BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING, WORK SESSION, EXEMPT SESSION
FRIDAY, JUNE 3, 2022, 1:00 P.M.
Central Office – Board room, 304 1st Street, Van Horne
1:00 p.m. – SPECIAL Meeting, WORK SESSION, EXEMPT SESSION
SPECIAL Meeting
1. Meeting Called to Order at 1:02 p.m.
Present: Directors Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Phillips, Thompson, Upah, Werning
A quorum was declared present
ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Ewell and Dr. Bieschke
2. Delegations, Communications, Consideration of Additional Items for the Agenda
Tabled Girls Wrestling Discussion
3. Action Item #159 – Approval of the Agenda
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the agenda.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
4. SAFETY AND SECURITY DISCUSSION
Executive Summary
Documents from the OPN and committee Facilities study were reviewed as well as adding observations and ideas to the list of considerations for safety and security by Dr. Ewell and Deputy Brandt. Deputy Brandt provided a brief overview of his work with ALICE training for staff. Dr. Bieschke also weighed in. Paper Copies of the OPN assessment were provided to Board members.
The Board would like to see a prioritized list of improvements. No action at this time.
5. GIRLS WRESTLING COACH – Tabled
6. Action Item #160- Curriculum
We have engaged in lengthy research and committee work to determine our new Literacy/Reading curriculum materials and resource series. The committee and Mrs. Selk recommended Benchmark Advance. The Superintendent concurs. We have been engaging in training this week and would like to begin full implementation in the fall.
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve Benchmark Advance as our new and updated Literacy/Reading curriculum for purchase.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
7. Action Item #161 – Activity Bus Drivers
Revisited from last month’s meeting – amended motion and intent
The intent for paying $60/activity
- INTENDED to pay for a driver of a team or club when a regular bus driver would have been hired to drive.
- $60/activity
- For drivers of activities who are required to have their CDL to drive the group/team
- Revised from May 18 board meeting
- Beginning July 2, 2022
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the bus driver activity rate to $15/hour and a coach or sponsor who drives their own team or group to the activity when a driver would have been hired, at a rate of $60 / activity beginning July 2, 2022.
MOTION CARRIED, ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
8. Action Item #162 – 2022 Track Refurbishment Bids
We have received two bids for the track resurfacing as attached below. Fisher Tracks was the lowest bid and the original installer of our track in 2012. All requirements of the RFP have been met from Fisher Track.
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve and accept the bid from Fisher Tracks for $99,905 to resurface the track this summer.
a. Midwest Tennis and Track Co. Bid
b. Fisher Tracks Bid
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
9. New York/DC Trip – Information Only
10. Action Items #163 – Personnel
All hires are pending background checks and correct licensure.
Motion recommendation: Approve the new hires as presented.
a) Hires
- a) Heidi Keiper – 10th Grade Volleyball Coach
- b) Jamie Mnayer – Teacher – 2nd Grade Teacher – Atkins
- c) Claire White – Teacher – 5th Grade Teacher – Norway Intermediate
- d) Tabatha Barger – Color Guard
- e) Jessica Bolar – Summer School
- f) Jocelyn Nimmo – Teacher – Preschool & ECSE – Keystone
- g) Beth Anderson – Summer School – Keystone – 1st Grade
- h) Lauren Tandy – Summer School – Keystone – 2nd & 3rd Grade
- i) Nicole Kimm – Summer School – Special Education
b) Resignations
- a) Levi Montague – Middle school math
- b) Mackenzie Devries – Bus Stop Supervisor
- c) Kory Winsor – Assistant Football Coach
- d) Jennifer Freese – ECSE spec education
- e) Laurie Donald – Instructional Coach – Teacher
c) Transfers
- a) Sarah Sellers – from 1st grade to 2nd grade – Keystone
- b) Lori Oberreuter – ESSR position to Special Ed. Associate position
d) Contract release request & Resignation
- a) Margo Redlinger – 2nd grade, Keystone
e) CONTRACTS
a) Teaching endorsement reimbursement
- 1. Julie Kaestner – early childhood special education endorsement
- 2. Bethannie Fox – FCS endorsement
- 3. Jocelyn Nimmo – early childhood special education endorsement
Motion by Phillips and second by Upah to approve the consent agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
11) Action Item #164 – Adjournment – 2:20 p.m.
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to adjourn at 2:20 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
WORK SESSION – FOLLOWING
1. FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
i. Review strategies for consensus building
ii. Vision mapping and consensus building
1. Mapping work
iii. Resources
1. Maps showing #’s of students by grade levels
a. West and East of Watkins line
2.
A. PRIOR WORK SESSION MATERIALS
i. Materials from Tammi D. from prior work session –
1. Questions to Ponder – work of the Board April 20
b. Resources and data
ii. Enrollment and trends, by building
iii. Costs per pupil / by building
iv. 3 & 4 year old Preschool enrollment data and trends
v. Transportation data – 2020-2021 – in your folders
1. Cost per pupil – compared to like-sized schools in Iowa
2. Route Miles/year
3. Transportation data
Work Session concluded at 3:40 p.m.
EXEMPT SESSION – FOLLOWING CLOSED SESSION
Exempt Session began at 3:30 p.m.
1. Action Item #165 – Employee Salary
As per IOWA CODE 21.9
A meeting of a Board to discuss strategy in matters relating to employment conditions of employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. I.C. 21.9
Per Roy Becker, President “The Board will now move into an Exempt Session to discuss strategy in matters relating to employment conditions of employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Iowa Code. 21.9” Board moved into closed session at 3:30 p.m.
Board moved out of exempt session at 4:14 p.m.
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the salary adjustment as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
2. Action Item #166 – Adjournment
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to adjourn the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 2022
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board room
304 1st Street , Van Horne, Iowa 52346
1. Call to Order
Directors Present: Director Becker, Phillips, Thompson and Upah.
A Quorum was declared present.
Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, Carlene Silhanek and Jacque Jones of Keystone Insurance.
2. Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda.
None at this time
3. Open Forum
None at this time.
4. Action Item #167 – Approval of Agenda
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
5. Carlene Silhanek/Jacque Jones – EMC Insurance Presentation
6. Action Item #168 – Set date of June 21 at 5:30 p.m. – For Board Adoption of a Resolution – September 13, 2022 Voter-Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy – Resolution of Election
DRAFT EXAMPLE FOR TUES. JUNE 21, 5:30 P.M.
a. ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION for June 21 board meeting: The Board deems it necessary and desirable to provide additional funding for the Benton Community School District pursuant to the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy and whereas the Levy funds will be used to improve safety and security, upgrade technology, improve facilities, purchase school buses and student transport vehicles, and upgrade heating and cooling systems. Whereas the Board wishes to take action to adopt a Resolution of Election directing an election on the question of participating in the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy. That the Board Secretary is hereby authorized to direct the County Commissioner of Elections to submit the question of participation in the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy ballot question to the qualified electors of the District on September 13, 2022, on the following proposition:
i. DRAFT: Shall the Board of Directors of the Benton Community School District be authorized for a period of ten (10) years to levy a physical plant and equipment tax of not exceeding one dollar and 34 cents ($1.34) per $1,000 of assessed valuation, and be authorized annually to levy a physical plant and equipment property tax with the levy of property taxes for collection commencing in the fiscal year ending July 1, 2023, to be used for the purposes set forth in the full ballot?
ii. That all resolutions or orders or parts thereof in conflict herewith be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to set the date for a voted PPEL resolution for June 21, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. at the Special Board meeting, Board room, Central Office – 304 1st Street, Van Horne, Iowa.
Director Becker called for a roll call vote.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
7. Administration
8. School Improvement Report
a. MRS. SELK – TEACHER QUALITY OPPORTUNITIES
9. Action Item #169 – 2022-2023 BREAKFAST AND LUNCH FEES
| 2022-2023 BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PRICES CHART Grade Level | Type | Proposed 2022-2023 Prices |
| K-6 | Breakfast | $1.85 |
| 7-12 | Breakfast | $2.05 |
| Adult | Breakfast | $2.55 |
| K-8 | Lunch | $2.85 |
| 9-12 | Lunch | $3.05 |
| Adult Second | Lunch Lunch | $4.05 $3.60 |
Motion by Werning, second by Upah to approve the new breakfast and lunch fees for the 2022-2023 school year.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
10. Action Item #170 – IHSAA Girls Wrestling
Currently, we have 23 girls out for wrestling next year. Mr. Pfiffner and Dr. Ewell recommends to add Girls Wrestling as a school and IHSAA sanctioned sport.
Motion by Phillip, second by Thompson to approve Girls Wrestling as a Benton Community and IHSAA sanctioned sport.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
11. Action Item #171 – 4TH Grade
Our class sizes have increased at Norway and the superintendent recommends adding another section of 4th grade.
Motion by Upah, second by Werning to approve an additional section of 4th grade and the Superintendent to move forward hiring an additional teacher.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
12. Action Item #172 – Governor’s Grant – Apprenticeship – Associate/Para to Teacher
Superintendent participated in applying for the Governor’s Grant with several other Grant Wood schools and requested that Iowa State partner with all area schools who are part of the grant.
Benton Community was notified that we were awarded the Grant together with the other area school districts. The Governor announced the award winners last Thursday.
Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to approve the Para-educator/Associate to Teacher Apprenticeship as a grant recipient.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
13. Facilities Master Plan – Tabled/No Discussion
14. Action Item #173 – Redistricting Process
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the Superintendent to work with the Geospatial Consultant on the redistricting process.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
15. Action Item #174 – Business Services:
Motion by Werning, second by Phillips to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
a. WARRANTS
a. WARRANTS
b. FINANCIAL REPORTS
c. FY23 DISTRICT INSURANCE
a. $10,000 Deductible & $25,000 Deductible
d. Iowa Department of Management and Preliminary Tax Rate as of June 10, 2022
a. $9.70
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
16. Action Item #175 – POLICY REVIEW
The following policies have been reviewed by the Superintendent and submitted to the Board for review and approval.
Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the policies as reviewed, revised and presented.
- a. Policy 408 – Licensed Employee Professional Development
- b. Delete the following regulations:
- i. 401.1R Equal Employment Opportunity – Administrative Reg.
- ii. 401.1E Letter to Chief Executive Staff
- c. Policy 401.1F – Equal Employment Opportunity-Affirmative Action Complaint Form
- d. Policy 401.2 – Employee Conflict of Interest
- e. Policy 402.5 – Abuse of Students by School District Employees
- f. Policy 403.1 – Employee Physical Examination
- g. Policy 403.8 – Communicable Diseases – Employees
- h. Policy 403.8E1 – Hepatitis B Vaccine Information and Record
- i. Policy 404.1 – Employee Conduct and Appearance
- j. Policy 405.1 – Licensed Employee Defined
- k. Policy 405.2 – Licensed Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
- l. Policy 405.4 – Licensed Employee Continuing Contracts
- m. Policy 405.9 – Licensed Employee Probationary Status
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
17. Action Item #176 – Consent Agenda
ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE.
Motion by Werning, second by Upah to approve the consent agenda as presented.
A. HIRES
- a. Erin Van Sickle – 1.0 Interventionist (ESSR III) one-year Position – Atkins
- b. Larry Carlson – District level Teacher Leader for PD
- c. Emily O’Connell – Instructional Coach – MS/HS
- d. Brian Voss – HS Social Studies
- e. Ashley Lueckenotto – Teacher – 2nd grade – Atkins
- f. Claire Hengtes – Teacher – 4th grade – Norway
- g. Chris Frimml – Teacher – 1st grade – Keystone
- h. Josh Hoeck – Head Girls Wrestling coach
- i. Bryan Telgenhoff – Head Boys Middle School Track
- j. Bryan Telgenhoff – Head 7th Grade Football Coach
- k. Bryan Telgenhoff – Asst. Varsity Wrestling
B. RESIGNATIONS
- a. Laurie Donald – Instructional Coach
- b. Hunter Semelroth – MS Science Teacher, Asst V Football, 7th Asst Boys Basketball, Head MS Girls Track Coach
- c. Lisa Tatman – Teacher – 2nd grade – Atkins
- d. Hudson Johnston – 7-8 Grade Head Track Coach
- e. Josh Hoeck – Boys Wrestling Asst Coach
C. MEETING MINUTES
- a. May 18, 2022 – Meeting Minutes
- b. June 3, 2022 – Meeting Minutes
D. TRANSFERS
- a. Dave Kruse Bus Driver to Andy Becker’s Route
- b. Mike Arnold Bus Drive to Dave Kruse Route R
- c. Kory Winsor – from HS Social Studies to 7th grade Social Studies
- d. Emily O’Connell – from 7th grade Social Studies to MS/HS Instructional Coach
- e. Larry Carlson – from MS/HS Instructional Coach to District Level Teacher Leader for PD
E. CONTRACTS
- a. Morningside Agreement
- b. Tanager Contract – Engagement Specialist Agreement
- c. Tanager Contract – Therapist Support Agreement
- d. Tanager Contract – Business Associate Agreement
F. Flexible Benefits Plan for employees – Health Equity Inc
a. Health flexible spending, dependent care, insurance premiums
G. School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) Meeting – June 2, 2022 – Minutes
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
18. Superintendent
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
A. District Director – redistricting work, Jodi Flory – Cornerstone Geospatial Consulting
B. Susan Bowersox and questions
C. Safety prioritization – working on by all Admin. And Directors
D. Work Sessions
1. Work Session & Special Session – JUNE 21, 5:30 – 8:00
E. Regular Meetings
● July 20 – 6:00 p.m.
○ Activities Director Report – Shawn Pfiffner, Craig Huegel
○ Tim Lyons – Bus Monitoring System – presentation
● August 17 – 6:00 p.m.
● September 21 – 6:00 p.m.
○ Presentation of Long-Range Needs Assessment and other district data
19. Action Item #177 – Adjournment
Motion by Phillips, second by Upah to adjourn.
MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Jim Magdefrau 