TO: BENTON COMMUNITY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FROM: DR. JAMES BIESCHKE, SUPERINTENDENT
RE: REGULAR BOARD MEETING
TIME: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026
6:00 p.m. – Regular Meeting
PLACE: Central Office – Boardroom
304 1st Street
Van Horne, Iowa 52346
REGULAR MEETING
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & CALL TO ORDER – 6:01 PM
Directors Present: Becker, Kaiser, Klein, Shaw, Thompson
Directors Absent: Nolte, Schanbacher
A quorum was declared present.
Also present: Dr Bieschke, Anna Selk, Melisa Venneman, Jason West, Rob Libolt, Ryan Junge, Katie Bauder,
Phil Eastman, Anthony Bopp & Kelly Ondracek.
DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, CONSIDERATIONS OF ADDITIONAL AGENDA ITEMS – NONE
ACTION ITEM #23 – APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Shaw, to approve the agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT REPORT
Pistons to Pathways Board Presentation
OPEN FORUM
Input was provided by patron regarding training and overall culture & climate of the food service department.
ADMINISTRATION REPORT
ACTION ITEM #24 – CERTIFIED ENROLLMENT REPORT
Our certified enrollment is 1,434.15 students, which is up 8 students. While this is positive, we would anticipate still being on budget guarantee. We have increased open enrollments by another 17 students, which is a positive as well.
Motion by Klein, seconded by Becker, to approve the Certified Enrollment Count for 2026.
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 were 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 #25 – SCHOOL VEHICLE PURCHASE
Linked below are three quotes for a new pickup for the district. The recommendation would be to purchase the chevy pickup for sale from Thys Chevrolet in Blairstown.
• Thys Chevrolet, Blairstown, IA• McGrath Chevrolet, Cedar Rapids, IA• Willis Chevrolet, Granger, IA
Motion by Shaw, seconded by Klein, to approve the quote for purchase of a district pickup from Thys Chevrolet.
This includes the addition of $2,840.00 for add ons for a total of $53,740.00.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #26 – BUSINESS SERVICES
WARRANTS
ADDITIONAL WARRANTS
SUMMARY OF WARRANTS
FINANCIAL REPORTS
General Fund Report
All Funds Report
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Klein, to approve the warrants and financial reports as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #27 – CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda includes common topics.
*ALL HIRES ARE CONTINGENT ON BACKGROUND CHECK, PROPER LICENSING, AND RELEASE FROM CURRENT CONTRACT IF APPLICABLE
a. HIRES
• Kaitlyn Brocka - Special Education Associate - MS/HS
• Carmanda Camacho - Special Education Associate - Atkins Elementary
b. RESIGNATIONS
• Barb Johnson - Food Service - MS/HS
• Alison Nichols - 7th Grade Volleyball Coach
c. MEETING MINUTES
September 16, 2026
d. CONTRACTS
• Kirkwood Student Teaching Contract
e. VOLUNTEERS
• Matt & Jessica Lacina – Band/Vocal
• Justin Lorenzen – Band/Vocal
• Amanda Watson – Band/Vocal
• Theresa Bries – Band/Vocal
• Jacob Worthen – Girls Wrestling
• Phil Eastman – Girls Wrestling
• Kaitlyn Bonewitz – Girls Wrestling
• Elias Bieschke – Boys Wrestling
• Ben Petton – Boys Wrestling
• Gene Pilcher – Boys Wrestling
• Jordan Thys – Boys Wrestling
• Michael & Dawn Arnold – Show Choir
f. TRIPS – NONE
Motion by Shaw, seconded by Klein, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
ACTION ITEM #28 – POLICY REVIEW
502.02 – Care of School Property/Vandalism (2nd Reading)
502.05 – Student Lockers (2nd Reading)
705.05 – Federal Awards Compliance (2nd Reading)
706.04 – Time and Effort (2nd Reading)
503.04 – Good Conduct Rule (Change align w/IASB)
503.08 – Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence (no change to policy) *
503.11 – Disruptive Behavior (1st Reading)
503.11(R1) – Disruptive Behavior – Building Level Policy Procedure (Add Regulation)
503.11(R2) – Disruptive Behavior – Students with an IEP (Add Regulation)
701.05 – Fiscal Management (1st Reading) *
701.05(R1) – Fiscal Management – Financial Metrics (Add Regulation) *
804.07 – Radon Mitigation (1st Reading) *
804.07(R1) – Radon Mitigation (Add Regulation) *
900 – Principles and Objectives for Community Relations (No change, aligns w/IASB)
901 – Public Examination of School District Records (No change, aligns w/IASB)
901.02 – Board Proceedings (Rescind, no IASB policy)
902.01 – News Media Relations (1st Reading)
902.02 – News Conferences and Interviews (No change, aligns w/IASB)
902.03 – News Releases (1st Reading)
902.04 – Live Broadcast or Recording (just added note to bottom)
902.05 – Board-Community Relations (Rescind, no IASB policy)
903.01 – School – Community Groups (just added note to bottom)
903.02 – Community Resource Persons and Volunteers (change to align w/IASB)
903.03 – Visitors to School District Buildings & Sites (change to align w/IASB)
903.04 – Public Conduct on School Premises (No change, aligns w/IASB)
903.05 – Distribution of Materials (1st Reading)
903.05(R1) – Distribution of Materials – Regulation (Add Regulation)
903.06 – Organization and Dissolution of Citizens Advisory Committee (Rescind, no IASB policy)
903.07 – Citizens’ Complaints About School Personnel (Rescind, no IASB policy)
904.02 – Advertising and Promotion (change to align w/IASB)
904.07 – Public Performance by Students (Rescind, no IASB policy)
904.08 – Contests for Students (Rescind, no IASB policy)
905.02 – Nicotine/Tobacco-Free Environment (change to align w/IASB)
905.03 – Weapons in the School District (1st Reading)
905.04 – Supervision by School Personnel (Rescind, no IASB policy)
907 – District Operation During Public Emergencies (1st Reading)
907(R1) – District Operation During Public Emergencies – Regulation (Add Regulation)
920 – Naming of District Facilities & Events (Keep, no IASB policy)
Motion by Becker, seconded by Klein, to approve the policies and revisions as presented.
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Finalization of IASB Convention Attendees- IASB Convention – Nov. 18 – 20
Facilities (Softball- concrete, Atkins-stage wall/offices, Norway- concrete, asphalt, Keystone- playground, MS/HS- press box, loading dock, air handling units)
Drug Dog Search of Lockers
Veterans Day Program- Nov. 11th
ACTION ITEM #29 – ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Kaiser, seconded by Shaw, to adjourn the board meeting at 6:58 PM
MOTION CARRIED
ALL MEMBERS PRESENT VOTING AYE
