TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Board Room
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346
REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & CALL TO ORDER – 6:01 PM
Directors Present: Becker, Kaiser, Klein, Schanbacher, Shaw (via phone), Thompson
Directors Absent: Nolte
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Jason West, Brylee Bastian, Bonnie Martin, Shelly, Kellen & Brody Dorman, Kristi Wright, Stephanie Wieben, Mallory, T.C., Brielle & Calvin Daily, Mart Campbell, Matt & Jess Lacina and Anthony Bopp.
DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA – NONE
ACTION ITEM #8 – 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
- New staff members – Video Introductions
- Opening Session
- Student Recognition
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
August 2026 Admin Board Report
ACTION ITEM #9 – FY 27 ANNUAL ASSIGNMENTS
The assignments are required by Iowa Code.
Homeless liaison – Anna Selk
Equity Coordinator – Anna Selk
504 Coordinator – Anna Selk
Title IX Coordinator – Anna Selk
Child Abuse – abuse of students by school district employees – Investigators: Level I – Shawn Pfiffner, Katie Bauder, Anna Selk. Level II – Dr. James Bieschke, SRO/ Benton County Sheriff
All other administration assignments
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, to approve the annual assignments as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #10 – BUSINESS SERVICES
Work continues on the Certified Annual Report (CAR). Final ending balances have not been published by the Department of Education. We are waiting on these reports and balances and hope they will be available soon in order to close out FY 25.
- WARRANTS
- August GAAP Warrants
- August FY27 Warrants
- ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
- Additional GAAP Warrants
- Additional FY27 Warrants
- SUMMARY OF WARRANTS
- GAAP
- FY27
- FINANCIAL REPORTS
- GENERAL FUND REPORT GAAP FY26
- GENERAL FUND REPORT JULY FY27
- ALL FUNDS REPORT
- FALL ACTIVITY PAY SCHEDULE
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Klein, to approve the financial warrants and reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #11 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
*ALL HIRES/VOLUNTEERS ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE.
- HIRES
- Daniel Burke – SE Associate & Part time Bus Driver – MS/HS
- Christyn Breja – Counseling Secretary – MS/HS
- Lindsay Ginther – SE Associate – MS/HS
- Olivia Conway – SE Associate – Atkins Elementary
- Sophia Seeck – SE Associate – Atkins Elementary
- Ashley McMahon – Bus Driver
- Steve Hacker – Bus Driver
- Ron Wilhelmi – Part time Bus Driver
- Natalie Prohaska – 8th Volleyball Coach
- Allison Nichols – 7th Volleyball Coach
- Desteny Kacher – Food Service – MS/HS
- Jenna Ware – SE Associate – Atkins Elementary
- Vaughn Schulte – Part Time Bus Driver
- Dustin Mason – Part Time Bus Driver
- RESIGNATIONS
A. Monica Blair – Associate and Bus Driver
B. Jordan Myers – Food Service – MS/HS
C. Robert McGee – Custodian – MS/HS
- VOLUNTEERS
A. Jillian Lofing – Marching Band
B. Kyle Goodchild – Varsity Football Coach
C. Rich Fisher – Varsity Football Coach
D. Jeff Buch – Varsity Football Coach
E. Chris & Christine Neff, Jim & Ashly Nelson, Joe Zimmerman – Marching Band
F. Nick & Vanessa Palmer, Jesse Bries, Mike & Dawn Arnold – Marching Band
G. Camille Loughner, Rachel Burge, Teresa Long – Marching Band
H. Jeremy, Brandy & Noah Waters, Shawn & Miranda Bistline – Marching Band
I. Ryan & Laura McLaughlin, Robert & Krista WIley – Marching Band
J. Aric & Kelly Becker – Marching Band
K. Amy Rizzio & Maria Olson – Assistant Dance Coaches
- OPEN ENROLLMENT – NONE
- MEETING MINUTES –
- July 15,2026
- CONTRACTS
- FS Propane Contract – 2nd Option, $0.15 down, price per gallon $1.549 for a total of $6,570.00.
- Mount Mercy Student Teaching Agreement
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Becker, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #12 – POLICY REVIEW
503.11 – Disruptive Behavior – 2nd Reading
804.05 – Stock Prescription Medication Supply – 2nd Reading
607.01 – Student Guidance and Counseling Program – 2nd Reading
102 – Equal Educational Opportunity (Change to align w/IASB)
102 R(1) – Equal Educational Opportunity – Grievance Procedure (Change to align w/IASB)
102 E(2) – EEO Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination (Change to align w/IASB)
102 E(3) – Notice of Section 504 Student & Parental Rights (Change to align w/IASB)
102 E(4) – Discrimination Complaint Form (Old Version) replacing (w/IASB) cleaner look and changes
102 E(5) – WItness Disclosure Form (Old version) replacing (w/IASB) cleaner look and changes
102 E(6) – Disposition of Complaint Form (Old version) replacing (w/IASB) cleaner look and changes
710.01 – School Nutrition Program (Change to align w/IASB)
710.01 R(1) – SNP Civil Rights Complaints Procedure (Add regulation to align w/IASB)
710.01 E(1) – SNP Notices of Nondiscrimination (Add exhibit to align w/IASB)
710.01 E(2) – CHild Nutrition Programs Civil Rights Complaint Form (Add exhibit to align w/IASB)
Motion by Klein, seconded by Kaiser to approve the policy revision and review as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #13 – ANNUAL NOTICES
The linked notices are required by law to be approved annually.
Annual Notices
Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the annual notices as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Memoriam
List Employee Years of Service and Awards
Facilities Update
Bobcat Radio
ISJIT-Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust
ACTION ITEM #14 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Becker, to adjourn the board meeting at 7:07 PM
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
Jim Magdefrau 