Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
October 23, 2023– 6:15 p.m.
President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Jed Seward.
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Marianne Schlabach. Motion carried 6-0.
Hawk Highlight – Christine Meader, Director of the Fall Play, and Collette McClellan, Voice Coach for the production, shared about the upcoming production with the cast of “Into the Woods” on November 3rd, 4th, and 5th. The cast performed a number from the musical for the Board. The cast introduced themselves and their respective parts in the musical. The Board expressed appreciation for the work and efforts of the staff and directors.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
Work Session
Administration Reports and Board Dialogue
The Board asked questions and discussed the report forms shared by each Administrator about their areas of responsibility.
Superintendent Stone shared about the Transportation meeting last Wednesday, October 19th. He expressed appreciation for the staff. Two athletic contest schools in the past week have experienced bus breakdowns on the way to our District for events. The Transportation Team has pulled together to provide needed assistance.
Superintendent Stone also shared about the Facilities Committee meeting on the Evening of October 19th. The committee members will be going in sub-groups to the buildings on November 1st. The committee shared that they are not hearing much from the community on the upcoming bond referendum.
Superintendent Stone asked Tad Morrow from Carl A. Nelson to share an update on the Revenue Bond project in terms of cost and schedule. Morrow provided a handout and covered the various pages. All of the projects are currently weather tight. The workers are working above ceiling to get mechanicals completely roughed in at the Middle School. The goal is to try to get as much of the sidewalks completed at the Middle School this Fall, weather permitting. East Elementary is a little less complete than the Middle School although it is near airtight as well. He covered the current status of the budget and has estimates that we are about $162,000 less than the projected budget at the Middle School and East Elementary site from March of 2023. Softball lighting is about $8,350 less than anticipated. The High School Track project is about $80,876 less than anticipated. Overall, the three projects together are about $251,573 better than the original anticipated estimates provided in March of 2023. While there is a lot of the project left to be completed, the project is in very solid condition financially at this point in time. The Board asked questions on various aspects of the handout to gather a better understanding of the status. The Board expressed appreciation for the information.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Denise Chittick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of October 9, 2023;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for October 23, 2023, and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 5 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Resignation of Bud Juilfs, High School Lead Custodian, $19.02 per hour, effective October 31, 2023;
No new hires for this meeting;
Fundraising Requests
FCCLA requests approval to raise funds through a Middle School Dance on November 17th to raise funds for school, community service projects, chapter activities and events;
High School Girls and Boys Basketball requests approval to raise funds through sales of basketball apparel from November 6th to November 20th for volunteer coaching wages, player gear, equipment, supplies and coaches gear.;
Boys Basketball requests approval to raise funds through a donation campaign from November 20th to December 1st for volunteer coaching wages, player/coaching gear, and basketball equipment;
HSAP 28E Renewal Agreements
English Valleys Community School District and Iowa Valley Community School District Home School Assistance Program Agreements are approved for renewal.
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Grant Wood AEA District 6 Director
Superintendent Stone/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber introduced the agenda item by noting that Current District #6 Director, Carol Montz, will finish her current 4-year term in November. Carol Montz is currently the only candidate listed on the ballot to be re-elected for at least a third term. The Board must take action to complete the ballot by the received due date of November 30, 2023. The approved ballot must be completed by a Board Member. The weighted vote for Mid-Prairie is 0.179, down from 0.196 in 2019.
Mary Allred moved to approve completion of the ballot for a vote for Carol Montz as Grant Wood AEA Director for District 6. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance
SBRC Resolution for Additional Allowable Growth for Enrollment and ELL
Business Manager Swartzentruber presented the additional allowable growth resolution that, if passed, will allow the District to increase spending authority of $130,086 for Open Enrollment Out and of $6,597.57 for ELL Beyond 5 Years. These amounts are a result of the Certified Enrollment data from the October 1, 2023, count date.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve Resolution 10232301 to allow the Superintendent to request increased spending authority of $130,086 on Open Enrollment Out for the 2023-2024 School Year and $6,597.57 for ELL Beyond 5 Years. Mary Allred seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - absent Jeremy Pickard - yes
Marianne Schlabach - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 6-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
IASB Convention is November 15 to 17, 2023.
IASB Board Development Tour of Iowa will take place in the latter part of this year.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
Gabrielle Frederick noted that the Board needs to schedule the Superintendent Mid-Year Performance Evaluation. This could be scheduled either the first meeting in November on November 13, 2023, or the second meeting on November 27, 2023 School Board Meeting. She has asked Superintendent Stone to give more reflection on review of the accomplishments within the 3 standards that were evaluated in May of 2023. This will be a closed session to provide opportunity to discuss with Superintendent Stone the standards and to evaluate the Boards goals from the training session with the IASB representative.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, November 13, 2023, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Potential mid-year Superintendent evaluation in closed session; Certified Enrollment for October 2023 as a finalized number; Concurrent Enrollment classes at it impacts graduation requirements—recognizing that this is developing; begin to determine if the Iowa legislative representatives should be invited to a Board meeting.
Board Highlights
- Allred, Pickard and Snider – Appreciated the cast coming to the meeting to sing and introduce the production;
- Frederick – Excited for the election of Carol Montz for GWAEA District 6;
- Chittick and Schlabach – The building project budget condition and the project currently being ahead of schedule.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m.