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March 8, 2021

Mid-Prairie Community School District

Kalona, Wellman, West Chester

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

March 8, 2021 – 6:15 p.m.

www.mid-prairie.k12.ia.us

 

President Jeremy Gugel called the meeting to order.

Board members present:   Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Gugel, Jodi Meader, Jeremy Pickard (arrived to the meeting at 6:17 p.m.), and Marianne Schlabach.

Board members absent:  Jeremy Pickard (arrived to the meeting at 6:17 p.m.).

Also Present:  Mark Schneider, Cindy Malichky, Robin Foster, Rachel Kerns, Marc Pennington, Bill Poock, Amy Shalla, Frank Slabaugh, and Jay Strickland.

Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented.  Seconded by Mary Allred.  Motion carried 6-0.

WORK SESSION

Shive-Hattery School District Grounds Study

Civil Engineer Matt Klein from Shive-Hattery gave a presentation on the different options for the High School athletic grounds.  Project costs were given along with maps.  The Board asked for more information from Shive-Hattery.  Jeremy Pickard arrived at 6:17 p.m. during this agenda item.

Board Member and Administrator Dialogue

Superintendent Schneider said four Middle School principal candidates were interviewed today and four more candidates will be interviewed tomorrow.  The plan is to have a recommendation for the March 22 Board meeting.  The administrators gave brief updates for their buildings.

Board Development and Inservice Activities

Nothing of note at this time.

Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda

Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.

BUSINESS MEETING

Public Forum – 7:00 p.m.

Six parents spoke about Mid-Prairie’s requirement for face masks.  They would like to know what will be required in the near future and if masks can be optional.

Consent Items

Denise Chittick moved to approve the following consent items.

Minutes of Previous Meetings

The minutes of February 22, 2021;

Finance Report

The Finance Report for February 2021;

Payment of Bills

The bills as listed for March 8, 2021; Prepaid Bills; and Hills Bank ACH Transactions for February of 2021;

Open Enrollment Requests

Chuck Gent and Trisha Parizek request Karlee Parizek (Grade 6), attend Mid-Prairie from English Valley Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Sarah Lyle requests Emma Lyle (Grade 8) and Rena Lyle (Grade 4), attend Mid-Prairie from Fort Madison Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Terry and Megan Allen request Kylie Allen (Grade 10), attend Mid-Prairie from Highland Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Jodie Beinhart requests Adelinn Beinhart (Grade 4) and Isabell Beinhart (Grade 2), attend Mid-Prairie from Keota Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Bethany Moore requests Zephyr Moore (Grade 1) and Zion Moore (Grade3), attend Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy from Montezuma Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Megan Vanderlinden requests Madison Vanderlinden (Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Washington Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Julie Tweedt requests Maverick Tweedt (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Kati Bradshaw requests Abigail Bradshaw (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Deb Lee requests Lily Lee (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Mark and Bethany Lingard request Georgianna Lingard (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Ben and Kristin Peiffer request Kaylin Peiffer (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Shannon Babbitt requests Anna Babbitt (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Amy Vander Busard requests Anna Busard (Grade 4) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Elizabeth Stumpf requests Kean Curtis (Grade 7) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Robert and Lisa LeSage request Khloe LeSage (Grade 4) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Michael and Chia-wen Moon request Aidan Moon (Grade 2) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Emmarie Poolman requests Miles Poolman (Grade 7), Nico Poolman (Grade 5), and Nina Poolman (Grade 1) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Steve and Mindy Scheperle request Samuel Scheperle (Grade 3) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Jacob and Rachel Schunk request August Schunk (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Tom and Kari Woodward request Alexander Woodward (Grade 3), Iving Woodward (Grade 7), and Margaret Woodward (Grade 9) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Elizabeth Hinkhouse requests Henry Hinkhouse (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from West Branch Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Justin and Ranee Brokaw request Ezra Brokaw (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Kelly and April Grimm request Logan Grimm (Grade 11) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Dietrich and Shannon Johnson request Trevor Johnson (Grade 7) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Elizabeth Adkins-Hernandez requests Michael Hernandez (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Winfield  Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;

Holly Tedder requests Layla Tedder (Grade 8), Lilly Tedder (Grade 9), and Wyatt Tedder (Grade 10) attend Clear Creek Amana Community School District from Mid-Prairie;

Holly Tedder requests Layla Tedder (Grade 8), Lilly Tedder (Grade 9), and Wyatt Tedder (Grade 10) attend Iowa City Community School District from Mid-Prairie;

Personnel Items

Work Agreement Issued to Erin Campbell, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $13.76 per hour;

Contract Issued to Amy Mercer, HS English Teacher Full-time, $46,621 per annum 2020-2021 Schedule;

Contract issued to Aaron Coghlan, Middle School 8th Grade Boys Track Coach, $2,267.00 per annum;

Resignation of Alexis Duwa, Middle School Softball Coach, $2,444.00 per season, effective February, 2021;

Fundraising Requests

Girls and Boys Golf requests approval to raise funds through a community invited golf clinic at the Indoor Practice Facility on March 13th for the purchase of practice equipment, driving range fees, golf balls, practice rounds, and team & coach apparel;

Gabrielle Frederick seconded the consent items.  Motion carried 7-0.

Student Learning

Eagle Scout Graduation Cord

Representatives from the local Scout Troop asked the Board to consider allowing any Eagle Scout that is graduating to wear a special cord at graduation.  Gabrielle Frederick made the motion that students be allowed to wear a cord for something achieved during their four years of High School that is a component of community service by a recognizable organization approved by administration.    Jodi Meader seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-2, Jeremy Pickard and Mary Allred voted no.

English Language Learner Staffing

Superintendent Schneider presented information given to him by our current ELL teacher, Karalee Smith.  With an increase in beginning students, there is a need for more staffing.  Jeremy Pickard made the motion to create a half-time ELL teacher position.  Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Licensed Employee Early Notification of Non-Renewal

Superintendent Schneider spoke about Board Policy 407.1 which allows the Board to set an annual incentive for licensed employees resigning their employment with the district after the current year.  Quality replacements can be hired more easily.   Gabrielle Frederick made the motion to approve a non-renewal incentive of $1,500.00 for this school year for licensed employees submitting their resignations prior to the third Friday of March and $750.00 for those resigning prior to the second Friday of April.

Jeremy Pickard seconded the motion.    Motion carried 7-0.

Work Session

Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items

There were no unfinished items from the Work Session section of the meeting.

Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, March 22, 2021, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.  Agenda items to include:  Certified Budget Presentation by Business Manager, High School annual presentation, Work Session item on the mask mandate, and the 2021-22 calendar.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m.