Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
October 27, 2025– 6:15 p.m.
Vice President Ryan Schlabaugh called the meeting to order in the absence of President Jake Snider.
Board members present: Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Ryan Schlabaugh, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred and Gabrielle Frederick.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber; MPHS Principal Chuck Banks; MPMS Principal Tim Bartels; West Elementary Principal Robin Foster; East Elementary Principal, Kristan Hunter; Special Education Director, Doug Stafford; and Curriculum Coordinator, Liza Fontaine
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Randy Billups moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 5-0.
Chair was turned over to President Snider as he arrived as the above motion was passed at 6:17 p.m.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for October 27, 2025 and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 0 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Kristen Thomas, High School Special Education Teacher, $50,000 per annum;
Work Agreement Issued to Esther Marten, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Work Agreement Issued to Tawnya Reid, 0.5 FTE East Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.50 per hour;
Fundraising Requests – No Requests Submitted
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Business Item – Finance – No agenda Items
Work Session
State Report Card and Additional Data/Assessments Information - Administration
Superintendent Stone shared the State Report Card Data with the Board and then facilitated a discussion with the Board about data, and data assessment tools. Administrators were present for this work session item. Elementary Principals discussed the Math curriculum and results, additionally discussed the critical thinking elements that have been added to math. They also discussed the reading curriculum and results as the new CKLA curriculum is being implemented with reading, writing, comprehension skills as key components. The Board asked questions about how to get to the next level from “acceptable” in 2024, to “commendable” in 2025, to the next designation of “high performing”.
Middle School highlights in acceptable categories in both years. However, in year two the level is actually “commendable”, though Middle School is year 2 as a targeted school. Bartels discussed areas of growth and mantras of “unacceptable to be acceptable” and “controlling the things we can control”. Bartels gave credit to the elementary staff for their preparations completed as the students come to the Middle School. Overall, Middle School is above the state average there is one subgroup that is pushing the Middle School into the “school in need of improvement” category.
High School has similar issues to the Middle School. In 2024 classified as “needs improvement”. In 2025 the classification improved to “acceptable”. The scores improved based upon great things that happened in classrooms in the past school year. The High School team is not satisfied with the current classifications. Additional strategies are being implemented across classrooms and subjects. The Board asked questions about “in need of assistance” and what outcomes happen in year 3 should improvement stall.
Special Education emphasis was discussed and the need to continue to elevate curriculum expectations for the students as well as continued immediate reporting implementation.
Superintendent Stone asked Liza Fontaine to talk about both ISASP standardized annual testing and FastBridge is on-going testing with results measured 3 times per year. ISASP is for the State of Iowa while FastBridge is a national testing. The latter meets the student needs where the student is at in their learning and understanding. Fontaine explained the different emphasis that the two tests bring to the students of the District.
Eocene Environmental Group and Survey Work
This agenda item was tabled as 2 Board Members are absent.
Superintendent Evaluation with Board Policy 302.5
Vice President Schlabaugh discussed the evaluation timeline and the tool that was to be sent after the Board Meeting. The assessment tool should be returned by Wednesday, November 5th at 5pm to Board Secretary Jeff Swartzentruber. The evaluation will take place on Monday, November 10, 2025 most likely in closed session at the end of the business meeting.
Next Meeting and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Public Hearing on West Elementary construction project, review of bids, Superintendent evaluation, and Grant Wood Director of District 2 ballot approval.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.