming legislative session, as well as State Supplemental Aid, Pre-school, General Obligation Bonds, voting times, and transportation equity.
4. Matt Gillespie – Piper Sandler
Matt Gillespie provided an update on the school district’s finances and funding options if a capital improvement project were to be decided in the future.
5. Open Form
No Comments
6. Action Item #36 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve agenda.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
7. Action Item #37 – Certified Enrollment
Certified count is up by 9.77 students.
Motion by Nolte, second by Werning to approve the Fall 2021 Certified enrollment of 1510.70 resident students.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
8. Action Item #37 – Transportation Report
The report indicates the following:
300,000 school bus miles during the 2020-2021 year
Our vans and cars drove 41,630 miles.
Misc. route miles – 7,777,
Miles driven to transport students in special education – 45,453,
Activity and educational trips – 23,873 miles.
Total operating costs for transporting students for 2020-2021 – $983,103.93 or $788/pupil transported.
Including all operating costs, Benton (Reported by the State) average cost/pupil transported = $589.23.
We are the 16th highest in the state for route miles at 267,999.
Motion by Thompson, second by Ludeking to approve the 2020-2021 Transportation Report.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
9. ADMINISTRATION
No Action Taken
10. Facilities Advisor Study Committee Report & OPN Final Facilities Master Plan Executive Summary
Dr. Ewell & Dr. Bieschke provided a verbal update and assisted with the discussion about the FSAC report and recommendations as well as the Master Facilities Plan from OPN. Board discussion and determination for holding work sessions during the next few months.
FSAC Report and Recommendations
OPN Master Facilities Plan
Deferred Maintenance and Break/Fix costs annually:
The annual expense report was put together by Dr. Ewell and Dr. Bieschke with help from the office assistants for the purpose of showing current and past (and predicted) data in regard to break/fix, deferred maintenance, purchase of buses, and ongoing technology needs.
Annual expenses (showing historical and projected) for break/fix and deferred maintenance using PPEL (Fund 36) and SAVE (Fund 33) as well as General Fund (Fund 10) when necessary.
No action taken on this agenda item.
11. Action Item #38 – Facilities Update
Tyler Maschino spoke about the High School camera systems and what it would mean to replace and update the parking lot and building cameras. Board discussion ensued. The Board directed the Superintendent to seek competitive quotes.
Motion by Ludeking, second by Nolte to approve the Superintendent seeking competitive estimates to possibly replace the camera system in the Middle School/High School and High School parking lot.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
12. Action Item #39 – EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN
The Early Retirement Plan was discussed and reviewed.
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the Early Retirement Plan for eligible employees for the fiscal year ending 2021-2022 @ 35% for 20 years of service.
MOTION CARRIED
DIRECTORS BECKER, NOLTE, THOMPSON, UPAH AND WERNING VOTING AYE
DIRECTOR LUDEKING VOTING NAY
13. Action Item #40 – Bus Specifications
Dr. Ewell requested Mr. Lyons to provide a report and update about our bus fleet. Discussion ensued to review specifications for future purchasing. During future board meetings, an RFP will be approved to seek bids for purchasing school buses.
Specifications – HERE
Motion by Thompson, second by Ludeking to approve the specifications for the purchase of new buses. The exact number of buses to be determined and available by a vendor who secures the bid.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
14. Calendar Survey
Discussion as to whether a survey was needed before beginning the development of the 22-23 school year calendar. Continued discussion about professional development, scheduling, and early dismissals. Discussion about gathering input from the SIAC committee during their Nov. meeting and bringing this information back to the Board.
No action taken.
15. Action Item #41 – November Board Meeting Date
Motion by Werning, second by Nolte to approve the November Board Meeting date change from November 10 to November 22. The change is made due to the Benton County Auditor, Hayley Rippel, recommending we not schedule a meeting prior to November 17, which is the approximate date it will take to finish the election canvass.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – REGULAR BOARD MEETING
Page 4 – October 20, 2021
16. Action Item #42 – Business Services
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the business services and Notice of Election for the Revenue Purpose Statement as presented.
a. WARRANTS
WARRANTS
b. FINANCIAL REPORTS
c. Revenue Purpose Statement (previously approved) update – ballot for Nov. 2 election
RPS INFORMATION – Posted to our website, Facebook, and Dr. Bieschke published it in the newspaper as per Iowa Code Requirements.
Website – click HERE
Newspaper – click HERE
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
17. Action Item #43 – Consent Agenda
A. HIRES
a. MOU – Robotics Assistant – Kyle Kolsrud
b. Kent Meyer, Utility Maintenance Position
c. Kayla Wink, Sub. Associate, Atkins/Keystone
d. Dawn Wauters, Sub. Associate, Keystone
B. Resignations
a. Kent Meyer – Resigning Maintenance position for new Utility Maintenance position.
C. MEETING MINUTES
a. September Meeting Minutes – 9/15/21
b. Special Board Meeting Minutes – 10/4/21 (Revisions forthcoming)
D. VOLUNTEERS
a. Owen Johnson, Robotics
E. CONTRACTS
Motion by Upah, second by Werning to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
18. Policy Review
Policy Review tabled until next meeting
19. Superintendent Report
Superintendent Report tabled until next meeting.
20. Adjournment
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to adjourn meeting at 10:27 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Meeting adjourned at 10:27 p.m.
Jim Magdefrau 