TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board room
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346

6:00 PM – PUBLIC HEARING
Public Hearings are required to provide a platform for community members to directly express their opinions, concerns, and ideas on issues affecting their lives, thereby influencing decision-making processes and ensuring that diverse perspectives are considered by elected officials or governing bodies, ultimately leading to more informed and representative policies and actions within a community; essentially acting as a vital tool for transparency and citizen engagement.

HEARING – FY27 CERTIFIED BUDGET ADOPTION
6:03 PM President Thompson opened the Public Hearing. – No public comments
6:04 PM President Thompson closed the Public Hearing.

REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & CALL TO ORDER – 6:04 PM
Directors Present: Becker, Kaiser, Klein, Nolte (via phone), Shaw, Thompson
Directors Absent: Shanbacher
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Rob Libolt, Shawn Pfiffner, Jason West, Ryan Junge, Katie Bauder and Deputy Tiffany DeBoer

DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE

ACTION ITEM #97 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Klein, to approve the agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

OPEN FORUM – NONE

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT – Deputy Tiffany DeBoer
School Resource Officer

ADMINISTRATION REPORT – Dr. Bieschke
Administration Report

ACTION ITEM #98 – FY 27 CERTIFIED BUDGET APPROVAL
FY27 Certified Budget information: Benton CSD FY27 Budget presented at a property tax rate of $10.28 currently for FY27 comprised of General Fund Levy (Property Tax $7.43), Instructional Support Levy w/ 4% Income Surtax (Property Tax $.53), Management Levy $1.20, PPEL $.33, and Voted PPEL $.78 for a total Tax rate of $10.28 for FY27 Budget Publication.

FY 27 Certified Budget Notice of Public Hearing
FY 27 Tax Certification Page

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Shaw, to approve the FY27 Certified Budget.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #99 – GWAEA MENTORING AND INDUCTION CONTRACT
The Grant Wood AEA Mentoring and Induction Consortium pools together local and national resources to make certain that every school in the region has access to proven and research-based induction, mentoring and coaching programs. The program provides a mentor teacher that visits one-on-one with new teachers to the profession for their first two years. The cost is $6,700 per teacher.

Motion by Shaw, seconded by Becker, to approve the GWAEA mentoring and induction program contract.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #100 – 2026 PROSPECTIVE GRADUATES
The following linked document is a list of students who will graduate pending successful completion of all requirements for graduation.
2026 Graduates for Approval

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Klein, to approve the list of students for graduation pending all requirements are satisfactorily met.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #101 – MS/HS ACTIVITY ENTRANCE DOOR REPLACEMENT
The following linked documents are bids for the replacement of Entrance #3 (Activities). The current doors are original and rusted in various spots, hindering operation.
CR Glass
Liberty Doors
DHPace

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Shaw, to approve CR Glass to replace Entrance #3 at the MS/HS as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #102 – BUSINESS SERVICES
1. WARRANTS
2. ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
3. SUMMARY OF WARRANTS
4. FINANCIAL REPORTS
a. GENERAL FUND
b. ALL FUNDS REPORT
Motion by Klein, seconded by Shaw to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #103 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
*ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING, AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE
i) HIRES
(1) Stephanie Wieben – Transportation Secretary
(2) Daniel Woods – 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher & Head V Boys Wrestling Coach
(3) Ryan Fisher – Art Teacher – Atkins & Keystone shared
(4) Larry Carlson – Guidance Counselor – Keystone
(5) Victoria Claus – Preschool Associate – Atkins
(6) Vikolia DeReus – Head Sophomore Volleyball Coach
(7) Jessica Revoir – Food Service Substitute – MS/HS
(8) Vicky Cichoski – Color Guard Sponsor – MS/HS
(10) Chris Frimml – Head 7th Grade Boys Basketball & Head 7th Grade Girls Basketball
ii) TRANSFER
(1) Cynda Mehlert – 4 Year Old Preschool – Keystone
(2) Rachel Kruse – Special Education Instructional Coach – District Wide
(3) Denise Moeller – Special Education – Atkins
iii) RESIGNATIONS
(1) Alison Nichols – 8th Volleyball Coach
(2) Hailey Jacobs – 9th Volleyball Coach
(3) Kayla Wink – Preschool Associate – Atkins
(4) Dee Kulbartz – School Nurse – Norway
iv) OUT OF STATE TRIPS
(1) National Skills USA
v) MEETING MINUTES
(1) March 25, 2026 Board Meeting Minutes
vi) VOLUNTEERS
(1) Brian Kramer – Girls Golf
(2) Jordan Rettenmeier – Softball
vii) CONTRACTS
(1) GWAEA Mentoring & Induction Consortium Agreement
Motion by Shaw, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #104 – POLICY REVIEW
The following policies were reviewed by the board.
412.03 – Attendance Incentive-Food Service Employees (2nd Reading)
604.11 – Appropriate Use of Online Learning Platforms (2nd Reading)

Motion by Klein, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the policy revision and review as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

EXEMPT SESSION – 7:02 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 Klein, seconded by Kaiser to go into Exempt Session at 7:02 PM.
It has been moved and seconded to go into Exempt Session. Roll call vote to go into Exempt Session: DIRECTOR:
Becker – AYE, Kaiser – AYE, Klein – AYE, Nolte – AYE, Shaw – AYE, Thompson – AYE, Schanbacher – Absent.
MOTION CARRIED
Motion by Becker, seconded by Kaiser to come out of Exempt Session at 7:51 PM.
It has been moved and seconded to come out of Exempt Session. Roll call vote to come out of Exempt Session: DIRECTOR: Becker – AYE, Kaiser – AYE, Klein – AYE, Nolte – AYE, Shaw – AYE, Thompson – AYE, Schanbacher – Absent.
MOTION CARRIED

ACTION ITEM #105 – FY26 EMPLOYEE WAGES/ SALARIES NOT COVERED BY A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT
Recommended wages and salaries for all employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement were presented.

Motion by Klein, seconded by Shaw to approve the FY27 wages and salaries for employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement as presented for the 2026-2027 contract year.
Roll call vote to approve: DIRECTOR: Becker – AYE, Kaiser – AYE, Klein – AYE, Nolte – AYE, Shaw – AYE, Thompson – AYE, Schanbacher – Absent.
MOTION CARRIED

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Softball Concession Stand
Hiring Update
Legislation
Prom – Saturday, April 25th
Graduation Commencement- May 17, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

ACTION ITEM #106 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, to adjourn the board meeting at 8:12 PM
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE