Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie High School Multi-Purpose Room, Wellman, IA 52356
January 24, 2022 – 6:00 p.m.
Vice-President Marianne Schlabach chaired the meeting as President Jeremy Pickard will be unable to be present at the meeting in its entirety. Marianne Schlabach called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard (left the meeting at 6:53 p.m.), Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred and Jeremy Pickard (left the meeting at 6:53 p.m.).
Also Present: Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Jeremy Pickard moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 6-0.
WORK SESSION
Dinner with New Employees
The Board invited all new employees for the past two School Years to share a meal with the Board during this time, a count of 20+ new employees joined the Board. Superintendent Schneider started the meeting this portion of the meeting after the meal. The Board Members and new staff introduced themselves to each other.
Jeremy Pickard left immediately after this agenda item ended at 6:53 p.m.
Music Program Presentation
Collette McClellen provided a presentation to the Board on her High School curriculum, philosophy, and the various support for students. She also walked through the performance calendar and behind the scenes efforts for the year. The Board Members thanked her for her investment in our students and program.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m. – No one spoke.
Consent Items
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of January 10, 2022;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for January 24, 2022;
Open Enrollment Requests
Michelle Phillips requests Arkana Allen (Grade 6) and Xavier Allen (Grade 2), attend Mid-Prairie from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Logan and Faith Lee request Layken Lee (Grade 7) and Trig Lee (Grade 5), attend Mid-Prairie from English Valleys Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Krystal McFadden requests DeClan McFadden (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Mark and Gwen Hostetler request Rachel Hochstetler (Grade 7) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Amy Hartsock-Williams, High School Head Softball Coach, $6,427.20 per season;
Work Agreement issued to Tanya Kennedy, Paraprofessional East Elementary; $14.18 per hour;
Fundraising Requests
FCCLA requests approval to raise funds through the sale of strawberries from February 2nd to 16th in order to provide leadership events, community service projects, and school service projects;
Middle School Student Leadership Team and High School FCS Classes request approval to raise funds through donations for the cost of an Etiquette Dinner learning experience for Eighth Grade Students;
Appointment of Level I Investigators for the Mid-Prairie School District
The Principals are appointed as Level I Investigators – Amy Shalla, Rachel Kerns, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Chuck Banks, and Frank Slabaugh are named. Superintendent Schneider is appointed as the First Alternate to the Level I Investigators.
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Student Learning
Honor Girls Cross Country
Superintendent Schneider recognized the High School Girls Cross Country Team and Mark Hostetler for their success in winning 5 consecutive state cross country titles. The Board thanked Mark for not only the success of the program on the course, but building character and other positive traits within each individual in the program.
Public Hearing at 7:15 PM – Fund Transfer to Flexibility Account
Board Vice-President Schlabach opened the Public Hearing for comments and questions on the $259,000 proposed transfer of funds from the Home School Assistance Fund Balance to the Flexibility Account. No one from the public commented. Schlabach closed the Public Hearing at 7:17 p.m.
Fund Transfer to Flexibility Account
Vice-President Schlabach asked for a motion to approve the Flexibility Account Transfer Resolution.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Resolution 012422 Flexibility Fund Transfer from the Home School Assistance Program Fund Balance to the Flexibility Account in the amount of $259,000 and read pertinent parts of the Resolution. Denise Chittick seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes
Mary Allred - absent
Jed Seward - yes
Jeremy Pickard - absent
Marianne Schlabach - yes
Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 5-0.
Public Hearing – 7:20 PM – HVAC Specifications, HSEC
Vice-President Schlabach opened the Public Hear for comments and questions on the HVAC Project Specifications. Tim Fehr, Shive-Hattery representative was present to provide input and to answer questions. Tim provided brief comments on the Home School Education Project. The project is to be started during the 2022 Summer break with a system startup date in the third week of August. No one from the public spoke. The Board asked questions about the project of Fehr for clarification.
Second Reading, School Board Policy 407.1, Licensed Employee Resignation
Superintendent Schneider reviewed for the Board Policy 407.1, which allows the Board to set an annual incentive for licensed employees resigning their employment with the district after the current year. At the meeting of January 10, 2022, the Board passed on First Reading the Policy 407.1 with changes to the incentive dates of the non-renewal incentive for licensed early resignations for the 2021-2022 School year to the third Friday in February, and prior to the third Friday of March.
Gabrielle Frederick made the motion to approve on Second Reading Board Policy 407.1 a non-renewal incentive for licensed early resignations for the 2021-2022 School year to the third Friday in February, and prior to the third Friday of March. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Determine Incentive for Early Resignation of Licensed Employees
Superintendent Schneider then discussed the proposed amounts for 2021-2022 Fiscal Year as these amounts are to be set each year. He recommends the incentive for the third Friday in February to be $2,000 and by the third Friday in March to be $1,000. The Board discussed the amounts proposed and asked additional questions for clarification.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the amount of $2,000 as the incentive for the Third Friday in February and the amount of $1,000 as the incentive before the third Friday in March in Fiscal Year 2021-2022. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Bond Referendum Discussion
Superintendent Schneider led the discussion of the current status for the preparations for the March 1, 2022 election for the Bond Referendum. There are two types of posters available to be placed around the community. A website is set to go live on Tuesday or Wednesday, January 25-26, 2022 to include a number of items to educate and communicate the projects and process. There are two questions on the ballot. The first question will contain the issuance of $26,300,000.00 of General Obligation Bonds. The second question will be asked for the Debt Service Levy Rate to be raised from the current $2.70 per thousand dollars of assessed value to $4.05 per thousand dollar of assessed value. Both questions need to pass the election by 60% majority plus one vote in order for the proposed projects to proceed. Schneider presented the various educational resources that have been developed including the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, the visual boards of the projects, and the website with the information. He asked for input on the FAQ document for additions, or changes. The Board clarified that the Debt Service Levy Rate is anticipated to increase to $3.30 from the current $2.70 and not go to the $4.05 highest new rate. The Board asked questions and made observations about the current information available. The Board expressed appreciation for the ideas already in place and in development to make this information readily available to educate the public.
Work Session
300 Series, School Board Policies - Administration
Superintendent Schneider asked that this agenda item be tabled to the next meeting due to time constraints in the review of the policies.
Board Development and In-service Activities – None for this meeting.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday February 14, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Board Policy Series 300, Home School Program Presentation, HSEC HVAC Bids, and Flexibility Funds Spending Resolution.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:52 p.m.