Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
March 25, 2024– 6:35 p.m.
President Jake Snider called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred and Ryan Schlabaugh.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Randy Billups moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 5-0.
Business Meeting
Finance
Approve the Resolution for the Advertisement for Sale, Approval of the Electronic Bidding Procedures and the Official Statement and Sale of the General Obligation Bonds
SBO Swartzentruber provided the resolution for the 2024 GO Bonds to be sold on April 22, 2024. President Snider asked for a motion on the Resolution for the 2024 GO Bond Advertisement for Sale, Approval of the Electronic Bidding Procedures and the Official Statement and Sale of the General Obligation Bonds.
Denise Chittick made a motion to approve the Resolution Advertisement for Sale, Approval of the Electronic Bidding Procedures and the Official Statement and Sale of the General Obligation Bonds reading from the Resolution. Second by Gabrielle Frederick.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - absent
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - absent
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 5-0.
Work Session
Let’s Go Bound
Pete Cavanagh, Activities Director, discussed the Let’s Go Bound software/app that the Cedar Valley Conference has approved for all conference schools to use. He discussed service provided by the app and the pricing. Forms and ticketing will be On-line. Ticketing will be on the purchaser’s phone. The Board asked questions about ticketing prices. The District is making the transition from the Our School program to Let’s Go Bound by August of this year. It is free to Mid-Prairie School District. However, there is a $0.90 fee per ticket. There is a fee for season tickets as well. Ticket prices will be reviewed for Adults tickets and passes. Student tickets and passes will not be affected in the proposal.
Grade Alike Attendance Centers
Superintendent Stone provided documentation to answer questions from previous Board discussions. Greg Jergens, Principal of East Elementary, and Robin Foster, Principal of West Elementary joined the meeting for this item. The discussion centered on the possibility of shifting grades between the two elementary schools to better accommodate the educational needs of students by age group. The Board asked questions of the administrators about Preschool attendance, location, and lunch facilitation. There was discussion of the factors going into the capacity of the West Elementary Building and the future growth. Additionally, there was discussion about special education teachers being utiltized across grades.
Community Auditorium
The Board discussed a number of topics related to a potential Community Auditorium. Superintendent Stone started the conversation with a brief report of the Steering Committee that met last week and some preliminary numbers were generated along some additional thoughts about funding. The Board discussed moving forward with a sign of commitment to the community and to the various groups that want to move the project forward. The Board discussed the various elements of the decision. The Board agrees that the next step is to go to the Facilities Committee to gather input. There is agreement that Carl A. Nelson Company—Construction Manager and OPN Architects should review the costs again and the conceptual drawings.
Board Policy Series 200’s
The Board began the process of reviewing the Series 200 Board Policies for completeness and possible changes as part of the ongoing process of reviewing board policy chapters on the policy review schedule. Superintendent Stone provided a listing of the Chapter 200 Policies where there have been changes from IASB
Next Meeting and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 8, 2024, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Set a Public Hearing for the Certified Budget for April 22, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.; First Reading of Chapter 200 Board Policies Changes. The Bond Sale will happen on April 22, 2024 and there will be a need to approve the sale by the Board at that evening’s meeting.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.