TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 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, Thompson. Via phone: Nolte & Shaw.
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Jason West, Katie Bauder, Ryan Junge, Shawn Pfiffner & Phil Eastman.
DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE
ACTION ITEM #12 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Becker, to approve the agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
OPEN FORUM – NONE
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT – Anna Selk
Benton Career Fair – Upcoming on November 19th with Mark Perna as a keynote speaker.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
October 2025 Admin Board Report
ACTION ITEM #13 – CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT REPORT
Our certified enrollment is 1,426.10 students, which is down 49.5 students. This will equate to approximately $396,000 less in the budget. We have increased open enrollments by another 13.4 students ($107,200), helping to offset the loss of funding in our certified enrollment.
Motion by Becker, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the Certified Enrollment Count for 2025..
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
EARLY RETIREMENT PLAN – Discussion Only
Linked below is a list of eligible employees for early retirement, per requirements used last year which was reaching the age of 55 and having 20 years of continuous service in the district. The early retirement incentive offered last year was 35% of the base salary as well as paying $50 per unused sick day up to a maximum dollar amount of $6,000. The board will also need to consider if the plan is offered for one year or two.
- Eligible Employees
- Early Retirement Documents
ACTION ITEM #14 – NOVEMBER BOARD MEETING DATE RESCHEDULE
Due to board elections and Tier 2 canvas of votes, I would recommend a discussion about potentially moving our board meeting to Nov. 20th or Nov. 24th. This would allow the board to swear in elected board members in November versus December.
Motion By Kaiser, seconded by Becker, to move the November Board Meeting to Monday, November 24th at 6:00 PM.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #15 – BUSINESS SERVICES
FINANCIAL REPORTS
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #16 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
*ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING, AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE
- HIRES
- Mike Arnold – SE Associate – MS/HS
- Lisa Kirkpatrick – Robotics Assistant – MOU
- Heather Werning – SE Associate – Atkins
- Evan Woods – Asst Varsity Boys Wrestling
- Brett Heishman – MS Head Boys Wrestling
- John Rich – Asst Speech Coach & Spring Play Director
- Emily Garay – SE Associate – Norway
- Michelle Allers – SE Associate – Norway
- RESIGNATIONS
- Emily Fitzgerald – SE/Tech Associate – Atkins
- Ashley King – SE Associate – Norway
- Bryan Telgenhoff – Head MS Boys Wrestling
- Dawn Wauters – Food Service – MS/HS
- MEETING MINUTES –
- September 17, 2025
- CONTRACTS – NONE
- VOLUNTEERS
- Hope Covington & DaraLee Schnor – FFA Volunteers
- Maureen Litten & Nancy McCoy – Robotics Volunteers
- Jacob Worthen, Phil Eastman, Shawn Pfiffner, Alison Nichols, Kait Bonewitz – Girls Wrestling Volunteers
- Wyatt Bieschke & Jordan Thys – Boys Wrestling Volunteers
- Matthew & Jodi Hacker, Dustin Becker & Jennifer Flannigan – Show Choir
- Spanish Club 2027 SPAIN TRIP
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Becker, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #17 – POLICY REVIEW
104.E(1) is aligned to IASB recommendations.
104.E(1) – Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Complaint Form (New Exhibit)
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher to approve the policies and revisions as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #18 – CLOSED SESSION
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.
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, to go into Closed Session.
Roll call vote to go into Closed Session. DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
DISCUSSION
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Becker, to come out of Closed Session.
Roll call vote to come out of Closed Session. DIRECTOR: Kaiser – aye, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #19 – OPEN SESSION – STUDENT #1
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, 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, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #20 – OPEN SESSION – STUDENT #2
Motion by Becker, seconded by Schanbacher, 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, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #21 – OPEN SESSION – STUDENT #3
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Kaiser, 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, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #22 – OPEN SESSION – STUDENT #4
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded 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, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
ACTION ITEM #23 – OPEN SESSION – STUDENT #5
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, 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, Nolte – aye, Schanbacher – aye, Shaw – aye, Thompson – aye, Becker – aye.
MOTION CARRIED
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Finalization of IASB Convention Attendees-IASB convention – Nov. 20 – 22\
Audit
Blairstown Bus Barn
MS/HS Boilers
Security Grant – Front entry work
ACTION ITEM #24 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, to adjourn the board meeting at 7:35 PM
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Jim Magdefrau 