Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
January 13, 2025 – 6:15 p.m.
President Jake Snider called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Ryan Schlabaugh, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Mary Allred.
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
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 6-0.
Public Forum
A taxpayer spoke about his concern for the test scores from the State of Iowa and the Boards responsibility for curriculum.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of December 9, 2024;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for December 2024;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for January 13, 2025; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 4 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to David Murray, Middle School Girls Wrestling Coach, $2,467.64 per Season;
Contract issued to Aaron Coghlan, Professional Partner, $250 Paid Over two Months;
Work Agreement issued to Grace Pike, West Elementary 2nd Custodian, $16.5 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to Danielle Williams, East Elementary Paraprofessional 0.56FTE, $15.29 per hour;
Work Agreement issued to AuDeana Fritz, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $15.29 per hour;
Resignation of Tobi Anderson, Middle School General Cook, $15.28 per hour, effective 12/10/2024;
Resignation of Jodi Meader, HSAP Media Secretary, $15.54 per hour, effective End of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Natalie Twaddle, Middle School Paraprofessional, $15.29 per hour, effective 12/31/2024;
Volunteer Coaches for Winter Sports
Ryan Cortum – Boys Basketball Tim O’Toole – Boys Basketball
Vinnie Bowlin – Boys Wrestling Ben Meader – Boys Wrestling
Brent Foster – Boys Wrestling Shannon McCain – Boys Wrestling
Fundraising Requests – None presented for consideration
Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the consent items. Motion carried 6-0.
Student Learning
Reports
The Board reviewed the Administrators’ written reports to the Board. Time was allotted to ask questions and discuss the reports. No questions were asked. A compliment to Home School Assistance Program by a Board Member for the work being done.
SBRC Resolution Request for Additional Allowable Growth for At-Risk & Drop-Out Prevention Program
SBO Swartzentruber introduced the annual resolution for consideration. The request is for Modified Supplemental Aid for 2025-2026 Dropout Prevention Program of $253,005.00 to implement the At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program plans. The local match component is $84,335. It is recommended that the Board pass this resolution prior to the January 15, 2025, deadline. The Board commented about the process.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the resolution by reading Resolution 01132501 for Additional Allowable Growth for Modified Supplemental Aid of $253,005.00 for implementation of the 2025-2026 School Year At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program plans by reading the resolution. Jed Seward seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - absent
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - yes
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 6-0.
First Reading of Board Policies 701.4 Meal Charges and 804.5 Stock Prescriptions Medication Supply
Superintendent Stone introduced the policies for consideration. These are mandatory policies as established recently by IASB. These are part of the IASB Policy Primer for policies that need to be reviewed and revised.
Policy 710.4 Meal Charges expands Policy 710.1. The Board discussed the policy. The amounts in the policy were discussed and values assigned.
Policy 804.5 Stock Prescriptions of Medication Supply provides policy for keeping certain stock medicines in place at the buildings. The Board discussed the policy.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Board Policy 701.4 Meal Charges on First Reading as determined with amounts. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve Board Policy 804.5 Stock Prescriptions of Medication Supply on First Reading as presented. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Finance-Long Range Planning
Board Policy 407.1 Licensed Employee Resignation Amount Determination
School Business Official Swartzentruber noted the dates per Board Policy to be the first Monday in February and the first Monday in March for the Early Resignation Incentive. The amount for the first date was $2,000, and the amount for the second date was $1,000 in fiscal year 2023-2024. It is recommended the amounts stay the same for February of 2025 and March of 2025, respectively. The incentive is paid in the June 2025 pay period. The Board discussed the recommendation.
Jed Seward moved to approve the resignation incentive amounts remain at $2.000 for the first Monday in February and $1,000 for the first Monday in March of 2025. Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Board Policy 405.2 Licensed Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection Sign-On Incentive
Superintendent Stone stated the need for the Board to select an amount for the New Teacher Sign-On Incentive. The past few years the amount has been $5,000 paid in two installments. The first is half of the amount September of 2025. The second half would be paid in September of 2026 provided the teacher is still employed with the District. The Board discussed the incentive and the payment amount.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the Licensed Employee Sign-On payment at $5,000 for the 2025-2026 School Year. Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Certified Budget Season Update
SBO Swartzentruber updated the Board on the Certified Budget steps for the 2025-2026 Fiscal Year. First Public Hearing documents need to be to Washington County Auditor by March 5th with the first public hearing possible on March 20th. There will need to be two Public Hearings with the first being March 24, 2025 and the second to be either April 8th or April 21st. The first Public Hearing will be a separate one item agenda meeting. The Hearing needs to be set and notifications sent with the March 10, 2025, Board Meeting. The second Public Hearing needs to be by April 21, 2025, though we will aim for April 8, 2025. As this is a reporting item, there is no action to be taken at this time.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Nothing was added.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Cellphone Policy, Auditorium Discussion, Strategic Plan, Flexibility Funds Transfer for Home School Assistance Program, and Discussion of the 2025-2026 School Calendar.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, February 10, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Set a Public Hearing for the Flexibility Transfer of Home School Assistance Program funds of June 30, 2024; Riverboat Foundation Grant for Middle School Library; and approval of the 2025-2026 School Calendar.
Superintendent Evaluation per Iowa Code 21.5 Subsection 1e.
Ryan Schlabaugh asked for a motion to go into closed session to conduct the evaluation of Superintendent Stone.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to enter closed session per Iowa Code 21.5, 1e. to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation, and that individual requests a closed session.
Ryan Schlabaugh seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Gabrielle Frederick - yes Mary Allred - absent
Jed Seward - yes Randy Billups - yes
Ryan Schlabaugh - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 6-0.
Board Entered Closed Session at 7:02 p.m.
Board Exited Closed Session at 7:28 p.m.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.