April 11, 2022

Mid-Prairie Community School District

Kalona, Wellman, West Chester

Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA  52356

April 11, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.

www.mid-prairie.k12.ia.us

President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.

Board members present:   Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, Jake Snider.

Board members absent:  None.

Also Present:  Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.

Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented.  Seconded by Jed Seward.  Motion carried 7-0.

WORK SESSION

Bully and Harassment Presentation

High School Principal Chuck Banks introduced Anne Morgan, Great Prairie AEA adjunct presenter.  She provided a presentation on Bully and Harassment issues and ideas with the Board.  She shared Iowa Department of Education Guidance document on the Bullying Checklist – District dated June 28, 2021 and discussed the elements of the definition of bullying as defined by the Code of Iowa.  The Board asked questions for clarification of the Board versus Administrator role in the Policies and investigations. 

FCCLA Thrift Shop Presentation – Moved to the first Business Agenda items in Student Learning.

Board Development and Inservice Activities – Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.

BUSINESS MEETING

Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.

No one spoke.

Consent Items

Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the following consent items.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of March 28, 2022;

Finance Report

The Finance Report for March, 2022;

Payment of Bills

The bills as listed for April 11, 2022; and Prepaid Bills;

Open Enrollment Requests

Katelyn Hammen requests Alice Hammen (Alternative Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Keota Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Brianna Brim requests Shayden Brim (Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Highland Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;

Personnel Items

Contract issued to Saide Chacon, Middle School Nurse, $37,871.00 per annum;

Resignation of Justin Garvey, High School Varsity Wrestling Head Coach, $6,437.00 per season, effective March 31, 2022;

Resignation of Lisa Doser, Middle School 8th Grade Volleyball Coach, $3,219 per annum, effective March 31, 2022;

Resignation of Brooke Bringman, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $14.39 per hour, effective the end of the 2021-2022 School Year;

Resignation of Taylor Ruhnke, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $14.74 per hour, effective the end of the 2021-2022 School Year;

Fundraising Requests

Boys Basketball requests approval to raise funds through conducting basketball camps from June 6th to June 9th to be used to pay for volunteer coaches, buy coaches and player apparel, and purchase equipment;

Mary Allred seconded the consent items.  Motion carried 7-0.

Student Learning

FCCLA Thrift Shop Presentation Lease and Corporate Authorization

Principal Banks introduced Sarah O’Rourke, High School FCS Teacher and FCCLA Sponsor, along with a group of three students.  They provided and introduction and an update for the Thrift Shop that they are working on for downtown Wellman.

Superintendent Schneider and Business Manager Swartzentruber shared the lease for the building for the Thrift Shop and the Corporate Authorization for the stand alone Bank Account for the Thrift Shop. 

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the one-year lease for the Thrift Shop with Jeremy Richardson as presented.  Denise Chittick seconded the motion.  Motion carried 7-0.

Jed Seward moved to approve Corporate Authorization for the checking account at Federation Bank as presented.  Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Finance

7:15PM Public Hearing – Amend the 2021-2022 Certified Budget

Board President Pickard opened the Public Hearing on the Amendment to the Certified Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.  No one spoke.  President Pickard closed the Public Hearing at 7:16p.m. 

Approve the 2021-2022 Certified Budget Amendment

President Pickard asked if there were any questions or further discussion. 

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the 2021-2022 Certified Budget Amendment as presented.  Mary Allred seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

7:20PM Public Hearing – 2022-2023 Certified Budget

Board President Pickard opened the Public Hearing on the Certified Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.  No one spoke.  President Pickard closed the Public Hearing at 7:21p.m. 

Approve the 2022-2023 Certified Budget

President Pickard asked if there were any questions or further discussion. 

Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve 2022-2023 Certified Budget as presented.  Mary Allred seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Redemption of General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2014 Resolution

Superintendent Schneider shared the Resolution as prepared by Ahlers and Cooney for the advanced Debt Service Levy for the 2021-2023 School Year.  This advanced levy will allow the District to pay additional principal of $785,000 and to shorten the term of the bonds by an additional year, and three years in total since the District began to do the advanced Debt Service Levy in Fiscal Year 2019-2020.

Denise Chittick moved to approve the Resolution for the Advanced Debt Service Levy to pay an additional principal amount of $785,000 in Fiscal Year 2022-2023.  Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote:    Gabrielle Frederick           - yes                                     Mary Allred                        - yes

                          Jed Seward                       - yes                                     Jeremy Pickard                  - yes

                          Marianne Schlabach         - yes                                     Jake Snider                        - yes

                          Denise Chittick                  - yes                                     Motion carried 7-0.

Accept the 2021 Annual Financial Audit

Business Manager Swartzentruber presented an overview of the audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2021.  He noted the Auditor comments provided and the District response to those comments.  He also noted the later presentation date than in previous years and the reasons for the delay.

Denise Chittick moved to accept the 202-2021 Audited Financial Statements as presented.  Marianne Schlabach seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Piper Sandler & Company Financial Services Agreement and Dissemination Agent

Superintendent Schneider discussed the engagement documents for the District to engage Piper Sandler & Company in the sale of Revenue Bonds on behalf of the District.  The Board asked questions for clarification. 

Jake Snider moved to approve the engagement of Piper Sandler & Company in the Financial Services Agreement on the sale of the 2022 Series School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds and to appointment of Piper Sandler & Company as the Dissemination Agent in the sale of the 2022 and 2023 Revenue Bonds using Sales Tax Funds.  Jed Seward seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Ahlers Cooney Legal Services Agreement

Superintendent Schneider discussed the engagement letter with Ahlers Cooney, Attorneys, to serve as Bond Counsel and Disclosure Counsel in the sale of the 2022 Series School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds.  Their review and legal work associated with the sale and dissemination of the bonds provide assurances that we are following all of the necessary legal disclosures and steps of the bond sale transactions.

Mary Allred moved to approve engagement of Ahlers Cooney as Bond and Disclosure Counsel in the 2022 Series School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds.  Denise Chittick seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc. GASB 75 Services Agreement

Superintendent Schneider discussed the engagement letter with Gallagher Benefit Services to perform the actuarial services to determine the GASB 75 actuarial liability calculation for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.  The engagement will cost the District $5,800 and is required to be completed every two fiscal years with the year in between as an interim update to the calculation.  This is required analysis of the current liability of promises made for the provision of retirement benefits and includes not only the current early retirees, but a determination of the probability that the benefits will be used in the future by current employees who may elect into these benefits.

Denise Chittick moved to approve the GASB 75 actuarial engagement for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year.  Mary Allred seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Work Session

Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items

Board Development and Inservice Activities.

A rescheduling of the training originally planned for April 13, 2022 is being investigated for a date in June.

Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 25, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.  Agenda items to include: IBB session this afternoon will have a tentative agreement that may require a special meeting; April 25th will be a screening of Superintendent Applicants; the Business meeting will be first; School Fees and HSAP 28E Agreements are also anticipated; the May 9th will be approval of the graduates and recognition of retiring teachers and paraprofessionals.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:47p.m.

Interest-Based Bargaining Negotiations Strategy Session was conducted by the Board in exempt session.