TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 

FROM: DR. PAMELA EWELL, SUPERINTENDENT 

RE: SPECIAL MEETING – BOARD MEETING 

TIME: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 

6:00 p.m. 

PLACE: Central Office – Board room 

304 1st Street 

Van Horne, Iowa 52346 

SPECIAL MEETING 

1. Call to Order 

Present: Directors Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Phillips, Thompson, Upah and Werning were present. 

A quorum was declared present. 

Also Present: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, Rob Arnold, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Tandi Brannaman and Tim Fehr. 

2. Delegations, Communications, Considerations Of Additional Items for the Agenda 

None 

3. Action Item #47 – Approval of Agenda 

Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve the agenda as presented. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

4. Shive-Hattery, Architecture and Engineering – and Matt Gillaspie 

Introductions were made. 

Discussion/Q & A with Shive-Hattery architect and engineer. 

Discussion followed with Matt Gillaspie from Piper-Sandler regarding funding and bonding capacity of the District. 

5. Action Item #48 – Certified Annual Report (CAR) – FY22 

Allowable growth and supplemental aid, FY’22 Special Ed Deficit, and Transportation Report 

ALLOWABLE GROWTH AND SUPPLEMENTAL AID, FY’22 SPECIAL EDUCATION DEFICIT 

a. A district may request allowable growth and supplement aid for a negative special education balance for the current school year. The supplemental aid payment will be calculated by the Department of Management after all special education balances have been finalized. If a district has a positive special education balance, they do not have the ability to request allowable growth and supplemental aid. 

b. Motion Nolte, Second by Werning to approve special education deficit for FY’22 in the negative amount of $105,437.52 

Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to approve the Certified Annual Report (CAR) for FY22, the allowable growth and supplemental aid for a negative special education balance of $105,437.52, and the FY’22 Transportation Report. 

• Special Education Supplement – Negative balance of $105,437.52 
• Transportation Report 
• Transportation Report Summary, State Portal Report FY22 
• Treasurer’s Report by Fund 
• Balance Sheet by Fund 
• Budget Crosswalk 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

6. Action Item #49 – Voter-Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (VPPEL) 

The VPPEL did not pass. The Board reviewed the Abstract of Votes from the Sept. 13, 2022 election. 

State of Iowa – Abstract of Votes 

Motion by Upah, second by Phillips to accept abstract of votes from the Sept. 13, 2022 election. 

ABSTRACT OF VOTES – ELECTION CANVASS SUMMARY (FINAL) 

Benton County – Yes = 355 No=417 Total 772 

Iowa County – Yes = 5 No=14 Total 19 

Tama County Yes = 3 No=5 Total 8 

For the public measure question – VPPEL 

375 Yes votes 

429 No votes 

Total = 804 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

We mailed 3,430 mailers out. 

Flyers sent to each county: 

● Benton County 3,167 flyers 

● Iowa County 190 flyers 

● Tama County 73 flyers 

#’s of Registered Voters in each county and who live in our school district: 

Benton County – 6,095 registered voters = 92% of all voters in the school district 

Tama County – 158 registered voters 

Iowa County – 399 registered voters 

PRELIMINARY Results: 

○ Total votes = 804 

○ Yes = 375 

○ No = 429 

○ Needed at least 55 more YES to pass 

○ Results by precinct 

i. Van Horne = 77 yes, 55 no (out of 789 total registered voters) 

ii. Newhall = 32 yes, 78 no (out of 821 total registered voters) 

Board Work Session – Page 3 

September 28, 2022 

iii. Norway = 32 yes, 85 no (out of 1001 total registered voters) 

iv. Atkins = 149 yes, 96 no (out of 2022 total registered voters) 

v. Keystone = 32 yes, 51 no (out of 674 total registered voters) 

vi. Blairstown = 33 yes, 52 no (out of 788 total registered voters) 

7. Action Item #50 – Facility and Capital Improvement Master Plan 

Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to approve the Facilities and Capital Improvement Master Plan. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

8. Action Item #51 – Adjournment 

Motion by Nolte, second by Phillips to adjourn at 9:37. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m. 

 TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 

FROM: DR. PAMELA EWELL, SUPERINTENDENT 

RE: SPECIAL MEETING – BOARD MEETING 

TIME: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2022 

6:00 p.m. 

PLACE: Central Office – Board room 

304 1st Street 

Van Horne, Iowa 52346 

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES 

1. Call to Order 

Directors in Attendance: Becker, Ludeking, Nolte (via Zoom), Phillips, Thompson, Upah and Werning. 

A quorum was declared present. 

Also Present: Tim Fehr, Tandi Brannaman, Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke, and Mrs. Selk. 

2. Delegations, Communications, Considerations of Additional Items for the Agenda 

Communication from Director Ludeking regarding her concerns about locating a new elementary building in Van Horne and consideration of other locations. She also shared her ideas about keeping the Central Offices in their current location. 

3. Action Item #52 – Approval of Agenda 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the agenda. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

4. Action Item #53 – Shive-Hattery, Architecture and Engineering 

● Shive-Hattery Professional Services Contract 

● Tandi and Tim reviewed the timelines for a Bond Referendum and provided Q & A 

Motion by Phillips, second by Werning to secure the services of Shive-Hattery for Bond Referendum Support Service, Public Engagement Services, and Design Services as per their hourly estimate and Professional Services Contract. 

MOTION CARRIED THROUGH ROLL CALL VOTE 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Matt Nolte ended participation on Zoom following the discussion and vote at 7:22 p.m. 

5. Action Item #54 – Safety & Security – Camera Systems 

Discussion on install of new security cameras at Norway, Keystone, and Atkins. 

Competitive quotes from Infrastructure Technology Solutions and CDWG. 

Motion by Thompson, second by Phillips to approve the security cameras and online applications for Atkins, Norway and Keystone with Infrastructure Technology Solutions as the selected competitive quote. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

6. Action Item #55 – Bus RFP & Bids 

RFP and Bids for buses 

Motion by Thompson, second by Upah to approve the bus bids from Hoglund per RFP for $145,929 to be ordered as soon as possible. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

7. Policy Review 

Policy discussion. 

a. Policy 409.2 – Licensed Employee Unpaid Leave 

b. Policy 414.5 – Classified Employee Unpaid Leave 

Tabled – no action taken. 

9. Action Item #56 – Consent Agenda 

Motion by Phillips, second by Upah to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. 

1) HIRES 

a. Kalli Phinney, Special Ed. Associate, Keystone 

2) RESIGNATIONS 

a. Martha Wilson – Custodian, MS/HS 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

10. Action Item # 57 – Adjournment 

Motion by Phillips, second by Thompson to adjourn meeting at 9:24 p.m. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Meeting adjourned at 9:24 p.m.