Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
August 25, 2025– 6:15 p.m.
President Jake Snider called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Randy Billups, Gabrielle Frederick, Ryan Schlabaugh, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred and Denise Chittick.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 5-0.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for August 25, 2025, and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 6 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 2 students;
Personnel Items
Work Agreement issued to Marcelena Billups, West Elementary Preschool Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Chloe Kruse, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Noah Marlin, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Kali Miller, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Libby Peiffer, West Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Resignation of Jeremiah Lassy, High School Paraprofessional, $15.59 per hour, effective August 13, 2025;
Fundraising Requests – Nothing submitted
Gabrielle Frederick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Business Item - Finance
East Elementary Additional Special Education Paraprofessionals Proposal
Superintendent Stone directed the Board to the Proposal by Kristan Hunter, Principal at East Elementary and Doug Stafford, Special Education Director for the need for one Special Education Paraprofessional positions at East Elementary. These needs are determined by the Individual Education Plans for students in the building.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve one Special Education Paraprofessionals position as presented for East Elementary. Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Work Session
IASB Feedback and Activities
Superintendent Stone worked through the material provided as a result of the August 14, 2025, Board Development session with Tammi Drawbaugh using her report to Snider and Stone after the session. The Board discussed the next steps that might be taken to discuss the Boards goals and areas of focus. Discussed the need to be intentional with this at meetings, though the exact form is not settled, whether it is at the end or the beginning of the agenda—what was a positive since the previous meeting, or “what did we tackle at the end of the meeting.” The Board discussed 2 strengths to focus on and an area to build on as part of the previous sentence. Also, discussion of other activities and time the Board may be able to take part of within the buildings during the school day.
“Whose Job is It”- Possible Self-Check Idea
Superintendent Stone worked through the document provided by Drawbaugh in the August 14, 2025, Board Development session. Stone suggested this document could be a self-check exercise. It was suggested that this might be a quarterly activity that reviews Board accomplishments for the previous quarter within a Work Session.
Survey from Board to Staff
Superintendent Stone asked the Board about next steps and details for surveys conducted by an outside firm to go to all staff for collection of data from staff on elements of job satisfaction. An independent third party takes the detail responses away from the Board and Superintendent for compilation. The surveys spread over the year, maybe 2 or 3 different surveys, allow for trends to be developed and studied within a year or over a span of years. Schlabaugh will approach a few firms. Stone will talk with IASB staff, also.
Tour of New MP Activity Center
The Board toured the construction in process Activity Center behind the High School to see the current status.
Next Meeting and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, September 8, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m. at the construction site.