Belle Plaine, Iowa

April 13, 2022

A public hearing and regular meeting of the Belle Plaine Community School District Board of Education was held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. in the gymnasium at Longfellow Elementary, Belle Plaine. 

Members Present: Val Coffman, Ben Reineke, Rima Johnson, Alicia Jacobi

Members Absent: Stephen Beck

Administration Present: Chad Straight, Heather Coover, Ryan Devereux

Board Secretary Present: Stacey Kolars  

Visitors Present: Interested Patrons

Press Representative: None

The meeting was called to order by President Coffman at 6:30 p.m.

AGENDA

Motion Jacobi, second Reineke to approve the agenda with the removal of Business Items #4-Action/Discussion on Bids to Remove Asbestos from Old JH and #7-Action/Discussion on SIAC Goals.  All voted, “aye.”  Motion carried.

DELEGATIONS

There were no delegations.

PUBLIC HEARING ON 2022-2023 BELLE PLAINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET AND 2021-2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT

A hearing was held on the 2022-2023 Belle Plaine Community School District budget and 2021-2022 budget amendment.  There were no questions or comments from the community.

APPROVAL OF THE 2022-2023 BELLE PLAINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET

There was motion by Reineke, second by Johnson to approve the 2022-2023 Belle Plaine Community School District Budget at a property tax rate of 15.95649 (per $1000 taxable valuation).  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF THE 2021-2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT

There was motion by Johnson, second by Reineke to approve the 2021-2022 Belle Plaine Community School District budget amendment.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried. The budget amendment increased expenditures for the 2021-2022 fiscal year in the areas of support services, non-instructional programs, instruction and other expenditures.  There will be no increase in taxes.  

CONSENT AGENDA

The consent agenda items were considered.  There was motion by Johnson, second by Reineke to approve the consent agenda items.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.  The consent agenda items that were approved are listed below:

1. Approval of the minutes of the March 1, 2022 regular meeting and the March 30, 2022 special meeting.
2. Approval of bills, payroll, financial statements.
3. Personnel/Business Items:
4.  Acceptance of the resignations: Justin VonAhsen-Music Instructor; Allison Fry-Elementary Associate; Colleen Balvin-Secondary Associate.

PRINCIPAL REPORTS-Secondary Principal, Ryan Devereux and Elementary Principal, Heather Coover gave their respective reports to the board.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Superintendent Straight gave his report to the board

COMMUNICATIONS

A thank you card was received from Christie Hawkins and read to the board. Ms. Hawkins thanked the board for their consideration of the school faculty and staff regarding the recent wage increases for the 2022-2023 school year.

OLD BUSINESS

1.  Action/Discussion on PPEL/SAVE Projects-Discussion took place regarding the current projects that have been completed to date and project priorities for future dates.  Fund balances were reviewed.  No action was taken on this item.

BUSINESS ITEMS

1.  Approval of the Employment of Personnel-There was motion by Reineke, second by Jacobi to approve the following transfers pending finding suitable replacements for each position: Rachel Cashman to second grade, Sadie Andersen to fourth grade, Shalan Knapke to Preschool, Sunnie Mall to third grade. In the same motion, Rachel Cashman, Angel Brecht and Beth Parrott were approved for summer school instructors, and Jarrett Defields was hired as music teacher for band and choir.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried. 

2.  Focus on Education:  Ag/FFA-John Daniels, Ag Instructor and FFA Sponsor was present at the meeting to discuss the current instruction of the Belle Plaine CSD’s secondary Agriculture instructional program as well as the FFA program.   

3. Action/Discussion on Purchasing a Trailer for House Project-There was motion by Johnson, second by Reineke to accept a quote from Friedman’s Ag Supplies for a 16’ White Pace Trailer for $8,500.  This trailer would be used for the house construction project(s) as well as other uses as needed for the district. All voted “aye.” Motion carried.

4.  Action/Discussion on Bids to Remove Asbestos from the Old Junior High-This item was removed from the agenda.

5.  Action/Discussion on Approving Seniors for Graduation-A list of seniors eligible for graduation was presented to the board. There was motion by Jacobi, second by Reineke to approve the list of eligible seniors for graduation pending each student’s completion of all graduation requirements.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

6.  Action/Discussion on Approving Math Curriculum-; was motion by Reineke, second by Johnson to approve the quote for junior high Math curriculum material from McGraw Hill in the amount of $8,595.71; the high school Math curriculum material from McGraw Hill in the amount of $21,972.43; Statistics and Probability curriculum material from Bedford, Freeman & Worth in the amount of $4,408.16.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

7. Action/Discussion on SIAC Goals-This item was removed from the agenda.

8.  Action/Discussion on Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2016, Dated May 5, 2016 and Levying a Tax for Fiscal Year 2023 for the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2016, Dated May 5, 2016- Board Member Jacobi introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption.  Director Johnson seconded the motion to adopt.  The roll was called, and the following Directors voted:  Jacobi, “aye;” Reineke, “aye;” Johnson, “aye;” Coffman, “aye.” Director Beck was absent.  The president declared the Resolution adopted as follows:  RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2016, DATED MAY 5, 2016, AND LEVYING A TAX FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 FOR THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2016, DATED MAY 5, 2016

WHEREAS, The Belle Plaine Community School District (the “District”) issued $2,690,000 General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2016, dated May 5, 2016 (the “Series 2016 Bonds”), $2,200,000 of which are currently outstanding; of which $175,000 were called for redemption on May 1, 2022 pursuant to a Resolution adopted on April 12, 2021; of which $150,000 were called for redemption on May 1, 2022 pursuant to a Resolution adopted on April 12, 2021; and, of which $190,000 are now being called for redemption on May 1, 2023, which are described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution (the “Redeemed Bonds”); and

WHEREAS, at this time, it is in the best interest of the District to levy a tax for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023, which is sufficient to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on May 1, 2023; and WHEREAS, the series 2016 Bonds which mature after May 1, 2022 may be called in whole or in part on any date beginning on May 1, 2022, from any funds regardless of source, in any order of maturity and within annual maturity by lot by giving 30 days’ written notice of redemption to the registered owner of the Bonds, the terms of redemption to be par plus accrued interest to the date of call, such notice to be deemed completed upon transmission to the owner of record of the Bond at the address shown on the books of the Registrar; and WHEREAS, selection by lot will be necessary to select bonds to be called among the bonds which mature May 1, 2028; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds.  NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved:  Section 1. That the Redeemed Bonds are hereby redeemed as of May 1, 2023.  Section 2.  UMB Bank, N.A., West Des Moines, Iowa (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company, Des Moines, Iowa), in its capacity as Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent, is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of such redemption to be given not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of redemption by written notice to the registered owner of the Redeemed Bonds in substantially the form set forth in Schedule B attached to this Resolution.  Piper Sandler & Co., as Dissemination Agent for the District, is hereby authorized and directed to provide electronic notice of such redemption to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board at http://emma.msrb.org/. On or before May 1, 2023, the Treasurer shall deposit with the Paying Agent $190,000 to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution, such call and redemption to be effective May 1, 2023 pursuant to the terms of the Series 2016 Bonds.  All liability for interest on the Redeemed Bonds shall cease, terminate, and be completely discharged as of May 1, 2023 as provided in Section 6(b) of the Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of the Series 2016 Bonds.  Section 3.  There is levied upon all the taxable property of the District for the fiscal year ending June 30,2023, $190,000 which when collected shall be deposited with the Paying Agent.  The Paying Agent is authorized and directed to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on May 1, 2023.  PASSED AND APPROVED this 13^th day of April, 2022.

9.  Action/Discussion on Technology Purchases (Chrome books, Smart boards, Etc.)-Superintendent Straight presented quotes to the board regarding pricing of technology that included 210 new Chrome books from Dell Technologies, as well as storage cases for the Chrome books from Riverside Technologies, Inc.  After discussion, there was motion by Johnson, second by Reineke to purchase the 210 Chrome books from Dell Technologies in the amount of $52,094.70 and the storage cases for the Chrome books from Riverside Technologies, Inc. in the amount of $3,840.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

10. Action/Discussion on Window Decals for the Front of Both Buildings-Discussion took place regarding window decals to the doors of both the secondary and elementary buildings.  There was motion by Reineke, second by Jacobi to approve the matching navy and gold window decals for both elementary and secondary buildings. All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

11.  Public Hearing on School Calendar for 22-23-A public hearing was held on the 2022-2023 School Calendar.  There were no comments or question from the community during the hearing.  

12.  Action/Discussion on School Calendar for 22-23-After the public hearing, the board discussed changes to the school calendar for 22-23.  After discussion, there was motion by Jacobi, second by Johnson to approve the school calendar for the 2022-2023 with the changes discussed.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

There was motion by Reinek, second Jacobi to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 p.m.  All voted, “aye.” Motion carried.

Val Coffman, Board President

Stacey Kolars, Board Secretary