TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: JUNE 18, 2025
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board room
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER – 6:03 PM
Directors Present: Directors Becker, Kaiser Nolte(via phone), Schanbacher, Shaw(via phone), Thompson and Werning.
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Rob Arnold and Rob Libolt.
DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE
ACTION ITEM #124 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kaiser, second by Werning, to approve agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
OPEN FORUM – NONE
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT – Anna Selk
ACTION ITEM #125 – DISTRICT INSURANCE APPROVAL
The total premium for district property insurance for FY26 is $660,641, which is an approximately $20,000 increase from last fiscal year. In FY25, the district purchased a deductible buy down policy that enabled the district to mitigate the financial risk of a catastrophic wind or hail damage event. This year, it is recommended the district purchase the same type of policy through a storm protection fund created by a 28E agreement involving many schools in the state of Iowa. Jester Insurance will manage the policy and it provides the same coverage at a lower cost to the district. As a reference for the need of this policy, while unlikely, if the district had all buildings and contents destroyed by wind or hail, our deductible would be roughly $832,674. This policy costs the district $46,295.
Keystone Insurance FY26 Premium
Storm Protection Fund
-Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to approve the 2025-2026 Insurance quote with the storm protection fund resolution as stated below…..
TO PARTICIPATE IN THE STORM PROTECTION FUND, AN IOWA CODE CHAPTER 28E
ENTITY AND CHAPTER 670 RISK POOL
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has received the renewal information for wind and
hail property insurance coverage; and
WHEREAS, the deductible under the wind and hail coverage under the policy is a
percentage of the value insured; and
WHEREAS, the Storm Protection Fund provides a means to manage and contain
deductible costs associated with wind and hail insurance coverage.
NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:
1. The Board of Directors authorizes the District to Join the Storm Protection Fund,
and to pay all Contributions as required by the Storm Protection Fund.
Passed and approved this _18_ day of _June__, 202 _5__.
Roll call vote to approve the 2025-2026 Insurance quote with the storm protection fund resolution as stated.
DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #126 – SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER 28E AGREEMENT
Work has been completed on a 28E agreement between the district and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to provide a School Resource Officer (SRO) in the district for the 25-26 school year. The total cost to the district is $91,020.12. This can be funded by the management fund.
Motion by Werning, second by Becker, to approve the 2025-2026 28E agreement with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office for a full-time SRO.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #127 – GWAEA AGREEMENT FOR TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
The following agreement is for 1 full time technology specialist to be assigned to Benton Community to cover duties that Mr. Maschino performed before his retirement. Grand Wood AEA will assign a full time technology specialist to be physically present in the district each day and also provide a tech team that can come to the district as needed. Our assigned technology specialist is Allan Hines. Allan happens to live in Atkins and his children attend Benton Community!
Motion by Schanbacher, second by Kaiser, to approve the 2025-2026 agreement for technology services with Grant Wood AEA.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #128 – FY26 SCHOOL REGISTRATION FEES
No increase to the registration fees, but a proposal to increase the activity pass fees due to the WaMaC gate fees going up for next year to $7.00.
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to approve the 2025-2026 Registration and Activity Ticket fees as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
ACTION ITEM #129 – BUSINESS SERVICES
June 30 is the fiscal year close and work is being done to finalize the year and prepare for FY ‘26. Purchase orders are currently being received from buildings with orders to be submitted after July 1st. Auditors completed their first day visit June 3rd and will continue the process of the district audit in September. The Certified Annual Report, sometimes referred to as the “CAR” will be started soon for FY25.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #130 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
* All hires are contingent on background check, proper licensing, & release from current contract if applicable.
- HIRES
Austin Heinsius, 8th Social Studies, Asst Varsity Football, 7th Girls Basketball
Alison Mundt, Summer School Associate – Keystone
Lyndy Roost, Summer School Associate – Keystone
Madelyn Kolek, 3rd Grade Teacher – Atkins
Brittanie Reid, Co-Coach – HS Cheer Sponsor (shared w/Draman)
Bridget Speer, 0.5 FTE Talented & Gifted Coordinator
Cody Wright, L2 Baseball Coach
Kandee Kaiser, Special Ed Associate – MS/HS
Ingrid Tran Lam, Summer Weight Lifting Special Ed Associate – MS/HS
Taylor Nickell, 3 yr old Preschool FTE 0.8 – Keystone
Zoe Lampe, K-3 Art – Atkins & Keystone
Ashley King, Special Ed Associate – Norway
Mary Van Veldhuizen, Elementary Counselor – Keystone
Amanda Weber, Special Ed Associate – Keystone
Angel Brecht, Summer School Teacher – Keystone
- VOLUNTEES – None
- RESIGNATIONS
Taylor Warren, English Teacher – MS/HS
Katelyn Huslope, Associate – Keystone
Jeanette Ziegenhorn, Art/Technology Teacher – Keystone/Atkins
Romello Hidalgo-Monjaras, Asst Wrestling
Ashley Lueckenotto, 3rd Grade – Atkins
Garret Albers, 7th girls basketball
Vicky Cichoski, Spring Play – MS/HS
- TRANSFERS
Emily Schulte from Counselor – Keystone to 9th ELA – MS/HS
Hollie Barth, Special Ed Associate – Atkins to Attendance Assoc. MS/HS
- MEETING MINUTES
- CONTRACTS
GWAEA Contract for Transfer of State Funding
Terpstra Hoke and Associates Audit Agreement
BVU Teacher Placement Agreement
Motion by Werning, second by Kaiser, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #131 – POLICY REVIEW
- Discussion on Benton creating a policy for Sex Offender Registry and School Grounds. Guidance presented from SAI and our Law Firm, Ahlers and Cooney. No policy created, we will continue as we have been, following the guidelines stated in the law.
Sex Offender Registrants on School Property:
- Sex Offender Registry Guidance from SAI
- Iowa Code 629A.113
- Example School District Policy
- Policy Discussion on Sex Offender Registry and School Grounds
- Policy 503.09 – Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices (1st Reading)
- Regulation 503.09-R(1) – Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices – Regulation (1st Reading)
- 507.5 – Emergency Drills (No Changes from IASB)
- 507.8 – Emergency School Closings (No IASB Policy, but revisions recommended)
- 507.8R1– Emergency School Closings – Administration Regulation(No IASB Policy)
- 602.4– Curriculum Revision (No IASB Policy)
- 602.5– Elementary Curriculum (No IASB Policy)
- 602.6– Middle School Curriculum (No IASB Policy)
- 603.10– Adult Education (No IASB Policy)
- 603.14– Physical Education (Edits from IASB)
- 603.15– Co-Curricular Activities (No IASB Policy)
Motion by Kaiser, second by Beckter to approve the policy revision and review as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #132 – CLOSED SESSION – 7:30 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 Werning to go into Closed Session.
Roll call vote to go into Closed Session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to come out of Closed Session.
Roll call vote to come out of the Closed Session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #133 – OPEN SESSION – 7:55 PM
Motion by Becker, Second by Schanbacher toapprove the expulsion consent agreement for the student who is subject to expulsion.
Roll call vote to approve the expulsion consent agreement for the student who is subject to expulsion.: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #134 – CLOSED SESSION- SUPERINTENDENT EVALUATION – 8:04 PM
As per 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.
Motion by Kaiser, second by Werning to go into Closed Session.
Roll call vote to go into Closed Session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to come out of Closed Session. – 8:20 PM
Roll call vote to come out of the Closed Session: DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Shaw – aye, Thomoson – aye, Becker – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Werning – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Preliminary Aid and Levy- Tax rate will be lower than last year at $10.27
Construction Update and other projects such as concrete, carpet, etc.
District Newsletter, called the Bobcat Bulletin, to be mailed June 30th
ACTION ITEM #135 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to adjourn the board meeting at 8:39 PM.
Jim Magdefrau 