Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
March 23, 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
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Kirah Johnson. Motion carried 7-0.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Mary Allred moved to approve the following consent items.
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 0 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Grant Hoffman, High School Assistant Golf Coach, $2,872 per annum;
Work Agreement issued to Lilly Lippold, West Elementary Custodian, $15.71 per hour;
Contract issued to Sarah Ihde, East Elementary TLC Instructional Coach, $59,929 per annum (2025-2026 rate);
Contract issued to Emily Davis, West Elementary TLC Instructional Coach, $63,698 per annum (2025-2026 rate);
Contract issued to Erin Cavanagh, High School TLC Instructional Coach, $76,634 per annum (2025-2026 rate);
Contract issued to Kelsi TeBockhorst, Middle School TLC Instructional Coach, $65,357 per annum (2025-2026 rate);
Winter Sports Coaches
Fall Play/Musical Director - Christine Meader Fall Play/Musical Asst Director - Lisa Helmuth
HS Musical, Musical Director - Collette McClellen
HS Boys Basketball Head Coach - Darren Lambert HS Boys Basketball Asst Coach - Kelby Bender
HS Boys Basketball Asst Coach - Justin Barthelman 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach - Kevin Cortum
8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach - Jeff Murphy
HS Girls Basketball Head Coach - Jenny Hobbs HS Girls Basketball Asst Coach - Truman Shetler
HS Girls Basketball Asst Coach - OPEN
HS Boys Wrestling Head Coach - Duncan McCain HS Boys Wrestling Asst Coach - Jared Duwa
HS Girls Wrestling Head Coach – Brock Moore HS Girls Wrestling Asst Coach – Darrick Eldridge
MS Boys Wrestling Coach – David Murray MS Girls Wrestling Coach – David Murry
Volunteer Spring/Summer Sports Coaches
Max Mongrello – Boys Golf Aaron Rath – Boys Golf
Anna Hostetler – Girls Track Jed Seward - Baseball
Fundraising Requests – No requests presented
Early High School Graduates – March 2026
Gentry Bontrager Griffin Caskey Joshua Watkins
Early ALC Graduates – March 2026
Kyro Blake Andrew Deeley Torianna Halverson
Approve Purchases of Student 1:1 Devices – On-Going Annual Replacements
The purchase of one-to-one devices in the amount of $173,319.12 on 6 Purchase Orders for the District;
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Business Item
Set a Public Hearing for the 2026-2027 Certified Budget on April 13, 2026 at 6:40 p.m.
SBO Swartzentruber noted the need to hold a second Public Hearing to approve the Certified Budget for the 2026-2027 School Year. The Certified Budget for 2026-2027 needs to be filed with the Auditor of Washington County and the State by April 30, 2026. The proposed hearing is proposed for the next scheduled Business Meeting of the Board on April 13, 2026. The suggested time is 6:40 p.m. to allow for the other business of the Board to take place and for a presentation on the 2026-2027 Certified Budget.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to set a Public Hearing for the 2026-2027 Certified Budget on April 13, 2026 at 6:40 p.m. as recommended. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Lifewise Academy
The Board and local constituents/Lifewise board engaged in a conversation about the program. The Lifewise group provided a presentation to create a baseline of knowledge from which the Board could ask questions and discuss the Lifewise Academy program. The request is for the District to acknowledge the Lifewise program, an acknowledgement is not an endorsement. Parental permission is required for their students to participate. Also, what it might look like for the District to allow students to participate in it during the school day at a designated offsite location, Kalona Mennonite Church. There would be a pilot program that will include one grade. The goal is to have a Fall 2026 launch. The Board asked questions to understand and clarify the approach. Again, the Lifewise group is asking for acknowledgement and the determination of the time to match the schedule of the school(s) to get an hour one time per week. The Board thanked the group for their presentation and for answering questions.
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
The Board and Luke Hertzler discussed the possible participation by the District and Board in the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement organization. He provided a document that included a Board Resolution for the Board to review and consider. The Board discussed the documents and resolution elements. The Board thanked Hertzler for his interest in the issues facing Iowa Schools and for answering questions.
Graduation Policy update regarding SPED
This is tabled until the Work Session on April 27th.
Next Meeting and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Public Hearing on the 2026-2027 Certified Budget; Approve the 2026-2027 Certified Budget; and 28E Agreement with HighlandCSD for Home School Students.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.