TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board Room
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346

SCHOOL BOARD RECOGNITION MONTH

REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER – 6:02 PM
Directors Present: Directors Becker, Kaiser, Shaw, Thompson. Directors Nolte and Schanbacher were absent.
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr. Bieschke, Anna Selk, Rob Arnold, Ryan Junge, Shawn Pfiffner, Katie Bauder, Jason West,
Brady Gammill, Olivia Sadler, Hope Heck, Christine Petersen, Ross Petersen, Jenny Drahos, Nathan Drahos,
Tim Drahos, Lori Gleason, Dave Gleason and Tyler Maschino.

DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE

ACTION ITEM #112 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

RECOGNITION OF RETIREES
◦ Angie Bright Bio
◦ Jennifer Drahos Bio
◦ Cindy Frazier Bio
◦ Lori Gleason Bio
◦ Tyler Maschino Bio
◦ Christine Petersen Bio

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT- SENIOR EXIT INTERVIEW – Anna Selk

OPEN FORUM – None
Administration Report May 2025 – Dr Bieschke

ACTION ITEM #113 – BUSINESS SERVICES
WARRANTS
ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
SUMMARY OF WARRANTS

FINANCIAL REPORTS
GENERAL FUND REPORT
ALL FUNDS REPORT
SUMMER PAY SCHEDULE BASEBALL & SUMMER PAY SCHEDULE
FY26 MEAL PRICE RECOMMENDATION

Motion by Becker, second by Kaiser, to approve the warrants, financial reports, and purchases as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #114 – CHROMEBOOK PURCHASE
Mr. Maschino is recommending the purchase of 380 Chromebooks for grades 4, 5, and 9. This is part of a rotational process to keep current technology in students’ hands.

Motion by Shaw, second by Kaiser, to approve the purchase of 380 Chromebooks as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #115 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.

• All hires are contingent on background check, proper licensing, & release from current contract if applicable.

HIRES
• Alexa Wilcox, 3rd grade teacher, Keystone
• Danielle Fisher, Summer School Teacher, Atkins
• Brylee Bastian, Summer School Teacher, Atkins
• Angel Brecht, Summer School Teacher, Keystone
• Ashley Wahe, Sub Bus Driver
• Chloe Smith, Vocal Music Teacher, Atkins & Keystone
• Katelyn Hyslope, Special Education Associate, Keystone
• Chelsea Zittergruen, Preschool Associate, Atkins
• Gabrielle Foster, 4th Grade Teacher, Norway
• Maddie Steffen, 6th Grade Teacher, Norway
COACHING AND SPONSOR HIRES
• Rachel Bergert, Norway Student Council Co-Sponsor
• Morgan DeRycke, Norway Student Council Co-Sponsor
• Jamie Telgenhoff, 7-8 Head Cross Country Coach
TRANSFER
• Alyssa Schmuecker, Norway Intermediate Vocal Music
• Emily Braley, 4-6 Intervention/ELO (TAG)
RESIGNATIONS
• Emily DeNeve, Interventionist and TAG, Norway
• Amber Eckles, 6th Grade, Norway
• Linda Gessner, Atkins Preschool Associate
• Larry Carlson, MS/HS Professional Development/Instructional Coach
• Kalie Heidemann, Preschool Associate, Keystone
• Christine West, Special Education Associate, Norway

COACHING AND SPONSOR RESIGNATIONS
• Brooke Moenck, MS Cheerleading Sponsor
• Rhonda Vogel, Norway Student Council Co-Sponsor
• Kandi Busta, Norway Student Council Co-SPonsor
• Emily Lefebvre, Asst Speech Sponsor
• Larry Carlson, 8th Grade Football Coach, Drivers Ed, Sub Bus Driver
MEETING MINUTES –
• April 16, 2025
CONTRACTS
• Vista Software Agreement
• 25-26 Benton Community- Communication Services Agreement
• Memorandum of Agreement – Junior Achievement
OUT OF STATE TRIP REQUESTS
• Overnight trip for Show Choir to Minneapolis (25-26 School Year)
• Washington DC/ New York trip for Concert Choir/ Band (Summer of 2026)

Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #116 – BCEA NEGOTIATIONS AND CONTRACT FOR FY26
We settled with BCEA on May 6th. The tentative agreement was ratified by the union and is ready to be presented to the board.
• Salary Schedule
• Master Contract

Summary:
• $525 ON THE BASE
Motion by Kaiser, second by Becker, to approve the tentative agreement reached with the BCEA for the 2025-2026 contract year.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #117 – EXEMPT SESSION – 7:20 PM
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.

Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to go into Exempt Session.
Roll call vote to go into exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to come out of Exempt Session.

Roll call vote to come out of exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #118 – FY26 EMPLOYEE WAGES/ SALARIES NOT COVERED BY A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT – 8:05 PM

Summary sheet provided recommending wages and salaries for all employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
District Summary Sheet

Motion by Becker, second by Shaw, to approve the FY26 wages and salaries for employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement as presented for the 2025-2026 contract year.

Roll call vote to approve the FY26 wages and salaries for employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement as presented for the 2025-2026 contract year: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #119 – CLOSED SESSION – 8:08 PM
As per Iowa Code 21.5(e) To discuss whether to conduct a hearing or to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student(s), unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of the student if the student is a minor.

Student #1
Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to go into Closed Session.
Roll call vote to go into exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

Motion by Shaw, second by Kaiser, to come out of Exempt Session.

Roll call vote to come out of exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #120 – OPEN SESSION – 8:16 PM
Motion by Kaiser, second by Becker, to approve the consent agreement for the student who is subject to the suspension.

Roll call vote to approve the consent agreement for the student who is subject to the suspension:
DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #121 – CLOSED SESSION – 8:17 PM
As per Iowa Code 21.5(e) To discuss whether to conduct a hearing or to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student(s), unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of the student if the student is a minor.

Student #2
Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to go into Closed Session.
Roll call vote to go into exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw, to come out of Exempt Session.

Roll call vote to come out of exempt session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #122 – OPEN SESSION – 8:25 PM
Motion by Becker, second by Shaw, to approve the consent agreement for the student who is subject to the suspension.

Roll call vote to approve the consent agreement for the student who is subject to the suspension:
DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye
MOTION CARRIED

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
◦ Special Meeting Date for Student Disciplinary Hearing
◦ Softball complex is completed

ACTION ITEM #123 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, second by Becker, to adjourn the board meeting at 8:35 pm.