Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
September 9, 2024 – 6:15 p.m.
President Jake Snider called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Ryan Schlabaugh, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Gabrielle Frederick.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 6-0.
Hawk Highlight – High School Student Sharing on Local and State Fair Experiences
Elsa Schmidt, High School FFA Teacher, introduced seven students to share about their local and state fair experiences and Summer Activities. Included activities were: Officer Planning Retreat in early June; Livestock Judging competition; Summer FFA Social Activity is held; FFA volunteered at West Chester to do community clean up—and have done this for the past 15 years; Eighteen students participated in the Washington County Fair; Three students participated in the Johnson County Fair; Twenty-one students exhibited at the State Fair as well as additional students served as ushers; Mid-Prairie was one of 60 FFA Chapters that participated in Photography; Mid-Prairie received a First Place Chapter in Floriculture. The Board thanked the students for their presentation and thanked Mrs. Schmidt for her work and dedication to the Mid-Prairie Program.
Public Forum
A parent of students who open enroll into the Washington School District from Mid-Prairie spoke to request consideration and approval for her students to ride the Washington School District Bus. They reside South and East of West Chester. The Washington District currently has a bus drive by their home to pick up a Washington student. There needs to be some additional work to determine if the situation requires Board approval or meets current State law.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Denise Chittick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of August 12, 2024 and August 26, 2024;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for August 2024 and the Near Final June 2024 End of Year Report;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for September 9, 2024; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 13 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Derek Kalm, Middle School Assistant Volleyball Coach, $2,140 per season;
Work Agreement issued to Kristy Burke, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.29 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Nicole Castillo, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.29 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Crystal Adair, High School General Cook, $15.28 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Robin Coffman, Middle School General Cook, $15.28 per hour;
Resignation of Marla Jennings, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.38 per hour, effective September 12, 2024;
Fundraising Requests
Post Prom requests approval to raise funds through a “Chuck a Duck” fundraiser held at the Football Game on September 19th to be used for Post Prom Activities in the Spring of 2025;
FCCLA requests approval to raise funds through the sale of Homecoming T-shirts starting August 21st through September 14th to be used for community, student body, and leadership projects for the year;
The 2023-2024 Audit Engagement Letter
The audit engagement letter with Nolte, Cornman, and Johnson prior to the start of fieldwork on September 24, 2024.
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Building and Department Reports
The Board reviewed the Administrators’ written reports to the Board. Time was allotted to ask questions and discuss the reports. A question was raised on the parking space at the Home School Education Center given the current growth of students in the Home School Assistance Program with 650+ students currently enrolled in the program to date.
Madrigal Choir Out of State Travel
Collette McClellen has requested permission to take the Madrigal Choir to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois on October 13 and 14, 2024 to participate in the College’s honor choir event.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the Madrigal Choir to travel to Rock Island, Illinois on October 13-14, 2024 to participate in the Augustana College honor choir event. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance
Appoint a Delegate to the IASB Convention
School Business Official Swartzentruber reviewed the need to appoint a delegate for the Board at the State convention. Jake Snider served as the delegate for the Board at last year’s State convention. Jake was asked if he wished to continue in this role for the upcoming state convention on November 20-22, 2024. The Board discussed appointing another delegate for the convention. It was decided that Jake Snider would continue to be the delegate and as such no further action was needed.
Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Treasurer’s Report
SBO Swartzentruber presented the Fiscal Year 2024 Treasurer’s Report. This is the report that is provided after the Certified Annual Report is submitted to the State Department of Education Portal by the September 16, 2024, due date. Net Operating Fund Balance increased by $953,000 ($711,000 in Unassigned Fund Balance), compared to $396,000 for the previous fiscal year. The SAVE Fund decreased $16,235 due in part to early expenditures for the General Obligation Bond project for which we are not able to recoup from the bond proceeds. Debt Service decreased by $95,800 due to the additional early pay down on 2014 GO Bonds. The Nutrition Fund decreased by $58,500 as a result of less Federal funds made available for Nutrition. While the District has raised lunch prices for the new School Year to slow the decline down, the cash position in the fund remains strong at $385,440. Swartzentruber noted increases to the Student Activity Fund, Management Fund, PPEL Fund, and Capital Projects Funds.
Jed Seward moved to accept the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Treasurers Report as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
IASB Convention is November 20-22, 2024. Registration is now open. Swartzentruber requested Board Members to begin registration soon as he would like to register all Board at the same time as much as possible. Board Members provided feedback as to days they plan to attend.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Resolution for the Special Education Deficit from Fiscal Year 2024; 200.4 Board Policy Discussion; Cell Phone Policy Discussion; Work Session Items will be the primary focus of the meeting.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.