BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2026

6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting

Central Office – Boardroom, 304 1st Street, Van Horne, Iowa 52346

REGULAR MEETING

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 PM

Directors Present: Becker, Kaiser, Klein, Nolte, Schanbacher, Shaw, Thompson

Directors Absent: None

A quorum was declared present.

Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Jason West, Rob Libolt, Ryan Junge, Shawn Pfiffner, Amber Gale.

DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR THE AGENDA – NONE

ACTION ITEM #15 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Schanbacher, to approve the agenda as presented.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT

Foreign Exchange Student Process & Reflection

Student Recognition – Averie Gale

OPEN FORUM – NONE

ADMINISTRATION REPORT

September 2026 Admin Board Report

ACTION ITEM #16 – BUSINESS SERVICES

TheCertified Annual Report (CAR) and Annual Transportation reports have been certified. We continue to work on closing out FY26 and beginning FY27.

1. WARRANTS
2. ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
3. SUMMARY OF WARRANTS
4. FINANCIAL REPORTS
   1. GENERAL FUND
      1. FY26
      2. FY27
   2. ALL FUNDS REPORT
5. AUL Special Trust – Midamerica – Payment into trust accounts for second and final payments of early retirees for FY’25, and first payment of early retirees for FY’26. Amount of payment is $95,583.83.
6. Lane Changes – FY26
7. Fundraisers

Motion by Nolte, seconded by Shaw, to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #17 – ENGLISH LEARNERS (EL) MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT REQUEST FOR EXCESS COSTS

Districts may request modified supplemental amount (MSA) (i.e., spending authority) for EL programs from the SBRC for the costs in excess of weightings and other resources for providing its EL program.

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Klein, to approve EL Excess Costs – The district’s administration is authorized to submit a request to the SBRC for a modified supplemental amount of $34,206 due to excess costs of providing the EL program in the prior year.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #18 – SPECIAL EDUCATION MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT REQUEST FOR EXCESS COSTS

A district may request allowable growth and supplemental aid for a negative special education balance for the current school year. The supplemental aid payment will be calculated by the Department of Management after all special education balances have been finalized. If a district has a positive special education balance, they do not have the ability to request allowable growth and supplemental aid.

Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Becker, to approve special education deficit and seek allowable growth and supplemental aid in the amount of $601,126.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #19 – ESTABLISH AND APPOINT THE RECONSIDERATION COMMITTEE

In accordance with board policy regarding instructional materials and resource challenges, the board is formally establishing an ad hoc Book Review Committee. This committee will be tasked with reviewing challenged literary materials, evaluating their alignment with educational standards, and providing objective recommendations to the board.

Approval of this resolution formally creates the committee, establishes its charge and operational timeline, and confirms the appointed members listed below.

Proposed Committee Appointees:

• Administrator: Anna Selk, Associate Superintendent – Chair
• Teacher-Librarian: Chris Frimml, District Media Specialist
• Licensed Employee: Larry Carlson, Keystone Elementary Counselor
• Community Member: Stacie Gorkow
• Community Member: Gina Embray
• Community Member: Tammy Gibney

Motion by Klein, seconded by Kaiser, to approve the reconsideration committee as presented.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #20 – 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

• Kelly Ondracek – FS – MS/HS
• Jeffrey Harnish – Regular Route Bus Driver
• Bobbie Comisky – Asst 7th Volleyball Coach (due to numbers)

RESIGNATIONS

• Ashley Wahe – Transportation

MEETING MINUTES –

• August 19, 2026

CONTRACTS

• TAP Amendment
• Coca-Cola Agreement

VOLUNTEERS

• Adrian & Sara Erickson – Marching Band
• Thaddeus Hase – Marching Band
• Michelle Hines – Marching Band

Out-of-State Field Trips:

• FFA Out of State Travel 26-27
• Show Choir Out of State Travel

Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Nolte, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

ACTION ITEM #21 – POLICY REVIEW

• 402.04 – Gifts to Employees (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.01 – Student Appearance (slight change to align w/IASB)
• 502.02 – Care of School Property/Vandalism (1st Reading)
• 502.03 – Student Expression & Student Publications Code (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.03 R(1) – Student Expression & Student Publications Code Reg (Add regulation to align w/IASB)
• 502.04 – Student Complaints & Grievances (change to align w/IASB)
• 401.04 – Employee Complaints
• 502.05 – Student Lockers (1st Reading)
• 502.06 – Weapons (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.07 – Student Substance Use (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.08 – Search & Seizure (slight change to align w/IASB)
• 502.08 R(1) – Search & Seizure – Regulation (No change, aligns w/IASB)
• 502.08 E(1) – Search & Seizure Checklist (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.09 – Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies (just added note to bottom)
• 502.10 – Use of Motor Vehicles (change to align w/IASB)
• 502.11 – Threats (Rescind, no IASB Policy)
• 502.11 R(1) – Threats-Administrative Regulations (Rescind, no IASB Policy)
• 502.12 – Student Work Permits (Rescind, no IASB Policy)
• 502.13 – Student Use of Bicycles (Rescind, no IASB Policy)
• 502.14 – Freedom of Expression (Rescind, no IASB Policy)
• 705.05 – Federal Awards Compliance (1st Reading)
• 706.04 – Time and Effort (1st Reading)
• Motion by Schanbacher, seconded by Klein, to approve the policies and revisions as presented.

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE

SUPERINTENDENT REPORT

1. Congratulations
2. 9/11 Tribute
3. Prayer and Religious Expression Guidance. Senate File 2231 directs the Iowa Department of Education to annually distribute the most recent version of the Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression produced by the U.S. Department of Education to each superintendent of a school district and principal of a charter school. Superintendents please distribute to board members, principals and teachers as directed by this legislation.
4. Benton Article Binder
5. Final Audit Exit Meeting Tomorrow
6. IASB convention – Nov. 18 – 20
   • Benton Community Delegate
   • Registration and rooms to book?

ACTION ITEM #22 – ADJOURNMENT

Motion by Shaw, seconded by Nolte, to adjourn the board meeting at 7:13 PM

MOTION CARRIED ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE