Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
March 10, 2025 – 6:15 p.m.
Board Member Denise Chittick called the meeting to order in the absence of President Jake Snider.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider (arrived at 6:18.).
Board members absent: Gabrielle Frederick, Ryan Schlabaugh, and Jake Snider (arrived at 6:18 p.m.).
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement
Adopt the Agenda
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Randy Billups. Motion carried 4-0.
Hawk Highlight – Brenna Hutson Dance and Drill Team made a presentation about the program and their proposal to go to Dance Team Nationals in Orlando, Florida in the Spring of 2026. She covered the itinerary for the trip in detail and included estimated costs. Additionally, she discussed some other opportunities for the team in addition to the competitions. The Board asked questions for clarification. The Team is asking for permission to travel out of state.
(Jake Snider arrived at 6:18 p.m. during the Hawk Highlight)
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of February 10, 2025 and February 24, 2025;
Finance Report
The Finance Report for February 2025;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for March 10, 2025; Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 48 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 2 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Nicole Stanley, 2nd Grade Teacher, $47,500 per annum;
Contract issued to Emma Johnson, 2nd Grade Teacher, $47,500 per annum;
Contract issued to Myah Lugar, 2nd Grade Teacher, $47,500 per annum;
Contract issued to Caroline Gross, Middle School Special Education Teacher-Strat 1, $47,500 per annum;
Contract issued to Caleb Potts, Student Leadership Sponsor, $327 per annum;
Contract issued to Amy Mercer, Student Leadership Sponsor, $327 per annum;
Contract issued to Payton McCallister, High School Assistant Softball Coach, $2,833 per season;
Resignation of Beth Dehogues, East/West Behavior Interventionist, $54,350 per annum, effective end of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Jacob Lampe, Middle School Behavior Interventionist, $49,512 per annum, effective end of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Frank Slabaugh, Virtual Academy Principal and ALC Teacher, CONTRACT $91,072 per annum, effective end of 2024-2025 School Year;
Resignation of Daniel Hershberger, Head Girls Varsity Basketball Coach, $6,257 per annum, effective March 4, 2025;
Volunteer Coaches for Spring of 2025
Max Mongrello, High School Golf
Aaron Rath, High School Golf
Annika Poll, High School Track
Phoebe Shetler, High School Track
Teri Taylor, High School Track
Fundraising Requests – None presented for consideration;
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
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.
Public Hearing a 6:30 p.m. On Grade-Alike Attendance Centers for 2026-2027
President Snider opened the public hearing and asked if anyone was present to comment on the proposal is to make the East Elementary School in Kalona, Iowa, changed from Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2 to Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grade 1 and make the West Elementary School in Wellman, Iowa, changed from Preschool, Grades 3 and 4 to Grades 2, 3, and 4. These changes would be implemented in the 2026-2027 School Year. No one spoke. President Snider closed the public form at 6:32 p.m.
Second Reading of Board Policies 503.8 and 903.3
Superintendent Stone reviewed two Board Policies that passed on First Reading at the February 10, 2025, meeting. The policies are 503.8 Student Threats of Violence and Incidents of Violence and 903.3 Visitors to School Buildings and Sites and Communication with School Personnel. Stone asked for questions from the Board. There were none.
Jed Seward moved to approve Board Policy 503.8 Student Threats of Violence and Incidents of Violence on First Reading as presented. Randy Billups seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Jed Seward moved to approve Board Policy 903.3 Visitors to School Buildings and Sites and Communication with School Personnel on First Reading as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Finance-Long Range Planning
Board Involvement with DSP Document – Moved to Board Development
Set a Public Hearing for the Proposed Property Tax Notice
SBO Swartzentruber recommends the Board set a required Public Hearing for the Proposed Property Tax Notice for 6:15 p.m. on Monday, March 25, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. This will be a one agenda item meeting as required by the Code and then the Work Session will follow. He shared the current Proposed Property Tax Notice for the 2025-2026 School Year has been filed with the Washington County Auditor and placed on the District website. The SSA percentage growth rate is still not set by the legislature. The Governor proposed 2.0% for SSA. The published property tax rate for next school year is $13.15 versus a $13.10 property tax rate for the 2024-2025 School Year. The $13.15 is the maximum rate the District can request no matter what happens with actions taken by the Iowa Legislature and Governor. It can always be lowered. It would be the District’s intent to lower the rate to at least the current year’s rate. This is the first Public Hearing for the Certified Budget. A second Public Hearing will be proposed for Monday, April 8th or Monday April 22nd at 6:15 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room. That will be presented at one of the next two Board Meetings and will depend on the SSA being in place by the legislature. Swartzentruber asked the Board if they had any questions.
Jed Seward moved to set the Public Hearing on the Proposed Property Tax Notice for the 2025-2026 School year on March 24, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. in the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room and to use the posted rate of $13.15. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Flexibility Account Spending Resolution
SBO Swartzentruber noted the passage of the Flexibility Transfer Resolution at the February 24th Board Meeting. The previously passed resolution provided for the transfer of the $350,000 from the Home School Assistance Program to the Flexibility Accounts. The resolution presented tonight is for the ability to spend the funds in the Flexibility Accounts. President Snyder asked for a motion to approve the Flexibility Account Spending Resolution.
Denise Chittick moved to approve Resolution 03102501 Flexibility Fund Spending from the Flexibility Accounts in the amount of $350,000 and read pertinent parts of the Resolution. Jed Seward seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - absent Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - absent
Randy Billups - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 5-0.
AIA Contract with Carl A. Nelson Company for the Construction Management and Advisor of the Wrestling and Activity Center Project
SBO Swartzentruber shared the Contract between the District and Carl A. Nelson Company (CANCO) as the Construction Manager and Advisor for the Wrestling and Activity Center Project. As the scope and size of the contract increased to the current level, CANCO will provide on-site management for the project. The fee will be 4.5% of the cost of work, or approximately $264,000, to be billed ratably over the course of the project. The contract form is the same as that used for the East Elementary and Middle School projects substantially completed in August of 2024. The Board asked questions for understanding.
Randy Billups moved to approve the contract with CANCO as Construction Manager and Advisor for the Wrestling and Activity Center Project as presented. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Board Involvement with DSP Document – Superintendent Stone shared the Strategic Plan document from North Polk Community School District. He brought the document to the Board’s attention to see if there is interest in having this type of document for the District as one of the outcomes of the District Strategic Plan from which the Board can work to stay in sync with the Strategic Plan. The Board asked for it to be brought to a future work session.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
There will be a one-item agenda special meeting on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. to conduct the Public Hearing for the Proposed Property Tax Levy for the 2025-2026 School Year.
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, March 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. Agenda items to include: Discussion on the Cell Phone Policy; Incentive Possibilities for difficult-to-fill or in-demand endorsements for candidates as well as Concurrent Enrollment; Handbooks/Discipline Consistency; Home Construction Program; and Crossing Guard Update.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 8th, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Set a Public Hearing for the Amended Certified Budget for the 2024-2025 School Year; Set a Public Hearing for the Certified Budget for the 2025-2026 School Year; and Approve out of state travel for the Mid-Prairie Dance Team to travel to Nationals in Orlando Florida in the Spring of 2026.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.