Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
February 10, 2025 – 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: None.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Adopt the Agenda
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mary Allred. Motion carried 7-0.
Hawk Highlight – The Middle School Library Renovation Project – Kaitlyn Dodds, District Librarian, and committee (Rachel Foubert Lori Miller, and Beth Fiordelise) shared their vision for the Middle School Library spaces and plans to submit a Spring Grant to the Washington Riverboat Foundation later in February.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of January 13, 2025 and January 27, 2025;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for January, 2025;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for February 10, 2025; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 5 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 1 students;
Personnel Items
Work Agreement issued to Courtney Pettit, Middle School General Cook, $15.28 per hour;
Resignation of AuDeanna Fritz, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.29 per hour, effective February 3, 2025;
Resignation of Mathew O’Brien, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.79 per hour, effective February 10, 2025;
Resignation of Rebecca Hathaway, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.41 per hour, effective February 4, 2025;
Resignation of Grace Pike, West Elementary Custodian, $16.50 per hour, effective February 10, 2025;
Resignation of Amy Johnston, Middle School Special Education Teacher, $48,042 per annum, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Jenny Riggan-Sexton, Middle School Special Education Teacher, $68,690 per annum, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Katlyn Ruth, East Elementary Kindergarten Teacher, $53,341 per annum, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Traci Zahradnek, High School Special Education Teacher, $74,115 per annum, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Traci Zahradnek, Special Olympics Coach for Fall and Spring, $1,510.80 per annum, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Fundraising Requests
Middle School Student Leadership Team requests approval to raise funds for Paws & Moore in Washington, Iowa, through the sale of lollipops for Valentine’s Day from February 11th through February 14th as a community participation event;
Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Student Learning
Reports
The Board reviewed the Administrators’ written reports to the Board. Time was allotted to ask questions and discuss the reports. The Board commented on the Kirkwood (Concurrent Enrollment) classes offering and appreciation for these opportunities for the District’s students. The Board commented with appreciation on the preliminary drawings for the Home School Education Center footprint prepared by CANCO for the District as the HSAP Program continues to grow reaching 700 students.
Second Reading of Board Policies 710.4 and 804.5
Superintendent Stone noted that Board Policies 710.4 – Meal Charges and 804.5 – Stock Prescription Medication Supply were passed on First Reading at the January 13, 2025 meeting. It is time to consider the policies for Second Reading. He asked for any further questions or conversation on either policy. There were none.
Jed Seward moved to approve Board Policy 701.4 Meal Charges on Second Reading as presented. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Board Policy 804.5 Stock Prescriptions of Medication Supply on Second Reading as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
First Reading of Board Policies 503.8 and 903.3
Superintendent Stone reviewed two new Board Policies. These were discussed at the January 27, 2025, Work Session. The policies are 503.8 Student Threats of Violence and Incidents of Violence and 903.3 Visitors to School Buildings and Sites and Communication with School Personnel. The Board asked questions for clarification on both policies.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Board Policy 503.8 Student Threats of Violence and Incidents of Violence on First Reading as presented. Jed Seward seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Jed Seward moved to approve Board Policy 903.3 Visitors to School Buildings and Sites and Communication with School Personnel on First Reading as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Proposed 2025-2026 School Calendar
Superintendent Stone provided the School Calendar for the 2025-2026 School Year in two formats. The dates are the same in both with one for internal purposes and one for use by the Public. This the same School Calendar shared at the January 27, 2025, Work Session. He asked for questions from the Board. This has been worked on with IBB Committee for their input over the past two months. It is recommended for adoption by the Board.
Jed Seward moved to approve the 2025-2026 School Calendar as presented and pending any legislative changes. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Finance-Long Range Planning
Washington County Riverboat Foundation Grant Request and Resolution
SBO Swartzentruber, District Librarian. She is bringing a request to the Board for updating and upgrading the Middle School Library with the use of a Riverboat Foundation Grant. Dodds presented a slide show of the project and requested the Board’s support. The application is due on March 15, 2025. The amount of the project is projected to be $79,475.52, of which the District will provide funds of $15,000. This leaves a grant request amount of $64,475.52.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Resolution 02102501 for the Middle School Library Upgrade Project in the amount of $64,475.52. Mary Allred seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - yes
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
Set a Public Hearing for a Flexibility Account Transfer and Spending of HSAP Funds
School Business Official Swartzentruber stated that a Public Hearing for the transfer of Flexibility Funds from the Home School Assistance Program to the General Fund needs to be set. The amount to be transferred from the Home School Assistance Program is $350,000.00. These are unspent funds available after HSAP has completed the program expenditures for the 2023-2024 School Year. The Public Hearing is proposed for Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to set the Public Hearing on the Flexibility Account Transfer for February 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Superintendent Stone discussed the electronic device survey as he provided a draft of the survey to go to parents. The data would be collected prior to the February 24, 2025 Work Session. The Board discussed the questions on the survey and asked for some changes to the questions.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Public Hearing for the HSAP Flexibility Transfer and Spending, Resolution for Flexibility Transfer, Cell phone policy and review of survey data; Community Auditorium Task Force and Finance Update; and Intentions for Grade-alike Attendance Centers for 2026-2027—set a Public Hearing date on February 24th for March 10th;
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Resolution for HSAP Flexibility Spending, and Set the First Certified Budget Public Hearing on Property Tax Rates for March 24th
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.