Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
October 25, 2021 – 6:15 p.m.
President Jeremy Gugel called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick (arrived at 6:25 p.m.), Jeremy Gugel, Jodi Meader, and Marianne Schlabach.
Board members absent: Gabrielle Frederick (arrived at 6:25 p.m.) and Jeremy Pickard.
Also Present: Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Denise Chittick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mary Allred. Motion carried 5-0.
WORK SESSION
MS & HS Restorative Practices Presentation
Superintendent Schneider introduced Rob Hruby, Middle School Principal, and Chuck Banks, High School Principal, to discuss the Restorative Practices professional development implemented at the High School and Middle School. The resources are available for use in the classroom. Feedback from teachers has been broad, which has led to great conversations. Banks and Hruby led the group through a brief exercise. The value of Restorative Practices is about building and developing relationships.
Gabrielle Frederick arrived during this agenda item at 6:25 p.m.
District Facilities Plan
President Gugel and Superintendent Schneider continued the discussions of the past number of meetings on the District Facilities Plan. The intent of the continued discussions is to arrive at consensus of projects to be included for consideration at a proposed expansion and improvement of buildings and grounds within the District. Representatives from Shive-Hattery and Carl A. Nelson & Co. were present to answer questions. A timeline of events was shared for planning purposes. The discussion will continue after the business meeting as noted on the agenda.
Board Member and Administrator Dialogue – Tabled to the next meeting.
Board Development and In-service Activities – Tabled to the next meeting.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda – Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the following consent items after Schneider explained the Lone Tree 28E Agreement.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of October 11, 2021;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for October 25, 2021;
Open Enrollment Requests
Andy and Deanne Townsend request Adin Townsend (Grade 4), Ahna Townsend (Grade 8), Anthony Townsend (Grade 2), and Ashton Townsend (Grade 7), attend Mid-Prairie from Washington Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Kayla Lobermeier requests Theodore Haupt (Grade 1), attend Mid-Prairie from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year
Stephanie Heisdorffer request Tristan Heisdorffer (Grade 4) attend Washington Community School District from Mid-Prairie;
Personnel Items
Work Agreement Issued to Ashley Conrad, West Elementary Paraprofessional; $14.68 per hour;
Work Agreement Issued to Sue Kleese, High School Paraprofessional; $14.18 per hour;
Contract issued to Clint Jones, Middle School Wrestling Coach, $3,218.56 per season;
Resignation of Amber Kempf, Nutrition Director 0.60FTE, $23,646 per year, effective December 15, 2021;
Resignation of Nicole Castillo, High School Paraprofessional, $14.18 per hour, effective October 19, 2021;
Resignation of Matt Hoeppner, Varsity Softball Head Coach, $4,434 per season, effective October 22, 2021;
Fundraising Requests – None presented;
Lone Tree Shared Teacher Agreement – Approve a 28E Shared Teacher Agreement with Lone Tree Community Schools for the 2021-2022 School Year.
Jodi Meader seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Preliminary Enrollment Data
Superintendent Schneider shared enrollment data from the October 1, 2021 official count day. These numbers will not be finalized until the end of October. Additional work is ongoing to finalize elements for Special Education Numbers. Schneider explained the data. Certified Enrollment between 2020 and 2021 count dates appears that the District lost 16.76 students. He reported also on the Open Enrolled In students is a decrease of 4 students. Open Enrolled Out students increased by 14 students. The net impact of Open Enrollment is a net change of negative 18 students—this is not FTE but students served.
IASB Assembly Delegate
The board discussed who the representative from this board will be for the 2021-22 School Year. This year the delegate meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. It was noted that Gabrielle Frederick served in this capacity for the past two conventions. She explained what happens at the Delegate Session for Board Members and expressed thanks for the opportunity. She has volunteered to serve as delegate again.
Denise Chittick moved to appoint Gabrielle Frederick as the School Board Representative as the IASB Assembly Delegate. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance
Annual Audit RFP
Superintendent Schneider and Business Manager Swartzentruber shared that the FY 2021 Audit Engagement was the last one on the current agreement with Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, CPAs (Nolte) from Newton Iowa. The last RFP for auditors was conducted in the FY 2017 for a 5-year agreement. At that time, RFPs were sent out to 6 or 7 audit firms. Nolte was the only firm that responded. The price and process were reasonable. Prior to the last RFP, the previous agreement was extended for 2 additional years with Nolte. While it is the recommendation of the Superintendent and Business Manager to extend the agreement with Nolte for another 3 years, it is the Board decision as to whether to extend or move ahead to complete an RFP for Audit Services. Nolte has stated that they most often see 2 year extensions when an extension is requested. The Board asked questions for information and discussed the audit arrangement and outcomes.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve an extension of the current auditor relationship with Nolte, Cornman, & Johnson CPAs for an additional 3 years. Jodi Meader seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Work Session
Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items
District Facilities Plan
The discussion from the earlier Work Session agenda item continued. Discussion of costs and bidding in the current construction environment were led by Carl A. Nelson and Shive-Hattery representatives to highlight some of the current developments. Costing for the projects discussed in earlier meetings have been updated to reflect the estimates provided by Carl A. Nelson since the last meeting. Discussion then turned to the different alternatives to a number of the Middle School projects. Also discussed were elements of the High School renovations and potential options. President Gugel asked the Board to work to finalize research and questions in order to wrap up this phase of the process, if possible.
Announcements
Nothing added from earlier in the meeting.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, November 8, 2021, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Facilitates Plan move to final consensus, a presentation on MAPs Interventionist activity and CTE will also make a presentation.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.