Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
February 27, 2023– 6:15 p.m.
Vice President Gabrielle Frederick called the meeting to order in the absence of President Jeremy Pickard.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Jeremy Pickard.
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, and Frank Slabaugh.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jake Snider. Motion carried 6-0. Stone noted that the dates for parent teacher conferences need to be changed due to scheduling conflicts.
Public Forum
A resident of the District and grandfather to a student and graduates, addressed the group about a concern about the teaching of US History and Civics in the school system and the approach taken. He stressed the importance of “History being taught without biased, then the good, the bad, and ugly of our history will not be tainted.” He would like to see History and Civics taught as a graduation requirement, a whole year for each. He also discussed the need for our students to understand their rights as outlined in the Constitution.
A parent of a high school track athlete stated he is here to hear more about the track and noted he attended the last School Board meeting when Public Hearing for the Track specifications and bid. He asked about the process undertaken since the last Board meeting. This was explained partially at this time and then in more detail during the Bid agenda item for track.
Hawk Highlight – OPN Architects
Superintendent Stone introduced Carly Weber to provide an update on focus and activities that are being undertaken for the Facilities Plan. She discussed the Survey that is out and the various ways that it is accessible.
Work Session
Administration Reports and Board Dialogue
The Board asked questions and discussed the report forms shared by each Administrator about their areas of responsibility.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of February 13, 2023;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for February 27, 2023 and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Jacqueline Lucas requests Trennen Lucas (Grade 5) Jordan Zahs (Grade 1) and Weston Zahs (Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from English Valleys Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Stacy Cavey, Middle School Girls Track Coach, $2,263 per annum;
Contract Issued to Aaron Fleming, Middle School Head Girls Track Coach, $3,276 per season;
Contract Issued to Cindy Duwa, Bus Driver, $25.92 per hour;
Contract issued to Brody Miller, High School Assistant Baseball Coach, $2,901 per season;
Contract issued to Byron Yoder, High School Assistant Boys Soccer Coach, $2,790 per season;
Contract issued to Maria Schlabaugh, East Elementary Counselor, $45,175 per annum;
Contract issued Kaylyn LeGrand, 5th Grade Teacher, $40,003 per annum;
Contract issued to Lindsey Sivetts, 5th grade Teacher, $50,693 per annum;
Volunteer Assistant Coaches Spring of 2023
Pat Cady, Boys Soccer
Sofia Adams, Boys Soccer
Gary Curtis, Girls Track
Max Mongrello, Golf
Dominic McCain, Golf
Resignation of Diane Miller, 3rd Grade Teacher, $55,043 per annum, effective end of the 2022-2023 School Year;
Resignation of Gary Dawson, Middle School Lead Custodian, $18.65 per hour, effective March 31, 2023;
Fundraising Requests – None presented at this time;
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Virtual Academy Contract with Total Package Hockey for the 2023 2024 School Year
Superintendent Stone and Virtual Academy Principal Frank Slabaugh presented the contract with a recommendation of approval. Total Package Hockey Academy (TPH) is a club hockey organization with 16 different sites in the United States and Canada. TPH recruits students to their program to compete in hockey practices and games in a mostly total submersion approach that includes academics as part of the program. If the contract goes forward TPH works with parents and their students to enroll in the TPH program, which can include boarding students, and does include open enrolling these Iowa resident students into the Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy (MPVA). It is estimated that this could bring in as many as 20 to 30 students in the first year—doing turf sports in the first year—to the Virtual Academy. TPH operates their program in multiple states. MPVA was recommended to TPH by MPVA’s educational service provider, Edmentum. The Board asked questions for understanding and clarification.
Jed Seward moved to approve contract between MPVA and TPH for the 2023-2024 School Year as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance
Accept Bids for Middle School and East Elementary Additions and Renovations Project
Superintendent Stone introduced Tad Morrow of Carl A. Nelson and Company and Abby Tornow of Shive-Hattery Architects to discuss the bid opening for the Middle School and East Elementary Additions and Renovations Project paid for with Revenue Bonds. There are 9 Bid Packages for the Project. 8 of the Packages received bids. There was a bid irregularity on Bid Package 7 to which Morrow addressed with the bidder to correct. He also noted that there were no bids on Package 3, the Masonry package. Masonry will go out for rebid on March 1st with the bid opening to take place on March 14th. He asked for any questions. The Board asked questions about the various bid packages and add-ons. The masonry estimated amount is $1.2million. HVAC package had one bid and was higher than hoped. He also discussed the process to get started by April 10th. Frederick noted the Alternate 1 to pave the fire access road. The Board discussed the pros and cons of Alternate 1.
Denise Chittick moved to approve the 8 bid packages and projects for the Middle School and East Elementary Additions and Renovations Project as presented without Alternate 1 in the amount of $6,416,474 construction costs. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Schedule a Special Board Meeting to Review and Potential Acceptance of the Masonry Bid
Superintendent Stone and CANCO’s Morrow stated the need to put a rebid out to the masonry contractors. The rebid invitations will be sent after tonight’s School Board Meeting. The Bid Opening meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 14, 2023. Once the Bids are opened, there is a need for the Board to hold a Special Meeting to approve the masonry bid. It is suggested that the meeting be March 20th or March 21st at 6:00pm with a quorum needing to agree to be present. The Board directed Stone to set the meeting up for Monday, March 2oth at 6:00p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.
Accept Bids for High School Track Reconstruction Project
Superintendent Stone again asked Tad Morrow of Carl A. Nelson and Company to discuss the High School Track bids, also paid for with Revenue Bonds. In August of 2021, there was discussion of building of an 8-lane track and at that time it was conceptual. During that process it was determined that a 6 land track was a better option due to costs and earthwork requirements. Additional time and effort would be needed to get the project in a position to bid if moved to an eight lane track with hopes for completion in 2023 becoming unrealistic. It was noted that the current bid scope of the project is for the reconstruction of the current 6 lane track. The Board discussed the impact and ramifications from a scope and cost perspective. The project would be started immediately after Graduation Day.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the 2 bid packages and project for the High School Track Project in the amount of $471,497.80 of construction costs. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Post the acceptance of Bid, Morrow noted the Long Jump reconstruction and the scope of those elements and a logo on the high jump pad. He also noted that he has discussed this with Midwest Track. He noted that these items could be taken out of contingency should there be any.
Board Policy 405.2 to Determine the 2023-2024 New Teacher Sign-on Bonus Amount and Stipulations
Superintendent Stone noted that the Board is consulted each year to determine if a sign-on bonus is warranted, the amount of such award, and the stipulations used to determine eligibility. For Fiscal Year 2022-2023, the sign-on amount was set at $5,000 and was to be paid to all new teacher hires. Stone recommends that the amount for 2023-2024 would not increase the amount for all new teacher hires. The District continues to find the applicant pool for new teachers is quite low and all teacher roles are hard to fill.
Mary Allred moved to approve a $5,000 sign-on bonus to be paid to all new teacher hires for the 2023-2024 school year in accordance with Board Policy 405.2. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Jake Snider abstained from the vote.
WCRF Application Resolution
Superintendent Stone recommends one grant request for the funding round that ends March 12, 2023. It is the “It’s All About That Bass” request of $40,863 with a total estimated project cost of $55,863. The project will replace the Sousaphones and Tubas for the Band. Additional items include new platforms with fasteners are in the grant request to replace current platform configurations.
Denise Chittick moved to approve Resolution 02272301 for the WCRF Grant Application as presented “It’s All About That Bass “Grant for $40,863 on a total estimated project cost of $55,863. Mary Allred seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Jeremy Pickard - absent
Marianne Schlabach - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 6-0.
Utility Easement Request
Superintendent Stone and School Business Official Swartzentruber introduced the agenda item. Interstate Power and Light (also known as Alliant Energy) has presented an easement request to create a 10-foot easement along the east property line for the property on the Southside of Highway 22 to the East of the High School. The easement will be used for crossing the property with electricity by boring underground. This was one of the two parcels of farm ground property purchased December of 2019. The Board asked questions for clarification and understanding.
Jake Snider moved to approve the permanent easement with Interstate Power and Light as presented in the document. Marianne Schlabach seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Purchase of 12 Passenger Van
Superintendent Stone and School Business Official Swartzentruber introduced the agenda item and directed the Board to the recommendation document prepared by Teresa Hartley, Transportation Director and Cory Evans, Nutrition Director. This van would be used to replace a current 8 passenger van that is proposed to be converted for use as a Nutrition transport van between the High School and West Elementary. It was found that 2019-2021 used 12 passenger van with 30,000 to 50,000 miles is selling at auction for around $40,000 to $45,000. A van has been located in Texas that meets the criteria. Due to the size of the purchase, Board approval is needed. The Board asked questions for clarification and understanding.
Denise Chittick moved to approve the purchase of an 11 or 12 used passenger van not to exceed $45,000. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Nothing added at this time.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
There will be a special Board meeting on March 20, 2021, at 6 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room, as noted earlier within the minutes, to approve the Masonry Bids and the change in High School Parent Teacher Conferences.
Due to Spring Break being the week of March 13 to 17, 2023, the next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, March 27, 2023, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Set the 2023-2024 Certified Budget Public Hearing; Report on the Facility Committee planning process and status, Debt Service Pre-levy status,
Board Highlights
- Mary appreciates the wonderful letters from students on ideas for changes to the District that were provided to the Board
- Marianne taught Junior Achievement at East Elementary and received great thank you notes
- Jed likes that the bids are still under budget on the Revenue Bond Projects
- Denise like that the District now has projects that can be started with Revenue Bond proceeds
- 262 responses already to the survey for the Facilities Review for the General Obligation Bond review project with OPN
- Appreciation for the time the Steering Committee has invested in the Facilities planning process
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.