Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
December 8, 2025 – 6:15 p.m.
President Randy Billups called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Kirah Johnson, and Jed Seward.
Board members absent: Ryan Schlabaugh and Jake Snider.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Adopt the Agenda
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 5-0.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Denise Chittick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of November 24, 2025;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for November 2025;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for December 8, 2025; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 3 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Resignation of Elizabeth Harris, High School Band Color Guard Coach, $2,422 per year, effective end of 2025-2026 School Year;
Change in FTE for Carrie Schweitzer, Middle School FCS Teacher from 0.75 FTE to 1.0 FTE, $49,611, effective January 12, 2026;
Fall Coaches recommended for the Fall of 2026
High School Football Head Coach – Daren Lambert High School Football Asst Coach – Kevin Cortum
High School Football Asst Coach – Justin Barthelman High School Football Asst Coach – Dylan Wertz
7th Grade Football Head Coach – Dylan Walther 8th Grade Football Head Coach – Dain Jeppson
High School X-Country Head Coach – Mark Hostetler High School X-Country Asst Coach – Lynette Poll
Middle School X-0Country Head Coach – Jeremy Meyers
High School Volleyball Head Coach – Sherry Evans HS Volleyball Asst Coach – Rebecca Becker
7th Grade Volleyball Head Coach – Megan Uden
8th Grade Volleyball Head Coach – Melanie Steinhart
Fundraising Requests
Post Prom requests approval to raise funds through the “Chuck a Duck” event at home basketball games in January and February of 2026 for expenses related to the Post Prom event;
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Student Learning
Reports
The Board reviewed the Administrators’ written reports to the Board. Time was allotted to ask questions and discuss the reports. It was asked that the attendance data be posted on Social Media. Additionally, the Board likes to see the things that are going well and encourages these reports.
Finance-Long Range Planning
Matching Funds Approval for FY2025-2026
Superintendent Stone and SBO Swartzentruber brought this to the Board for consideration. Per Board Policy 903.6 the Board, in August of each year the Board makes a decision to promote joint fundraising for the three major Booster Groups including: Fine Arts Boosters, Athletic Boosters, and Student Boosters. In the past several years, the matching funds have been $15,000 per group or a total maximum of $45,000. The Board asked questions for clarification and understanding.
Jed Seward moved to approve matching funds of $15,000 to each of the three groups, totaling $45,000 for the 2025-2026 School Year. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Budget Guarantee Resolution for FY 2026-2027
School Business Official Swartzentruber provided the Regular Program Budget Adjustment Resolution #12082501 and recommended approval of the resolution. Due to the District’s Resident Student Count on October 1, 2025, reported as 4.48 students down from the previous October 1, 2024 Student Count, it is very likely that increased funding by the State of Iowa for schools will not meet last year’s budget funding, and this is a precautionary resolution. The resolution allows for the District to receive at least 101% of the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year Revenue. Open Enrolled In students were also down 20.50 students from the October 1, 2024 Student Count, which is the first time in quite a few years. Open Enrolled In Students offsets smooth the net trend, the District is down overall by 16.98 students served compared to the 2024 count. This year’s resolution is a necessary protection of District funding.
Denise Chittick moved to approve Resolution #12082501 Regular Program Budget Adjustment for the 2026-2027 School Year as presented. Jed Seward seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Kirah Johnson - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - absent
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - absent
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 5-0.
School Bus Specifications Set Date and Time for Public Hearing
Superintendent Stone noted the ongoing need to keep the District School Bus Fleet up to date. A request for a Public Hearing to review the bus specifications for the purchase of one diesel powered, Yellow School Buses on January 12, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. is recommended. This would be for delivery and payment in School Year 2026-2027. The bus to be replaced is an older propane-powered bus that has reached a point where repairs are increasingly more frequent. Past practice has been to buy two buses at a time. However, the request for one bus also considers the need and outlay for a potential new transportation facility.
Jed Seward moved to set a Public Hearing for purpose of reviewing the specifications of 1 diesel powered school bus on Monday, January 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Superintendent Stone discussed the Eocene Survey Draft that was sent to Board Members as Eocene asked for feedback by December 24th. The Board is generally positive about the outcome of the survey development.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: At-Risk/Dropout Plan Resolution, At-Risk/Dropout Plan Funding Resolution; New Teacher Hire Sign-On Payment; Early Resignation Incentives, Set a Public Hearing for the HSAP Flexibility Fund Transfer;
January 26, 2026 will be the next Board Work Session. Agenda: a second look at passed Work Session items that may not have been discussed in depth.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.