Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
October 24, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.
Vice President Marianne Schlabach called the meeting to order in the absence of President Jeremy Pickard.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard (arrived at 7:25 p.m.), Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Jeremy Pickard (arrived at 7:25 p.m.).
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Gabrielle Frederick. Motion carried 6-0.
WORK SESSION
Hawk Highlight – FCS Global Cuisine Class
Glenda Seward, High School FCS Teacher, and a group of students to share on their experiences in the Global Cuisine Class. The class has a very international flavor and appeal. The class formed groups that competed against other groups. Their dishes were judged by various teachers and administrators. They served the Board and group a Hazelnut cake.
Board Member and Administrator Dialogue
Building Needs Updates – Superintendent Stone introduced the process that each Administrator used to canvas their building staff. Each Principal shared about facilities needs for their building. Superintendent Stone noted that he will gather these lists and incorporate the items into the plan.
- Middle School– Principal Rob Hruby noted the following additional suggested items by staff: More classrooms and restrooms, more staff bathrooms, expanded office/staff rooms, gymnasium, remodel of the media center, small group meeting spaces, and remodel of the art classroom.
- High School– Principal Chuck Banks noted the following additional priorities: classrooms, auditorium, multi-purpose room remodel, new band and vocal area, parking lot, new gymnasium, staff bathrooms, classroom updating, and update of interior doors.
- East Elementary – Principal Greg Jergens noted the following priorities: the parking lot, outdoor lighting improvements, classrooms, special education rooms, small group meeting rooms, playground resurface/painting, new carpet in the library, handicap accessible doors, and sidewalks connecting all parts of the building.
- West Elementary– Principal Robin Foster noted the following additional priorities: the parking lot with traffic flow, additional classrooms (Preschool rooms were mentioned), handicap accessible doors, handicap accessible playground, and preschool playground.
- Home School– Director Rachel Kerns noted the following additional priorities: expressed appreciation for their space; new air conditioning unit on the roof, new gymnasium floor, parking lot improvements (future); a parent classroom, update the kitchen, science room lab space, playground upgrade, fencing around the ball fields—remove or upgrade, and exterior doors upgrades.
Facility Long-term Prioritizing – The focus turned to prioritizing projects and next steps. Superintendent Stone reiterated that the District leadership knows what is on the table. There is more on the list than what can be done with current funding sources. Once an initial prioritized list is established, then the cost estimates can be added to the list. Then there is a need to work on what can be done in the next 14 months.
The Board moved to Business meeting at 7:00 p.m. and continued Work Session items after the Business portion of the meeting.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Jake Snider moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of October 10, 2022;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for October 24, 2022;
Open Enrollment Requests
Angela Herren requests Treyton Herren (Grade 7), attend Mid-Prairie from Highland Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year as a Dual Enrolled student;
Personnel Items
Resignation of Brad Tornow, High School Assistant Baseball Coach, $2,901 per season, effective October 7, 2022;
Resignation of Melyssa Kleitsch, High School Paraprofessional, $14.67 per hour, effective October 10, 2022;
Fundraising Requests – None presented for approval;
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance
Middle School Gym Floor
Superintendent Stone presented the recommendation to use FLR Sanders, Inc. as the vendor to replace the Middle School gym floor. The replacement will be covered by insurance due to the floor flood issue in early June. Their proposal came in at $100,900. Additional questions were asked of them to assure completeness and comparability to the other two proposals. The other two proposals were $109,800, and $114,450, respectively. All three were comparable in scope. The Board asked questions about the process and the vendors for understanding and clarification.
Jed Seward moved to approve accepting the proposal from FLR Sanders, Inc. to replace the Middle School Gym Floor at a price of $100,900. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Hills Bank Trust Investment Management Accounts Setup
Business Manager Swartzentruber reminded the Board that they approved the two account setup, one for the General Fund, and one for the SAVE Fund at the October 10st meeting. Board President Pickard and Swartzentruber signed the account opening documents earlier this week. The document provided for the Board’s review completes the process. The document outlines the approach that Hills Bank will take in investment of the dollars the District Transfers to them. Swartzentruber asked if there were any questions on the Philosophy document provided by the Hills Bank Trust Company. No further action is needed.
Resolution for Limited English Proficiency Additional Allowable Growth – Resolution 10242221
Superintendent Stone reported that the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Deficit for the 2021-2022 School Year was $7,664.64. These are costs in excess of the Categorical Funding. The LEP filing has been certified as required by the state before the September 15, 2022 deadline. In order to be not be impacted by this deficit, a resolution for increased Allowable Growth for a negative LEP Balance is required to be filed with the School Budget Review Committee through the Iowa Department of Education.
Jeremy Pickard arrived at 7:25p.m. during this agenda item.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Resolution 1024221 for additional allowable growth of $7,664.64 to cover the 2021-2022 LEP costs in excess of funding. Denise Chittick 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
MS Assistant Wrestling Coach and Girls Wrestling Coach
Superintendent Stone brought a recommendation for approval of a combined position of Middle School Wrestling Coach and Girls Wrestling Coach position to be paid on the same level as a Middle School Wrestling Head Coach. The Girls would have a 5-week extended season after January 1, 2023. The Board asked questions for clarification.
Jeremy Pickard moved to approve the creation of a Middle School Assistant Wrestling Coach and Middle School Girl’s combined wrestling coach to be paid on the same scale as a Middle School Head Wrestling Coach. Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items
The Board continued the Business Facility needs from the Work Session.
Facility Long-term Prioritizing – The discussion continued on the amount to be borrowed and the rate at which it could be paid off. The Board asked for some illustrations on Pre-Levy and payoff of the bonds at varying levels.
Piper-Sandler Information – Business Manager Swartzentruber drew the Board’s attention to the 2-page illustration prepared by Piper-Sandler. The total maximum available borrowing is $20,655,000 with building proceeds of just under $20,100,000. The maximum available is stretched due to a split of the total borrowing over two years and interest only payment on the first two years of the larger amount and Interest only payments on the second issuance except for year 1 and year 21. The interest rates at 4.75% and 5% on the two tranches are higher than what seen in the recent past, but are reflective of the current environment. If/as the Board wants to go less than the maximum, additional scenarios may be needed. The Board asked questions about the illustration for clarification.
Certified Enrollment Numbers – Superintendent Stone showed the Certified Enrollment Numbers for 2023 as of the October 1, 2022 count date. Resident students have declined by 29.89 students. With this level of decline the 101% Budget Guarantee Resolution will be needed. Open Enrolled Students in are up 29.60 students. While the numbers appear to offset each other, there is still concern as the Open Enrolled Students can be more volatile throughout the year due to changes in the law enacted in the last session. The actual impact of revenue to educate students will not be known until SSA is finalized in the first quarter of 2023.
Softball Lights Update – Superintendent Stone provided an update on the Softball Lighting Project at the Middle School. An on-site meeting with Ardent Lighting took place last week. Work will most likely begin in November and December with the removal of some trees to create accessibility to the old lights and the new light placement. Work to install the lights and the wiring will begin after the ground is frozen estimated to be in January. There is confidence that the project will be completed in early Spring.
Iowa School Performance Profile – Superintendent Stone and the Administrators provided an update using the ISPP Accountability Data Summary for 2022. The two Elementary Schools and the Virtual Academy received and Acceptable Rating and No Support Required. The High School received a Commendable Rating with No Support Required. The Middle School also received a Commendable Rating with some targeted emphasis for Students with Disabilities (IEP).
Student Learning
Closed Session – Student Behavior
The Board reviewed a Student Behavior situation. It is preferred to be in closed session.
Mary Allred moved to go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5 subsection 1: To discuss whether to conduct a hearing or to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student, unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of the student if the student is a minor. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
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.
The Board entered Closed Session at 7:55 p.m.
The Board exited Closed Session at 8:14 p.m.
Mary Allred moved to uphold the suspension recommendation for Student A to be suspended from school for the rest of the Semester, and during that time, the student would be enrolled in the Virtual Academy from home. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, November 14, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Annual Organizational Meeting, Ongoing discussion about the Facility Planning Process, Level I Investigators, Flexibility Transfer of HSAP Funds, and Gabrielle Frederick may present some ideas on the Superintendent Evaluation at the next meeting. The second Meeting in November could be the Superintendent Evaluation.
Board Highlights – Nothing of significance was shared, though the Board expressed appreciation for Jeremy Pickard’s attendance in a busy week.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.