Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
March 24, 2025– 6:30 p.m.
President Jake Snider called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm., immediately following the Public Hearing one agenda item meeting.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Randy Billups, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Ryan Schlabaugh, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: None.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Ryan Schlabaugh. Motion carried 7-0.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Vice-President
Hawk Highlight – Home School Education Center Picnic/Shade Shelter – HSEC Director Rachel Kerns and Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) Teacher Laura Mallory presented to the Board. Since 2019 the Garden Club for HSAP have raised about $30,000 through the Roots and Shoots Club program. They discussed the current hoop structure greenhouse and that reached its useful life, and it will not be replaced. There will be no Spring fundraiser, but there will be a Fall fundraiser. In place of the greenhouse, they are working toward the creation and construction of the Picnic/Shade Shelter. They have collected two different quotes to evaluate and shared those. 100% of the costs for the shelter is covered by the fundraised dollars—the cost would be between $17,500 and $19,500 per the two quotes received. The Board thanked them for their presentation.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Denise Chittick moved to approve the following consent items.
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for March 24, 2025, and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 6 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 1 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Tracy Recher, High School Special Education Teacher, $56,520 per annum;
Contract issued to Ryan Cortum, Middle School Girls Track Coach, $2,830 per season;
Contract issued to Teri Taylor, Middle School Softball Coach, $2,203 per season;
Contract issued to Wade Stutzman, High School Assistant Boys Soccer Coach, $2,946 per season;
Contract issued to Erin Cavanagh, High School TLC Instructional Coach, $75,229 per annum;
Contract issued to Emily Davis, West Elementary TLC Instructional Coach, $56,167 per annum;
Contract issued to Kristan Hunter, District TLC Curriculum Leader, $73,518 per annum;
Contract issued to Kelsi TeBockhorst, Middle School TLC Instructional Coach, $60,406 per annum;
Contract issued to Sarah Ihde, East Elementary TLC Instructional Coach, $56,167 per annum;
Volunteer Coaches for Spring Summer 2024-2025
Beau Stutzman – High School Soccer Brad Tornow – High School Baseball
Molly Yoder – High school Softball
Fundraising Requests – None Presented.
Gabrielle Frederick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Business Item
Approve the 28E Agreement for Home School Assistance Program Service with Keota School District for March 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025
Superintendent Stone updated the Board that the Keota School District School Board had voted to discontinue the 28E Agreement in February due to a misunderstanding about the inner workings of the program as it pertained to their need to keep records of their students in the plan. After discussions with Mid-Prairie HSAP Director and staff, the misunderstanding has been corrected. As a result, the Keota School Board moved to reinstate the program to the end of the year. The Keota School District Board President has signed the revised agreement. Mid-Prairie needs to also reinstate the agreement to be signed by President Snider. A copy will be returned to the Keota School District to be placed on file.
Ryan Schlabaugh moved to approve the 28E Agreement for Home School Assistance Program Services to Keota Schools from March 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025 as presented. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Approve the 28E Agreement for Home School Assistance Program Service with Keota School District for Fiscal Year 2025 2026
Superintendent Stone stated that this is a continuation of the previous agenda item as it begins a one-year agreement that may continuously renew for subsequent fiscal years. This agreement has also been signed by the Keota School District Board President. Mid-Prairie Board President Snider also needs to sign the agreement. A copy will be returned to the Keota School District to be placed on file.
Randy Billups moved to approve the 28E Agreement for Home School Assistance Program Services to Keota Schools for the 2025 2026 Fiscal Year beginning July 1, 2025 as presented. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Set a Public Hearing for Proposed Plans and Specification for the Mid-Prairie Wrestling Facility for April 14 2025 at 6:45 p.m.
Superintendent Stone provided an update of the timeline for the Wrestling Activities Facility. The Pre-bid Meeting took place at Central Office on March 12th with CANCO leading the meeting. Bids are to be collected on the various bid packages for the Bid Opening Meeting set for Thursday, March 27th. Subsequent to the March 27th meeting CANCO and OPN will review the bids and bring a recommendation to the Board. The Public Hearing is set to be just before the Bid discussion and evaluation for acceptance. The Board asked questions for clarification.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the setting of a Public Hearing for the Proposed Plans and Specifications for the Wrestling and Activities Facility for Monday, April 14, 2025 at 6:45 p.m. at the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room in Wellman, Iowa. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Cell Phone Policy
Superintendent Stone opened the continuing discussion of a Cell Phone Policy for the 2025-2026 School Year. It is noted that the discussion started in September 2024. Superintendent Stone then shared a draft of the IASB model policy 503.9 with changes as recommended by legal counsel. This includes language as requested by the School Board from the February 24, 2025 meeting. The Board asked additional questions for clarification of language of the policy. The discussion of the need for consistent consequences is needed across building handbooks. Discussion about consistent application of the consequences is of concern of the Board. High School teachers were in attendance to express support of the policy along with concerns for consideration, especially what is included in the handbook.
Board Involvement with the District Strategic Plan Document
Superintendent Stone asked the Board about their intentions for involvement with the District 5-Year Strategic Plan. Stone provided a copy of two draft documents for Mid-Prairie for the Board to review. How does the Board see supporting the District Strategic Plan? These visuals are to help the Board think through their next steps on values statements. It was suggested that the work done by the Board with IASB’s Drawbaugh earlier in the school year may be a place to start the review.
Incentive Possibilities for Difficult-to-fill or In-demand Endorsements for Candidates
Superintendent Stone opened the discussion by sharing about the different endorsements that are required by the State Department of Education for each school district. Stone some of the comments as he discussed this with other districts and legal counsel. These types of incentives might include Special Education Teacher endorsements and other specialties. This is in preparation for when this does occur in the future. The purpose of the agenda item is to gather the Board’s input and thoughts in order to work with Staff to assist them in their completion of endorsements along with stipulations and understandings surrounding this assistance. The Board appears to be in general support of these ideas.
Home Construction Program
Superintendent Stone opened the discussion by sharing a conversation he had with the District’s High School Industrial Technology teacher. The teacher is working with the High School Counselor and Principal to create more student awareness of the offerings in the Fall of 2025 as a starting project. It is noted that the High School Teacher is spread very thin. What are the next steps to gain another teacher? It will depend on budget and availability of teaching talent. The Board discussed some alternatives and what other Districts do with some out of the box creativity. The Board expressed interest in having the Home Builder’s Association staff come to talk with Board on options and perspectives.
Crossing Guard Update
Superintendent Stone opened the discussion by sharing the current situation. There are crossing guards in Kalona at both stations. Work is ongoing for the Wellman crossing guard. Wellman is being handled in the same fashion as reported in the last work session—Custodian in the morning and a Para in the afternoon.
Handbooks/Discipline Consistency
President Snyder opened the discussion by requesting the review of Handbooks before the end of the school year rather than late in the Summer. He encourage the Board members to review the handbooks leading up to the next Work Session so that a list can be developed. The Cell Phone policy and handbook entries is an initial step in that direction.
Next Meeting and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Setting a Public Hearing for Certified Budget for the 2025-2026 School Year for the second meeting in April; Setting a Public Hearing to Amend the Certified Budget for the 2024-2025 School Year for the second meeting in April; and First Reading of Board Policy 503.9; Public Hearing for the Wrestling and Activity Facility.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.