Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
November 14, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.
RETIRING SCHOOL BOARD ANNUAL MEETING
President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred (arrived to the meeting at 7:19 p.m.) Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred (arrived to the meeting at 7:19 p.m.).
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Marianne Schlabach moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Motion carried 6-0.
Consent Items
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of October 24, 2022;
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Adjournment (Sine Die) The Board President adjourned “sine die” the final meeting of the 2021-2022 and partial 2022-2023 School Board at 6:16 p.m.
New Board of Education – Organization of the 2022-2023 Board
Board Secretary, Jeff Swartzentruber, called the meeting to order at 6:17 p.m.
Nominations for President of the Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 School Year:
Jake Snider Jake Snider nominated Gabrielle Frederick for President of the Board. Gabrielle Frederick responded to the nomination and expressed reservations. Swartzentruber asked for a second. Motion died for lack of a second.
Marianne Schlabach nominated Jeremy Pickard for President of the Board. Additional nominations were requested by Swartzentruber, and there were none. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Further discussion ensued. Motion carried 5-0 as Jeremy Pickard abstained from voting.
Nominations for Vice-President of the Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 School Year: Jeremy Pickard nominated Gabrielle Frederick for Vice-President. Additional nominations were requested by Swartzentruber, and there were none. Seconded by Marianne Schlabach. Motion carried 6-0 .
The Oaths of Office were administered Jeremy Pickard President of the Board and Gabrielle Frederick Vice President of the Board.
New President Jeremy Pickard, again, called the New Board of Education meeting to order.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented for the New Board. Seconded by Marianne Schlabach. Motion carried 6-0.
WORK SESSION
Hawk Highlight
Behavior Interventionists, Beth Dehogues and Mackenzie Kos provided an update on their work and changes to Minor and Major Behavior Matrix. They provided a view of the matrix and connected it to the PBIS program. They also discussed the Continuum of Responses approach that dovetails into the strategy used for the matrix and followed this up with details. This program was presented to staff and continues to be implemented. The Board expressed appreciation for the presentation and the explanation of the program and protocols. The Board also asked questions of Dehogues, Kos and administrators for clarification. The program was strongly affirmed.
Board Member and Administrator Dialogue
Facility Long-term prioritizing
The Board continued discussions on the Long-term Facilities Plan and began to prioritize the projects identified to date. Some preliminary costing was shared by Superintendent Stone using the priorities list. He shared two initial scenarios for the Board to review and discuss. The Board discussed the approach to referendum questions for an increase of the bond levy rate and a question for the amount of General Obligation bonds to be issued for the projects. The discussion centered on asking the questions at the same time, or asking them separately. The Board recognizes that the community needs to understand the long-range plan and the steps included with the master plan. The Board discussed a smaller scope of projects first and then a larger project later as part of the master plan. The Board discussed the issues related to usage of the various spaces including Fine Arts, Education, and Athletic. At the next meeting the Board needs to determine the approach to be taken, will it be one question, or two questions. And of the debt service levy question what is the level to raise the debt service levy.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
The Board returned to the Facility Long-term prioritizing of the Work Session
(Mary Allred arrived at 7:19 p.m.)
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Finance Report
The Finance Report for Year-to-date October 2022;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for November 14, 2022; and Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Asenath Shetler requests Brice Shetler (Grade 2) and Celie Shetler (Grade 5), attend Mid-Prairie from Highland Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Jamie Mullins requests Mackenzie Rilea (Grade 8), attend Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Zachary and Angela Miller request Beckett Miller (Grade 5) and Brylee Miller (Grade 8) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Caleb Potts, High School Math Teacher, $18,885 per remainder of School Year;
Work Agreement issued to Deana Nolan, High School Paraprofessional, $14.67 per hour;
Contract issued to Megan Neal, High School Prom Sponsor, $929.85 per annum;
Contract issued to Brock Moore, Middle School Head Girls Wrestling Coach and Boys Assistant Wrestling Coach, $A per annum;
Winter Volunteer Coaches
Jared Duwa, Assistant HS Wrestling Coach, $-0-
Shannon McCain, Assistant HS Wrestling Coach, $-0-
Timothy O’Tool, Assistant HS Boys Basketball Coach, $1,500 from Basketball Resale
Tana Boshart, Assistant MS Girls Basketball Coach, $-0-
Noah Hugh, Assistant MS Boys Wrestling Coach, $-0-
Fundraising Requests – No requests submitted
Marianne Schlabach seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Finance
Interest Based Bargaining School Board Representative
The board discussed who the representatives from the Board will be for the 2022-23 School Year. Jed Seward 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 12th School Board meeting. Then future meetings will also be prior to the School Board meetings. Jed Seward and Denise Chittick both stated and openness 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 2022-2023 School Year. Mary Allred seconded the motion. The Motion carried 7-0.
Washington and Johnson County Conference Boards
The board discussed who the representatives for these boards will be for the 2022-2023 School Year. Both boards work to approve the County Budget via the Assessor’s Office. Gabrielle Frederick is the only Johnson County resident amongst the School Board Members. Gabrielle Frederick represented Mid-Prairie at Johnson County and Jake Snider represented Mid-Prairie at Washington County in the prior fiscal year.
Jed Seward 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 2022-2023 School Year. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. The Motion carried 7-0.
IASB Representative/Delegate
The board discussed who the delegate to IASB would be for the coming year after this week’s annual convention and delegate session. Gabrielle Frederick has served as the IASB delegate for Mid-Prairie for the past number of years. She stated that she is willing to continue in this role and yet welcomed others to serve in the coming year if they have interest. The Board discussed representation at IASB.
Mary Allred moved to approve Gabrielle Frederick as the IASB delegate for the coming year to start immediately after the November 16-18, 2022 Annual Convention. Marianne Schlabach seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Utility Easement Request – Soccer Field
Business Manager Swartzentruber presented a request for an underground electric easement by Interstate Power and Light Company (Alliant Energy) for a utility easement to cross on the North border of the soccer field complex as noted on the Exhibit B map that is attached to the Easement Document. The Board approved an Underground Electric Easement in June of 2022 for an area at the North most point for the placement of a pad-mounted XMFR and pole. Alliant found that the underground area they had planned to use at the street is already overcrowded with other utilities making their original plan untenable. This this request allows them a 10 foot area on the north boundary of the Soccer fields.
Mary Allred moved to approve the permanent easement with Interstate Power and Light as presented in the document. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
SBRC Resolution for Additional Allowable Growth for Enrollment and ELL
Business Manager Swartzentruber presented the additional allowable growth resolution that, if passed, will allow the District to increase spending authority of $64,043 for Open Enrollment Out and of $6,226.92 for ELL Beyond 5 Years. These amounts are a result of the Certified Enrollment data from the October 1, 2022, count date.
Jake Snider moved to approve Resolution 11142201 to allow the Superintendent to request increased spending authority of $64,043 on Open Enrollment Out for the 2022-2023 School year and $6,226.92 for ELL Beyond 5 Years. Jed Seward seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Jeremy Pickard - yes
Marianne Schlabach - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 7-0.
Student Learning
Carl A. Nelson/Shive-Hattery Presentation on the Design Development process for the upcoming East Elementary and Middle School additions and renovations projects
The Carl A. Nelson and Shive-Hattery teams provided an update on the East Elementary and Middle School Design Development process for additions and renovations. Shive-Hattery shared an overview of the current site plans and building drawings of both buildings and noted that there are not significant changes from the previous phase. Also included was a review of budget of these projects at this point and changes made to the projects as preparations for bid documents and bid packages are prepared. Shive-Hattery discussed the Wrestling space as part of their presentation and discussed an initial estimation before the Schematic Design phase as it appears that it may be higher than the $1million. There is recognition that the scope needs to be further refined on the Wrestling space.
The next phase is to move to Construction documents for the Middle School, East Elementary, and the High School Track to be presented to the Board at the January 23, 2023 meeting. The Board informally agreed to continue to move forward with this process for the three projects.
Reschedule the March 13, 2023 School Board Meeting
Superintendent Stone discussed the potential need to change the first Board Meeting in March as this is Spring Break week with a number of Board Members known to be absent due to travel plans. Another date needs to be considered and/or selected unless the March 13, 2023 date is cancelled outright. A special meeting could be called as needed.
Mary Allred moved to cancel the March 13, 2023 School Board Meeting. Jed Seward seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Superintendent Evaluation Process
Gabrielle Frederick presented some ideas about the Superintendent evaluation process. Normally, it would be the second meeting in November. The Superintendent Contract states that it is to be conducted on May 15, 2023, which is not a scheduled Board Meeting date, for the first year of his contract. Frederick stated her thoughts on having Superintendent Stone share the progress towards the goals that the Board had set at the next School Board meeting. She recommends that it be a closed session at the end of the next meeting with recognition that this is Superintendent Stone’s decision. Additional comments were made about timing, process, and content of the evaluation. The Board provided feedback to move in the direction stated above for the next meeting in November. Frederick also discussed the idea of doing a Board Member evaluation, either peer to peer or self-evaluation. There seemed to be agreement to explore the Board Member evaluation idea.
Work Session
Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items
There were no unfinished items from the Work Session section of the meeting.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
President Pickard has invited State of Iowa Legislators Heather Hora and Dawn Driscoll to the Work Session of the November 28th School Board Meeting.
Business Manager Swartzentruber noted that the District has been approached about our interest in leasing a 100 foot by 100 foot portion of our property for a cellphone tower at $500 per month. Is there interest in putting this on the agenda to discuss? Let Pickard or Swartzentruber know if this should be an agenda item.
Business Manager Swartzentruber communicated that the first quarter ESSER III reimbursement requests were made and that $625,500-plus was submitted for reimbursement. $139,000 remains and is committed to projects for the remainder of the 2022-2023 School Year. There can be no new projects.
Business Manager Swartzentruber communicated that $750,000 and $1,100,000 have been invested in Treasuries through the Hills Bank Trust Investment Management Accounts following the established Board Policy guidelines.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, November 28, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: First Reading of Board Policy 802.4 Fixed Assets; Level I Investigators, and Superintendent interim evaluation.
Board Highlights
- Gabrielle Frederick state that she is proud of Jake Snider for doing the first ever resolution motion.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.