Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
January 12, 2026 – 6:15 p.m.
President Randy Billups called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Kirah Johnson, 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
Jed Seward moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mary Allred. Motion carried 7-0.
Hawk Highlight – Literacy & Attendance Dashboard – Middle School Principal, Tim Bartels, and District Curriculum Coordinator, Liza Fontaine the new Literacy and Attendance Dashboard. Fontaine focused on goals for the District Strategic Plan and the Multi-tiered System of Supports for all student and explained the process for reading proficiency. Fontaine shared a spreadsheet tool that helps track students over time and then the students from school to school. Bartels focused on the new dashboard as it ties into the District Strategic Plan. He discussed the ability to look for trends by building and year over year. Chronic absenteeism is below 6% for the first semester. Training is ongoing at the Middle School to assure that there is consistency across grade levels. He tied the dashboards back to the system Fontaine discussed earlier.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of December 8, 2025;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for Year-to-Date December 31, 2025;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for January 12, 2026; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 1 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 4 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Molly Yoder, High School Softball Assistant Coach, $2,987 per season;
Resignation of Katherine Sieren, High School Special Education Teacher, $64,836.00 per annum, effective 12/15/2025;
Resignation of Ryan Cortum, 8th Grade Girls Track, $2,515 per annum, effective 1/6/2026;
Resignation of Melanie Steinhart, 8th Grade Volleyball Coach, $2,515.00 per annum, effective 1/8/2026;
Resignation of Pho0be Shetler, 7th Grade Girls Track, $2,204 per season, effective 1/5/2026;
Fundraising Requests
Post Prom requests approval to raise fund through a Puzzle Night activity at the Wellman YMCA to raise funds for Post Prom;
Post Prom requests approval to raise fund through a Half-Court Shot competition on February 3rd and 6th at home basketball games to raise funds for Post Prom;
Mid-Year High School Graduates
High School
Cameron Gingerich Haley Gross
Landon Kuenster Brynn Northup
Home School Assistance Program
Nicholas Hentrich
Mary Allred 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. No questions were asked. The Board affirmed the effort that the administrators are putting into the reports.
At-Risk/Drop-Out Plan Presentation and Approval
Superintendent Stone introduced the 2026-2027 At-Risk/Drop-Out Plan and presented the document for the Board’s review and consideration. Approval of a Plan for the upcoming year is a requirement. New this year is a formal approval of the Plan in order for the SBRC to consider the funding.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the resolution by reading Resolution 01122603 for the 2026-2027 School Year Plan Approval. Mary Allred seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Kirah Johnson - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - yes
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
SBRC Resolution for Additional Allowable Growth for At-Risk & Drop-Out Prevention Program
SBO Swartzentruber introduced the annual resolution for consideration. The request is for Modified Supplemental Aid for 2026-2027 Dropout Prevention Program of $257,236.00 to implement the At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program plans. The local match component is $85,745. It is recommended that the Board pass this resolution prior to the January 15, 2026, deadline. The Board commented about the process.
Jed Seward moved to approve the resolution by reading Resolution 01122602 for Additional Allowable Growth for Modified Supplemental Aid of $257,236.00 for implementation of the 2026-2027 School Year At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program plans by reading the resolution. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Kirah Johnson - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - yes
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
Update Policy 501.10 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy
Superintendent Stone provided the Board updated language for Policy 501.10 that includes additional exemptions. He recommended changing the policy to the most up to date language.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Board Policy 501.10 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy on First Reading. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Finance-Long Range Planning
6:30 P.M. Public Hearing for Bus Specifications
Board President Billups opened the Public Hearing for School Bus Specifications. No one spoke. Public Hearing was closed at 6:31 p.m.
Approval of Bus Specifications
Superintendent Stone and Board President Billups asked the Board if there were any questions, clarifications or discussion for the School Bus Specifications as presented for one diesel powered bus.
Jed Seward moved to approve the bus specifications as presented and to put the specifications for 1 School Bus out to bid with a due date of January 21, 2026, at 1 p.m. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Board Policy 407.1 Licensed Employee Resignation Amount Determination
School Business Official Swartzentruber noted the dates per Board Policy to be the first Friday in February and the first Friday in March for the Early Resignation Incentive. The amount for the first date was $2,000, and the amount for the second date was $1,000 in fiscal year 2024-2025. It is recommended the amounts stay the same for February of 2026 and March of 2026, respectively. The incentive is paid in the June 2026 pay period. The Board discussed the recommendation.
Jed Seward moved to approve the resignation incentive amounts remain at $2.000 for the first Friday in February and $1,000 for the first Friday in March of 2026. Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Board Policy 405.2 Licensed Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection Sign-On Incentive
SBO Swartzentruber stated the need for the Board to select an amount for the New Teacher Sign-On Incentive. The past few years the amount has been $5,000 paid in two installments. The first is half of the amount September of 2026. The second half would be paid in September of 2027 provided the teacher is still employed with the District. Superintendent Stone added some additional comments in favor of keeping the incentive the same. The Board discussed the incentive and the approach to staff.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the Licensed Employee Sign-On payment at $5,000 for the 2026-2027 School Year. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
OPN Proposal for Auditorium Project
Superintendent Stone presented the OPN Architect’s proposal of Pre-Bond Services related to the proposal for an Auditorium and related projects. The proposal outlines a timeline leading up to a proposed and potential bond referendum in November of 2026. The lump-sum fee proposed is $15,000.00. The Board asked questions for additional information and clarification.
Jed Seward moved to approve OPN proposal of Pre-Bond Services and the resulting $15,000.00 fee for those services. Mary Allred seconded the motion. 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 $175,000.00. These are unspent funds available after HSAP has completed the program expenditures for the 2024-2025 School Year. The Public Hearing is proposed for Monday, February 9, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room.
Jed Seward moved to set the Public Hearing on the Flexibility Account Transfer for February 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Additional Information
Tracy Recher Request for Early Release from Contract
Superintendent Stone brought the resignation of High School Special Education Teacher Tracy Recher to the board. The resignation was received January 6, 2026 effective for the end of the Semester on January 9, 2026. Based upon Board Policy 407.2, Superintendent Stone’s recommendation is that the resignation not be accepted. He noted there will be additional steps to be taken because of Board Policy 407.2. The Board reviewed the Policy and discussed the additional steps the policy.
Jed Seward moved to not accept the resignation of Teacher, Tracy Recher as submitted. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, January 26, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Second Reading of Board Policy 501.10 Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy, Public Hearing at 6:30 p.m. on the Home School Assistance program transfer, the 2026-2027 School Calendar, it was requested that the sign-on incentive pay be discussed, and a new bus barn location.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Superintendent Stone invited the Board to take an informal tour of the Activity Center/Wrestling Facility.