TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT

RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING (Rescheduled from July 16, 2025)

TIME: JULY 22, 2025

6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

PLACE: Central Office – Board room

304 1st Street

Van Horne, Iowa 52346

REGULAR MEETING

CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 PM

Directors Present: Directors Becker, Kaiser, Schanbacher, Shaw, Thompson and Werning.

A quorum was declared present.

Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Rob Libolt, Shawn Pfiffner, Ryan Junge, Katie Bauder, Phil Eastman, Jason West.

DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE

ACTION ITEM #140 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion by Kaiser, second by Werning, to approve agenda as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT – Anna Selk

District Career & Academic Plan & Career Planning

ADMINISTRATION REPORT

ACTION ITEM #141 – 25-26 HANDBOOKS

The handbooks were presented for approval.

• All Employee Handbook
• Building Secretaries FY25
• Custodial Handbook FY25
• Director Handbook FY25
• BCEA Handbook FY25
• Associates FY25
• Food Service FY25
• Transportation FY25
• District Secretaries FY25
• BC Elementary Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Manual – Overview of Changes
• BC Secondary Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment Manual – Overview of Changes
• Activities Handbook – No changes
• Benton Elementary Student & Parent Handbook – Overview of Changes
• Benton MS/HS Parent/Student Handbook – No Changes
• Benton Community Preschool Program Parent Handbook

Motion by Schanbacher, second by Shaw to approve the 2025-2026 handbooks as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #142 – BUSINESS SERVICES

Continued work to close FY24 and open FY25. We are also through Stage 1 edits to the CAR with the exception of some receipting to date. General fund expenditures are higher this month due to 2nd semester open enrollment billing. We will see an increase in Fund 33 and 36 spending with summer projects and transportation expenses.

WARRANTS

1. July GAAP Warrants
2. JULY FY 26 Warrants

ADDITIONAL WARRANTS

1. Additional JULY GAAP Warrants
2. Additional JULY FY 26 Warrants

SUMMARY OF WARRANTS

1. GAAP
2. FY 26

FINANCIAL REPORTS

1. GENERAL FUND
2. ALL FUNDS REPORT
3. CASH BALANCES – 6/30/25

Motion by Werning, second by Kaiser to approve the financial warrants and reports as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #143 – 2026 IASB & RSAI LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES

The Iowa Association of School Boards asks for input from local school boards in prioritizing their 2026 legislative platform. They ask that we review their 2025 legislative resolutions and submit four priorities chosen by our school board.

IASB 2025 Legislative Resolutions- The 24 priorities to choose from are circled

Dr Bieschke’s recommendation for IASB Legislative Priorities

1. Supplemental State Aid
2. Teacher Recruitment and Licensure
3. Mental Health
4. Local Accountability and Decision-Making

RSAI Legislative Priorities

RSAI Legislative Platform Survey

Dr Bieschke’s recommendation for RSAI Legislative Priorities

1. Adequate School Resources
2. Public School Priority
3. Staff Shortages
4. Local School Board Authority
5. Increasing Student Needs Including Poverty and Mental Health

Motion by Kaiser, second by Shaw to approve the IASB Legislative Priorities of Supplemental State Aid, Teacher Recruitment and Licensure, Mental Health, Local Accountability and Decision-Making and the RSAI priorities of Adequate School Resources, Public School Priority, Staff Shortages and Local School Board Authority.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #144 – CONSENT AGENDA

The Consent Agenda includes common topics.

*ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING, AND RELEASE FROM THE CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE

1. HIRES
   1. Ashley Wahe – Bus Driver
   2. Kurt Slouha – Bus Driver
   3. Lora Stevens – K-3 Special Education Associate – Keystone
   4. Brett Heishman – Head 7th Football Coach
   5. Gabby Foster – MS Cheer Sponsor

1. VOLUNTEERS
   1. Amy Rizzio – Dance
   2. Ryan Junge – Football
   3. Rich Fisher – Football
   4. Greg Fisher – Football
   5. Vikolia DeReus – Volleyball
   6. Tom Rickels, Jeremy Rinderknecht & Jim Nelson – Marching Band
   7. Katie Rickels, Heather Rinderknecht & Kelsy Nelson – Marching Band

1. RESIGNATIONS
   1. Dale Werning – MS/HS Custodian – Retiring
   2. Christy Barta – Special Education Associate – MS/HS

1. MEETING MINUTES
   1. June 18, 2025 – Regular Board Mtg
   2. June 20, 2025 – Special Board Mtg

1. CONTRACTS
   1. GWAEA – VAST Center Science Program Letter of Understanding (FOSS Kits) Estimate
   2. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa – Data Sharing Agreement
   3. School Improvement Consultant Shared Personnel Agreement – GWAEA
   4. Tri-State Travel Charter Bus Contract for NY Trip

1. MEETING DATES
   1. Board Meeting
   2. SIAC Meetings- October 1, 2025 – January 28, 2026 – April 8, 2026

Motion by Shaw, second by Kaiser to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #145 – POLICY REVIEW

Policy 503.09 – Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices (2nd Reading)

Regulation 503.09-R(1) – Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices – Regulation (2nd Reading)

The following policies are required policies and must be reviewed by the Board annually………….

103.0 – Long-Range Needs Assessment (No change from IASB)

103.R1 – Long-Range Needs Assessment – Regulation

505.8 – Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide Policy (Formerly Parental Invol) (Edits from IASB)

505.8-R(1) – Parent and Family Engagement-Building Level Regulation (NEW 1st Reading)

506.1 – Education Records Access (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(1) – Request of NonParent Exam or copies of records (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(2) – Authorization for release of records (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(3) – Request hearing on correction of records (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(4) – Request for examination of records (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(5) – Notification of Transfer of records (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(6) – Letter to parent regarding receipt of Subpoena (No change from IASB)

506.1E(7) – Juvenile Justice Agency Info Sharing Agreement (Edits from IASB)

506.1E(8) – Annual Notice (Edits from IASB)

506.1R(1) – Education Records Access – Regulation (No change from IASB)

506.2- Student Directory Information (Edits from IASB)

506.2E(1)- Authorization for Releasing Student Directory Information (Edits from IASB)

506.2R(1) – Use of Directory Information (Edits from IASB)

506.4 – Student Library Circulation Records (NEW 1st Reading)

The following Policies had updates due to changes in Iowa Law regarding Protected Classes/Gender Identity effective July 1, 2025………….

102 – Equal Educational Opportunity (Edits from IASB)

102.R(1)- Equal Educational Opportunity – Grievance Procedure (Edits from IASB)

102.E(1) – Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination (Edits from IASB)

102.E(2) – Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination (Edits from IASB)

102.E(3) – Notice of Section 504 Student and Parental Rights (Edits from IASB)

102.E(4) – Discrimination Complaint Form (Edits from IASB)

102.E(5) – Witness Disclosure Form (Edits from IASB)

104.E(2) – Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Witness Disclosure Form (New Exhibit)

104.E(3) – Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Disposition of Complaint Form (New Exhibit)

302.1 – Superintendent Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment (Edits from IASB)

303.2 – Administrator Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment (Edits from IASB)

401.1 – Equal Employment Opportunity (Edits from IASB)

600 – Goals and Objectives of the Education Program (Edits from IASB)

603.04 – Multicultural/Gender Fair Education (NEW 1st Reading)

605.01-R(1)- Instructional Materials Selection Regulation (No change from IASB)

710.01R(1) – School Food Program – School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaints (NEW Regulation)

710.01E(1) – School Nutrition Program Notices of Nondiscrimination (NEW Exhibit)

710.01E(2) – Child Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaint Form (NEW Exhibit)

Motion by Schanbacher, second by Shaw to approve the policy revision and review as presented.

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

-Summer Update

-Facilities Update- Secure Front Entries, Keystone Roof, Atkins playground, building prep, carpet, concrete, Atkins Gym Floor

-Blairstown Bus Barn

-Secure Front Entry Change Orders

-Beginning of the Year Board Member Video Updates if Needed

ACTION ITEM #146 – ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Kaiser, second by Schanbacher, to adjourn the board meeting at 7:10 PM

MOTION CARRIED

ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE