Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
February 28, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.
President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
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.
Denise Chittick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Mary Allred. Motion carried 7-0.
District Transportation Report
Teresa Hartley, Transportation Director, provided a presentation on the District’s transportation activities, initiatives, challenges and celebrations. Mid-Prairie is the 5th largest district in the state covering 215 square miles. There are 15 daily bus routes driving 965 total miles per day, or almost 225,000 miles per year to transport 447 students each day. Activity Trip miles total over 51,000 per year. Focus in the presentation included efforts to interact with Community, Drivers, and Students. The Board asked questions for clarification on support on buses and thanked Teresa and Transportation for all of the work and care that is taken each day.
Middle School Activities Report
Nathan Carlson, Middle School Activities Director, provided a presentation on Middle School Activities over the past 16 months. He discussed the updates to equipment and uniforms, and some of the positive events that have happened. He discussed the new initiatives with officials. He also touched on Middle School fine arts and the success that we are experienced. He also discussed some hopes for the Middle School program and activities including need for space—facilities upgrades, coaching support, recognition of numbers of students participating, and working at consistent soccer planning.
Bond Referendum
Superintendent Schneider reported on the status of the preparations for the March 1, 2022 election for the Bond Referendum. The Board Encouraged people present to get out to vote tomorrow..
Board Member and Administrator Dialogue
There are plans to cancel the March 8th School Day as the Boys Basketball is playing at State. This day will be made up on April 15th. Should the boys win on Tuesday, School will be cancelled on March 10th. Should the boys win on Thursday, the next game will be March 11th and there will be a half day of school that day. Because of no School on March 8th, there will be no Wednesday early out. This will also change the Middle School Parent Teacher Conferences from March 10th to March 24th.
Board Development and Inservice Activities – Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda – Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
Persons from the public spoke on issues related to bullying and actions that may need to be taken. The citizens are working on solutions and asked to work with the District Diversity Committee.
Another person from the public shared concerns about the volunteer and visitor definitions in the Board Policy, and who is allowed to be in the building with students. A parent that served the on the committee shared concerns about the policy and how it is being carried out if the information shared on social media is accurate.
Consent Items
Mary Allred moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of February 14, 2022;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for February 28, 2022;
Open Enrollment Requests
Elizabeth Steele requests Zayden Liles (Grade 1), attend Mid-Prairie from Washington Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Shantell Krabill requests Gabriel Krabill (Grade 3) and Nita Krabill (Grade 1), attend Mid-Prairie from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Daniel Grove requests Cael Grove (Grade 9), and Myles Grove (Grade 11) attend Mid-Prairie from English Valleys Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Megan Morrison requests Emma Morrison (Grade 1) and Makenna Morrison (Grade 3), attend Mid-Prairie from English Valleys Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Sue Gingerich requests Elise Gingerich (Grade 9), attend Mid-Prairie from Highland Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Nathaniel Lavely requests Edward Lavely (Grade 2), attend Mid-Prairie from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Karen Shafer-Waters requests Reece Waters (Grade 8), attend Mid-Prairie from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Madelynn Dickinson requests Reid Dickinson (Alternative Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Keota Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Sarah Stoutner requests Reese Stoutner (Alternative Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Keota Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Nikaia Feltes requests Emmerson Feltes (Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Brittany Coleman requests William Bethel (Grade 8) and Jordan Ernst (Grade 4) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Joy Kim requests Isaac Kim (Grade 9) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Andrew Klewin requests Celina Klewin (Grade 1) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from English Valleys Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Chad and Jessica Engelkes requests Blake Engelkes (Grade 1), Chase Engelkes (Grade 9), Katelyn Engelkes (Grade 5), and Kimberly Engelkes (Grade 8) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Highland Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Shannon Babbitt requests David Babbitt (Grade 2) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Cody and Kelli Bateman request Zane Bateman (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Elisabeth Chiang requests Susan Chiang (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Lindsey Griffin requests Edith Griffin (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Shawna Haines requests Aria Haines (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Teresa Naso requests Lilia Naso (Grade 12) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Maria Scott requests Adia Scott (Grade 6) and Dalton Scott (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Amanda Stamp requests Benjamin Stamp (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Kelsey Steffen requests Peter Steffen (Grade 2) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Aaron Stump requests Oliver Stump (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Laura Whitmore requests Brenton Whitmore (Kindergarten) and Katlyn Whitmore (Grade 2) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Rachel Gray requests Eden Gray (Grade 2), Lena Gray (Grade 4), Micah Gray (Kindergarten), Noah Gray (Grade 8), and Zoe Gray (Grade 6) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Thomas and Shyra Warwick request Myles Warwick (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Keota Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Ryan and Christine Oberman request Amelia Oberman (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Lone Tree Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Lauren Thomsen requests Jonathan Thomsen (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Solon Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Philip and Nicole Gross request Mackenzie Gross (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Washington Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Mari Ethridge requests Mack Ethridge (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Karenza Yoder requests Liam Yoder (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Madeleine Westfall request Kevin Westfall (Grade 11) attend Highland Community School District from Mid-Prairie;
Personnel Items
Work Agreement issued to Nicole Castillo, High School Paraprofessional, $14.18 per hour;
Contract issued to Matt Freel, High School Girls Assistant Track Coach, $2,960 per annum;
Contract issued to Aaron Coghlan, Middle School Track Coach, $2,473 per annum;
Contract issued to Brad Tornow, High School Assistant Baseball Coach, $2,850 per season;
Resignation of Nikole Eichelberger, First Grade Teacher, $43,437 per annum, effective the end of the 2021-2022 Contract Year;
Resignation of Ames Molsberry, Third Grade Teacher, $48,188 per annum, effective the end of the 2021-2022 Contract Year;
Resignation of Cyndi Michel, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $14.39 per hour, effective February 28, 2022;
Fundraising Requests
High School Boys Basketball requests approval to raise funds through the sale of State Basketball T-Shirts using the on-line store with proceeds to be used for apparel for players, coaches, payment for volunteer coaches and team equipment;
Timberline Service Agreement – Agreement to provide Medicaid Billing and Data evaluation services;
Jake Snider seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Board President Pickard asked the Board to consider a Board Education Activity with Tammi Drawbaugh with IASB to provide input and to discuss topics pertinent to the Mid-Prairie School Board. Discussion of potential dates either before a Board Meeting on a day not on the night of a Board Meeting. The Board in general agreement that this is a great idea. It is preferred that it would be in an evening. President Pickard will send out a survey to determine the most preferred time in April with the dates that work in Drawbaugh’s schedule.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, March 21, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room as Monday, March 14, 2022 is the first day of Spring Break week.
Gabrielle Frederick moved that the meeting currently scheduled on March 14, 2022, be moved to March 21, 2022 at 6:15 p.m. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Motion carried 7-0.
With the change in dates, it was noted that releasing bills will take place prior to the next Board Meeting with the Board approving the payment of bills after the fact. The Board appeared to be comfortable with this reality.
Agenda items for the March 21, 2022 will include: A report on bullying; A work session item to discuss new Staff hiring policies; A work session item to discuss the governor’s announced SSA of 2.5% and February 17, 2022 law a $1,000 retention bonus paid by state monies with some restrictions – is there something that we need to do for Support Staff; and discussion of the definition of a visitor and a volunteer as outlined in the Board Policy.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.