TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 

FROM: DR. PAMELA EWELL, SUPERINTENDENT 

RE: SPECIAL MEETING – BOARD MEETING 

TIME: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2022 

5:00 p.m. 

PLACE: Central Office – Board room 

304 1st Street 

Van Horne, Iowa 52346 

Special Work Session 

1. CALL TO ORDER – Call to Order at 5:02 p.m. 

DIRECTORs: Ludeking, Nolte, Thompson, Upah and Werning. Director Phillips arriving later in the meeting. 

A Quorum was declared present. 

ALSO PRESENT: Dr. Ewell, Dr. Bieschke Melisa Venneman, Anna Selk. 

2. ACTION ITEM – 81 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA 

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

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

3. ACTION ITEM #82 – MATT GILLASPIE – PIPER SANDLER, FINANCIAL ADVISOR, 

a. BOND REFERENDUM AND FUNDING CAPITAL PROJECTS 

b. Dr. Bieschke reviewed committed funds 

Matt Gillaspie, Financial Advisor from Piper-Sandler, reviewed the updated options to fund the projects and scope of Facilities Improvements and Capital Projects. 

a. Atkins Elementary Addition 

b. HS/MS HVAC and safety upgrades 

c. HS/MS Main office – remodel and improve existing space into a secure entryway and main office space 

d. New PK-6th grade elementary school 

Motion by Nolte, second by Phillips to approve the following projects from the Master Facility Plan, as presented by Piper Sandler & Co. and Shive-Hattery to include the following projects and scope of work not to exceed $48,500,000 from a General Obligation Bond: 

a. Atkins Elementary Addition 

b. HS/MS HVAC and safety upgrades 

c. HS/MS Main office – remodel and improve existing space into a secure entryway and main office space 

d. New PK-6th grade elementary school 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

4. SHIVE-HATTERY, ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING 

a. Tandi Brannaman & Tim R. Fehr 

b. Information on capital projects, timelines 

No action taken. 

5. ACTION ITEM #83 – FACILITY and CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT MASTER PLAN 

a. LOCATION FOR A NEW PK-6TH BUILDING 

Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to approve the location for a new elementary school to be in Van Horne, Iowa, with the anticipated approval of a General Obligation Bond on March 7, 2023. 

Roll Call Vote: Ludeking – No, Nolte – Yes, Phillips – Yes, Thompson – Yes, Upah – Yes, and Werning – Yes. 

Motion Carried 

6. ACTION ITEM #84 – BOND COUNSEL 

Motion by Nolte, second by Werning to Approve Beth Grob from Ahlers Law Firm bond counsel for the March 7, 2023 bond election process. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

7. SUPERINTENDENT REPORT 

a. CLOSED SESSION NOV. 9 MEETING – 5:00 p.m. 

i. LAND ACQUISITION DISCUSSION 

b. CLOSED SESSION – NOV. 16 MEETING 

c. CITIZEN COMMITTEE 

d. MAYORS & OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS LUNCH AND LEARN 

e. SIAC DATES 

i. April 5, 2023 – DATE CHANGE 

8. ACTION ITEMS #85 & 86 – CLOSED SESSION: 

a. 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.” 

Action Item #85: Motion by Phillips, second by Upah to move into closed session. 

Roll call vote to go into closed session: Ludeking – Yes, Nolte – Yes, Phillips – Yes, Thompson – Yes, Upah – Yes, and Werning – Yes. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Action Item #86: Motion by Nolte, second by Upah to move out of closed session. 

Roll call vote to come out of closed session: Ludeking – Yes, Nolte – Yes, Phillips – Yes, Thompson – Yes, Upah – Yes, and Werning – Yes. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

No Action Taken 

9. ACTION ITEM #87 – ADJOURNMENT 

Motion by Upah, second by Werning to adjourn the meeting at 8:09. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m.