TIME: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board room
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346
5:00 – WORK SESSION WITH SHIVE-HATTERY
1. CALL TO ORDER
Directors Present: Directors Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Thompson, Upah and Werning
Others Present: Dr. Bieschke and Dr. Ewell
2. ACTION ITEM #66 – APPROVE AGENDA
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to approve work session agenda.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
3. SHIVE-HATTERY ARCHITECTS AND CONSTRUCTION
DISCUSSION TOPICS/Q & A:
● Shive-Hattery – Timelines for Bond Referendum
4. FACILITIES MASTER PLAN
5. ACTION ITEM #67 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Nolte, second by Ludeking to adjourn work session at 6:06 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Work Session Adjourned at 6:06 p.m.
October 19, 2022 – REGULAR MEETING 6:00 P.M
1. CALL TO ORDER
DIRECTORS: Becker, Ludeking, Nolte, Thompson, Upah and Werning
A quorum was declared present
Also Present: In addition to Dr. Ewell and Dr. Bieschke, new teachers Judy Boerm, Chris Chapman, Tammy Franck, Bethannie Fox, Chris Frimml, Claire Hentges, Ethan Kaiser, Ashley Luckenotto, Kelsey Madsen, Jordan Meyer, Candace Mitchell, Jamie Mnayer, Abby Neve, Abby Swiatly, Brian Voss and Claire White attended. Members of the general public: Lana Robison, Jenny Becker, Valeria Close, Lindsey Colby and TJ Colby.
2. ACTION ITEM #68 – DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA
ADDITIONAL ITEM REQUESTED TO BE ADDED TO THE AGENDA – Mike Embretson as 7th grade girls’ basketball coach
Motion by Ludeking, second by Upah to add Mike Embretson as 7th grade girls’ basketball coach to agenda.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
3. ACTION ITEM #69 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve agenda.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
4. INTRODUCTIONS OF NEW STAFF
a. Judy Boerm, Chris Chapman, Tammy Franck, Bethannie Fox, Chris Frimml, Claire Hentges, Ethan Kaiser, Ashley Lueckenotto, Kelsey Madsen, Cynda Mehlert, Jordan Meyer, Candace Mitchell, Jamie Mnayer, Abby Neve, Abby Swiatly, Brian Telgenhoff, Brian Voss, Claire White, Marie Wilhelm
5. OPEN FORUM
a. The following individuals wanted to speak to the board: TJ Colby, Lindsey Colby and Jenny Becker.
TJ Colby: Expressed concerns regarding student safety and his communications with school administrator.
Lindsey Colby: Expressed similar concerns regarding student safety.
Jenny Becker: Expressed similar concerns regarding student safety.
6. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT
The results from our spring 2022 survey to the inform Board of our Long Range Goals were presented.
TONY VANDERZYL – IOWA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS – was on Zoom and provided a general overview of the survey deployed last spring to gather input on our long-range needs assessment.
General overview summary from this specific survey:
1. Almost all staff and parents believe that parents must be partners in education.
2. Most staff and parents report that the local school board can have a positive impact on student achievement.
3. A high percentage of respondents say that the district standards are clear and rigorous.
4. Most teachers agree that The Iowa Core is fully implemented.
Improvement Recommendations from this specific survey:
1. The schools should place major emphasis on effective instruction, the content and rigor of the Iowa Core Standards, and on active student engagement in the classroom.
2. All staff and parents need to know that virtually all students can learn at high levels, that barriers can be overcome, and that major improvements can and will be made in student achievement.
3. The district should improve the local assessment system to align to the content and rigor of the Iowa Core Standards.
4. It is important to ensure that all stakeholders know how leadership teams are organized and understand how they have a voice in decision making.
Mrs. Selk provided a summary of the input gathered from SIAC last Wed. evening. Our next steps will be to determine long-range goals from this data and input.
No Action Taken
8. ACTION ITEM #70 – CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT REPORT & STUDENTS-IN-SEATS REPORT
i. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
a. Includes all resident and open enrolled OUT students
b. Also includes fractions of a student count for home school assistance program, concurrent courses with community colleges, a half-student count for 4-year old Preschool students
c. Is an important number!
d. Drives our budget for the next year – every resident student matters (as well as our non-resident students)
Students in seats report
a. Is also an important number to track
b. Includes open enrolled IN students, dual enrollment for homeschooled students, and tuition in students
c. Impacts our class size and count
RESOURCES:
CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT COMPARISON WITH OTHER GWAEA SCHOOLS
Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the Certified Count for fall 2022.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
9. EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN
Each fall the list of employees eligible for early retirement is submitted to the Board. If the Board so elects to offer the plan, it is presented and reviewed.
Information was presented to the Board for discussion.
No action was taken at this time – information only.
10. ACTION ITEM #71 – APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES
Discussion was held regarding appointing the following committees with the understanding that membership can and will change due to factors such as volunteer availability or volunteer recommendations by the Board or administration.
Motion by Nolte, second by Ludeking to approve the Board Assigned Committees as presented
SIAC – School Improvement Advisory Committee
FSAC – Facility Study Advisory Committee
Calendar Committee
Citizen Facilities and Capital Improvements Committee – for Bond Referendum
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
11. ACTION ITEM #72 – BUSINESS SERVICES:
Positive fund balances continue to exist and of note is that supplemental state aid payments have begun and helped to provide for rising costs in the budget. Expenses have seemed to level out this month with lower amounts on the bill list compared to July and August of FY’23 as well as September of FY23.
Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
WINTER ACTIVITY PAY SCHEDULE
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
12. DISTRICT DIRECTOR MAP
INFORMATION – Review of new District Director Map.
Next steps
1. Date for presenting the plan to the board for final approval via Board Resolution – This can occur between November 15, 2022, and May 15, 2023.
2. Map and Board Resolution goes to the Secretary of State for approval.
3. Once approved, Dr. Ewell will send same set of paperwork to each county Auditor and the AEA.
Information only – no action
13. ACTION ITEM #73 – POLICY REVIEW
Motion by Thompson, second by Nolte to approve the policies and revisions as presented.
Policy 414.5 – Classified Employee Unpaid Leave
Policy 409.2 – Licensed Employee Special Leave
Policy 903.4 – Citizen Assistance to School Personnel
Policy 903.7 – Public Conduct on School Premises
Policy 904.6 – Visitors of the School District Buildings and Sites
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
14. ACTION ITEM #74 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
*ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING, AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE
MOTION RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Consent Agenda as presented with the exception of Shive-Hattery Radon Testing, which was tabled.
HIRES
1. Kelly Ridenour – Associate – Special Education, assigned to Keystone Elementary
2. Bryan Telgenhoff – MS Wrestling Coach
MEETING MINUTES –
CONTRACTS
1. Shive-Hattery Radon Testing – TABLED
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
15. ACTION ITEM #75, #76, #77- SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Bond referendum schedule
UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS
a) Oct. 19, 5:00 p.m., Work Session, Special Session
b) Oct. 26, 5:00 p.m., Work Session, Special Session
c) Nov. 2, 5:00 p.m., Work Session, Special Session
d) Nov. 9, 5:00 p.m., Work Session, Special Session
e) Nov. 16, 6:00 p.m., Regular meeting
f) Dec. 21, 6:00 p.m., Regular meeting
g) Action Item #75 – CLOSED SESSION
Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to go into closed session.
o Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i) to “evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.”
Roll call vote to go into Closed Session:
Directors: Becker – Aye, Ludeking – Aye, Nolte – Aye, Thompson – Aye, Upah – Aye, and Werning – Aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Action Item #76 – Motion by Upah, second by Nolte to go out of closed session.
Roll call vote to leave Closed Session:
Directors: Becker – Aye, Ludeking – Aye, Nolte – Aye, Thompson – Aye, Upah – Aye, and Werning – Aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
b. Dr. Pamela Ewell, Superintendent, announced her retirement effective June 30, 2023. Dr. Ewell shared her appreciation for the opportunity to lead the school district since 2019 with the support from staff and the school board. She shared how grateful she is for working alongside a high quality and caring staff who focus on students and their wellbeing and progress in school. She reminisced about the successes experienced since 2019 in regard to advances and gains the school has made as well as the challenges during the pandemic and derecho storm. Dr. Ewell has been a superintendent for the past 14 years and is looking forward to retirement so that she can spend more time with her family and grandchildren. She has 4 grandchildren and 1 more coming next spring and retirement will allow for travel and family time.
c. More information will be forthcoming regarding her retirement and replacement.
d. Action Item #77 – Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to accept the retirement, effective June 30, 2023, of Dr. Ewell and initiate the process of replacing the retiring superintendent.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
16. ACTION ITEM #78 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Upah, second by Nolte to adjourn meeting at 9:30 p.m.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Jim Magdefrau 