Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
November 22, 2021 – 6:15 p.m.
RETIRING SCHOOL BOARD ANNUAL MEETING
President Jeremy Gugel called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Gugel (retiring), Jodi Meader (retiring), Jeremy Pickard, and Marianne Schlabach and Jed Seward (new) and Jake Snider (new).
Board members absent: None.
Also Present: Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jodi Meader. Motion carried 7-0.
Consent Items
Marianne Frederick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of November 8, 2021;
Gabrielle Frederick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Accept Election Results
The Official Abstract of Votes as canvassed by the three counties on November 16, 2021, for the November 2, 2021, election was presented to the Board for acceptance. A total of 2900 votes were cast in the election for 3 open seats. The top three candidates receiving votes are the persons to be seated in the seats. These include: Jed Seward with 560 votes, Gabrielle Frederick with 419 votes, and Jake Snider with 365 votes. The other six candidates received votes ranging in totals from 349 votes to 185 votes.
Mary Allred moved to accept the election results for the November 2, 2021 from the Official Abstract of Votes dated November 16, 2021. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Adjournment (Sine Die) The Board President adjourned “sine die” the final meeting of the 2020-2021 Board.
New Board of Education – Organization of the 2021-2022 Board
Board Secretary, Jeff Swartzentruber, called the meeting to order.
The Oath of Office was administered to Gabrielle Frederick, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider as the newly elected School Board members.
Next, the floor was opened for discussion for the Nominations for Board President and Vice-President.
Nominations for President of the Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 school year: Marianne Schlabach nominated Jeremy Pickard for President of the Board. Seconded by Gabrielle Frederick. Motion carried 6-0, with the nominee abstaining.
Nominations for Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the 2021-2022 school year; Gabrielle Frederick nominated Marianne Schlabach for Vice-President. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Motion carried 6-0, with the nominee abstaining.
The Oath of Office was administered to NAME as President and to NAME as Vice-President.
Opening for the New School Board
President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.
Marianne Schlabach moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Gabrielle Frederick. Motion carried 7-0.
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the following consent items. Superintendent Schneider spoke on behalf of the Nutrition Director recommendation to hire.
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for November 22, 2021;
Open Enrollment Requests – None are presented for approval;
Personnel Items
Resignation of Taylor Gordon, Middle School Paraprofessional, $14.61 per hour, effective November 22, 2021;
Resignation of Lori Schrock, Middle School Paraprofessional, $14.39 per hour, effective December 21, 2021;
A contract is issued to Cory Evans, as full time Nutrition Director Position is presented to the Board for Consideration; he has been offered the position on a 217 day contract at $50,000 Salary, Starting date is December 6, 2021;
Fundraising Requests
Mid-Prairie Wrestling requests approval to raise funds through the sale of Soy Candles to be used to pay for volunteer coaches, coaches apparel, extra hotel rooms at state tournament, coaches fees, and funds towards the cost of a new wrestling room;
Mid-Prairie Student Boosters request approval to raise funds beginning February 1, 2022, through the day of the event on April 30, 2022 with a silent auction, raffle baskets and donations to support teacher and student activities for presentations, field trips, student challenge prizes and food for events;
The President of the Mid-Prairie Fine Arts Booster presented a request for approval to launch a Fundraiser for the Auditorium assuming approval of the project to sell a seat in the auditorium for $500 with a goal to raise $300,000 if all 600 seats are sold (others shared their support of the auditorium as well as a synopsis of the last 30 years of Fine Arts activity);
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Short and Long Term Planning
Washington and Johnson County Conference Boards
The board discussed who the representatives for these boards will be for the 2021-2022 School Year. Both boards work to approve the County Budget via the Assessor’s Office. It is noted that Gabrielle Frederick is the only Johnson County resident amongst the School Board Members. Gabrielle Frederick represented Mid-Prairie at Johnson County and Mary Allred represented Mid-Prairie at Washington County in the prior fiscal year.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Gabrielle Frederick as the Johnson County Representative to the Johnson County Conference Board and Jake Snider as the Washington County Representative to the Washington County Conference Board for the 2021-2022 School Year. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Two separate votes were taken on the motion. The Motions each carried 6-0 with Frederick and Snider each abstaining during their respective votes.
Interest Based Bargaining School Board Representative
The board discussed who the representatives from the Board will be for the 2021-22 School Year. Jeremy Gugel and Denise Chittick served in this capacity last year with approximately two meetings per month from November to March or April and scheduled to precede School Board meetings. The first meeting will be prior to the December 13th School Board meeting. Then future meetings will also be prior to the School Board meetings. Jed Seward and Denise Chittick both volunteered to serve for the upcoming year.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to appoint Jed Seward and Denise Chittick as the School Board Representatives to the Mid-Prairie School District Interest Based Bargaining Committee for 2021-2022 School Year. Marianne Schlabach seconded the motion. Two separate votes were taken on the motion. The Motions each carried 6-0 with Frederick and Seward abstaining during their respective votes.
Second Reading – School Board Policy 906, Drones
Superintendent Schneider noted this agenda item passed on First Reading at the November 8th School Board Meeting. A request for comment or questions was made. The revised policy includes a provision for drones to be used for curricular and extra-curricular activities.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve School Board Policy 906, Drones on Second Reading as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
District Facilities Improvements
Superintendent Schneider shared that Carl A. Nelson has updated the Facilities’ Cost projections. He also handed out examples of the two potential ballot questions for review with comments that the wording would change to fit the proposal developed by the Board. Tad Morrow of Carl A. Nelson then presented from the handout the updated cost figures and discussed assumptions related to construction projects. The Board asked questions for clarification on project scope and cost. The Board reached consensus and are united in moving forward with proposals to the community and voters. Current cost estimates for the Facilities projects chosen are estimated at $37.6 million. Discussion turned to budget and resources. Private donors have committed $1.4 million to the Auditorium Project and is part of the resources with additional fundraising efforts expected by the Mid-Prairie community. The Board reached consensus on approach to bonding with $26 million proposed for General Obligation Bonds and $10.7 million from SAVE Fund Revenue Bonds. Potential tax rates for the General Obligation Bonds would increase the bond levy rates by $0.60 to $3.30. This is above the current approved limit of $2.70 for debt service. The Board gave Schneider the go ahead to work with legal counsel to write the two questions for a General Obligation Bond issue and for an increase to the maximum debt service tax rate to $4.05.
Set Date and Times of Public Hearing for SAVE (Sales Tax) Bonding
An allocation of the agreed upon Facilities Plan between the General Obligation Bonds and the bonding of SAVE Funds with Sales Tax Revenue Bonds needs to be established. A second Public Hearing on the same date may also be necessary if the Revenue Bonds include construction and/or purchase of extra-curricular buildings and assets. Once these are established a Public Hearing is required. The date for this Public Hearing is anticipated to be on Monday, December 13, 2021. Notices of the Public Hearing must be in The News newspaper by the December 2nd publication date.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to set the date for a Public Hearing on the Revenue Bonding using Sales Tax Revenue for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to set the date for a Public Hearing on the use of Revenue Bonding for extra-curricular construction purposes for Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:30 p.m at the Central Office Community Room. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Resolution for Limited English Proficiency Additional Allowable Growth
Superintendent Schneider reported that the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Deficit for the 2020-2021 School Year was $11,502.20. These are costs in excess of the Categorical Funding. The amount for this year is less than the $15,927.86 requested for the 2019-2020 School Year. The LEP filing has been certified as required by the state before the September 15, 2021 deadline. In order to be not be impacted by this deficit, a resolution for increased Allowable Growth for a negative LEP Balance is required to be filed with the School Budget Review Committee through the Iowa Department of Education.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve Resolution 112221 for additional allowable growth of $11,502.20 to cover the 2020-2021 LEP costs in excess of funding. Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes
Mary Allred - yes
Jake Snider - yes
Jeremy Pickard - yes
Marianne Schlabach - yes
Jed Seward - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
Casey’s Grant Application
Superintendent Schneider shared about the Casey’s Grant prepared by two Middle School Teachers to purchase non-traditional classroom furniture for their respective rooms. Their separate estimates for furniture costs are $6,650 and $7,175, respectively.
Denise Chittick moved to approve the process for applying for the Casey’s Grant for Furniture as presented. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
IASB Convention
Denise Chittick, Mary Allred, and Gabrielle Frederick reported on their attendance at the IASB Convention in Des Moines on November 18th. Frederick also discussed the delegate session that took place on November 17th.
Annual Superintendent Evaluation – Closed Session
Gabrielle Frederick moved to continue to closed session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual request a closed session as provided by 21.5(1)(i), Code of Iowa. Seconded by Mary Allred.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes
Mary Allred - yes
Jake Snider - yes
Jeremy Pickard - yes
Marianne Schlabach - yes
Jed Seward - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
The Board entered Closed Session at 8:46 p.m.
The Board exited Closed Session at 9:07 p.m.
Announcements -- None
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, December 13, 2021, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: The Public Hearing on SAVE Bonds, and the Superintendent Commitment Statement.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:09 p.m.