TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION 

FROM: DR. PAMELA EWELL, SUPERINTENDENT 

RE: SPECIAL MEETING/WORK SESSION- BOARD MEETING 

TIME: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2022 

5:00 p.m. 

PLACE: Central Office – Board room 

304 1st Street 

Van Horne, Iowa 52346 

SPECIAL MEETING 

1. Call to Order 

Directors: Becker, Nolte, Thompson, Phillips, Werning and Upah 

A Quorum was declared present. 

Also Present: Rebecca Andreson (joined meeting at 6:32 p.m.), Dr. Ewell and Dr. Bieschke. 

2. Action Item #88 – Approval of Agenda 

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

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

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

Motion by Nolte, second by Werning to add to the agenda the discussion topic of Grundmeyer Search Firm for the Superintendent Search 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

4. Action Items #89 and #90: Closed Session 

a. 21.5(1)(i) – To discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate only where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the governmental body would have to pay for that property or reduce the price the governmental body would receive for that property. 

Motion by Thompson, second by Werning to move into closed session. 

Roll call vote to go into closed session: Directors BECKER – yes, NOLTE – yes, PHILLIPS – yes, THOMPSON – yes, WERNING – yes. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Motion by Nolte, second by Phillips to come out of closed session. 

Roll call vote to go into closed session: Directors BECKER – yes, NOLTE – yes, PHILLIPS – yes, THOMPSON – yes, UPAH – yes, WERNING – yes. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

No Action Taken 

5. Action Item #91 – Facilities Master Plan & Shive-Hattery, Architectural and Engineering 

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 for the G.O. Bond to include the following projects and scope of work not to exceed $48,500,000 and sales tax bonds estimated at $10,000,000: 

i. Atkins Elementary Addition 

ii. HS/MS HVAC and safety upgrades 

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

iv. New PK-6th grade elementary school 

Roll call vote: Directors BECKER – yes, NOLTE – yes, PHILLIPS – yes, THOMPSON – yes, UPAH – yes, WERNING – yes. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

6. Superintendent Report 

a. BOND LANGUAGE 

a. Information only 

i. Current example of petition/bond language 

Shall the Board of Directors of the Benton Community School District in the Counties of Benton, Iowa, and Tama, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $48,500,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new elementary building in Van Horne and to acquire and improve the site; to build, furnish and equip an addition to Atkins Elementary building and related remodeling; to implement HVAC systems and safety improvements at the Middle/High School building; to remodel, improve, furnish and equip existing spaces in the Middle/High School building, including a secure entryway? 

7. Action Item #92 – Adjournment 

Motion by Nolte, second by Thompson to adjourn meeting at 7:06 p.m. 

MOTION CARRIED 

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE 

Meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.