BENTON COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
IN THE COUNTIES OF TAMA, BENTON, AND IOWA, STATE OF IOWA
BENTON WORK SESSION/REGULAR BOARD MEETING,
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022, 5:00 PM
DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM
Pres. Becker announcement: This meeting is held electronically and in person by the Board 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.
WORK SESSION – 5:00 P.M.
Unstructured discussion of the Facilities Master Plan.
FACILITIES MASTER PLAN – Discussion
FSAC Committee presentation and recommendations
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
1. Call to Order Regular Meeting: 7:35 P.M:
Present: Meeting was called to order by President Becker. Directors attending in person at the meeting location: Directors Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Phillips, Thompson, Upah, Werning
A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, Anna Upah, Ryan Junge, Phil Eastman and Jason West.
2. Action Item #78 – Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda
Additional Agenda Item added under the consent agreement: Competitive estimate for 200 Chromebooks at $64,000.
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to add the estimate for the chrome books.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
3. Open Forum
No Comments
4. Action Item #79 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
5. Action Item #80-Trip to Spain – SPAIN TRIP 2023
Motion by Nolte, second by Ludeking to approve the 2023 summer trip to Spain with the reviewed details.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
6. Administration – No Action Taken
7. Action Item #81 – Early Retirement Plan
The following certified staff qualified for and applied for early retirement:
- Carolyn Spading – AK Kindergarten Teacher
- Cindy Nelson – Music Teacher
- Meridee Jones Elementary Teacher (2nd Grade)
Support Staff
- Donna Ludwik – District Secretary, Food Service Program, Activities, Gates
- Andrea Nolan – Food Service – HS
Acceptance of Retirees Applications and Resignations at the end of the 2021-2022 school year:
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the submitted early retirement plans as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
8. Facilities Master Plan
No action taken. Informational only.
9. Action Item #82-Course Approval
Ms. Upah and Mr. Arnold reviewed the computer science requirements as well as our district plan to meet the state requirements.
a. Iowa Requirements for Computer Science
b. Iowa E-Learning Course – High School Computer Science Course
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
10. Action Item #83 – Courses – Grant
The Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Workforce Development are hosting a Q&A webinar for school districts on Friday, Jan. 21, at 1 p.m. to provide information and answer questions about the new Teacher and Para-educator Registered Apprenticeship Grant program. Gov. Reynolds announced this new opportunity during the Condition of the State Address.
This innovative program will provide opportunities for current high school students to earn a para-educator certificate and associate degree and para-educators to earn their bachelor’s degree all while learning and working in the classroom. School districts will need to partner with an eligible community college or four-year college or university to provide the required education and training.
Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to approve the Superintendent to pursue teacher education course opportunities for our high school students and the teacher and para-educator grant through the Iowa Department of Education and Workforce Development
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
11. Action Item #84 – Business Services
a. WARRANTS
1. WARRANTS
b. FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion by Philips, second by Thompson to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
12. Action Item #85 – Consent Agenda
A. Hires
a. Madison Reed – Substitute Teacher
b. Hunter Semelroth – Asst. 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach
c. Shelley Flack – Keystone Special Ed. Associate
B. Resignations
a) Dawn Embretson – Asst. Volleyball Coach
b) Ashley Phelan – 7th Grade Girls Basketball
c) Levi Montague – Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach (Level 2)
d) Calvin Wolter – 10th Grade Volleyball
e) Heidi Keiper – Head 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach
C. Volunteers
a. Rebecca Anderson
D. Meeting Minutes-
a. 12/15/21 Board Meeting Minutes
b. 1/5/22 Special Board Meeting Minutes
E. Estimate for Chrome Books
Estimate from RTI Quote for 200 Chrome Books.
Motion by Phillips, second by Werning to approve Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
13. Action Item #86 – Policy Review
POLICIES for REVIEW:
1. Policy 501.4 – Compulsory Attendance
2. Policy 104.R1 – Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Investigation Procedures
3. Emergency Temporary Standards – suspended
a. COVID-19 Vaccinate or Test Mandate Policy
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the reviewed and revised policies as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
14. Superintendent
Superintendent Report
a. BOARD GOALS UPDATE
b. SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION – NEW ISSL STANDARDS
c. Mayors’ Meeting – Feb. 9 – Blairstown & Mayor Kubicheck – noon – ~1:15 p.m.
City Hall – Blairstown
d. Governor’s Round Table – Workplace Learning, Apprenticeships for HS students
Tour Career Academy – Pella High School, Senator Driscoll, Rep. Gerhold and 14 other superintendents/ HS administrators/teachers – Fri. Jan. 21, 12:30 p.m. (rescheduled due to snowstorm)
Let me know if you would like to attend.
e. Upcoming meetings
Jan. 27 – Board Legislative in-service and dinner at Manatt Community Center – Brooklyn
f. Feb. 23 – Regular Board meeting was moved to Wed. Feb. 23 at 5:00 p.m.
I. Larry Siegel from ISFIS
g. March 16 – Work Session – 5:00 p.m. Board goals review, progressing our goals forward, advancing Superintendent Goals to align with Board goals and District Goals. Tammy Drawbaugh from IASB will be there to help facilitate. Regular meeting to follow.
h. April 13 – Regular Board meeting – Certified Budget – 6:00 p.m.
i. May 18 – Regular Board meeting – 6:00 p.m.
j. June 15 – Regular Board meeting – 6:00 p.m.
k. July 20 – Regular Board meeting – 6:00 p.m. (FY23 fiscal year)
l. August 17 – Regular Board meeting – 6:00 p.m.
15. Action Item #87 – Adjournment
Motion by Upah, second by Werning to adjourn board meeting at 8:41.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Meeting adjourned at 8:41.
Jim Magdefrau 