Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
September 27, 2021 – 6:15 p.m.
President Jeremy Gugel called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Gugel, Jodi Meader, and Marianne Schlabach.
Board members absent: Mary Allred and Jeremy Pickard.
Also Present: Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, and Frank Slabaugh.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to adopt the agenda as presented but move the High School Track Coach Agenda Item to the first thing after the Consent Agenda. Seconded by Jodi Meader. Motion carried 5-0.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 6:15 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of September 13, 2021;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for September 27, 2021;
Open Enrollment Requests
Kimberly Decker requests Nevaeh Decker (Grade 10), attend Mid-Prairie from English Valleys Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Julie Spears requests Joshua Spears (Grade 1) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Highland Community School District for the 2021-22 School Year;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Shawna Sieren, High School Assistant Girls Track Coach, $2,741 per annum;
Resignation of Sara Brown, High School Paraprofessional, $14.89 per hour, effective September 24, 2021;
Fundraising Requests
Mid-Prairie FFA requests approval to raise funds through the sales event of Fruit, Meat, Cheese and Popcorn from October 11th to November 11th in order to provide funds for FFA activities and travel expenses;
Mid-Prairie Volleyball requests approval to conduct a raffle with a corn hole game as a grand prize to raise money for a cancer awareness charity from September 15th to September 28th;
Mid-Prairie Boys Basketball requests approval to host a jamboree with an admission fee on November 22nd to be used for equipment, volunteer coaches pay, coaching gear, player shooting shirts, and the Kansas City trip expenses;
The Class of 2023 Prom Committee requests approval to do a holiday sweatshirt fundraising activity between October 14th and October 24th to purchase Prom decorations;
FFA Convention Indianapolis, IN October 27-30, 2021 is approved for students and staff to attend the out of state event.
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Student Learning
High School Track Coaching Positions
Superintendent Schneider and Girls Track Coach Chris Tyler discussed the need for an additional coach for the Track teams. They showed the stats of schools and student participation. The recommendation I to add one coach to be shared between the Boys Track Team and Girls Track Team to be determined by the coaches. Additional coaches would be done through fund raising by the Track teams.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the plan for one additional High School Track Coaching Positions as presented. Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Finance
School Bus Specifications Set Date and Time for Public Hearing
Superintendent Schneider and Business Manager Swartzentruber discussed the ongoing need to keep the District School Bus Fleet up to date. A request for a Public Hearing to review the bus specifications for the purchase of up to two diesel powered, Yellow School Buses on October 11, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. The buses to be replaced are two compartment buses that currently provide capacity to haul equipment and students. The Transportation Department is also looking at the need to replace current cars within the District Fleet. This planning may require spreading the purchase of these two buses over two years.
Denise Chittick moved to set a Public Hearing for purpose of reviewing the specifications of up to 2 diesel powered school buses on Monday, October 11, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room. Gabrielle Frederick seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
SBRC Resolution for Additional Allowable Growth
Superintendent Schneider reviewed the SBRC Resolution for Additional Allowable Growth as a result of the Special Education Spending Deficit for the recently completed fiscal year ending on June 30, 2021. The reported deficit was $271,387.11 for last year as compared to $459,834.78 for the previous year. The request is rounded up to $275,000 to allow for any upward adjustment that might be found during the Department of Education’s year-end review.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve Resolution 0925211 to authorize the Superintendent to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for additional allowable growth of up to $275,000 to cover the deficit in Special Education funding from the year ending June 30, 2021. Jodi Meader seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - yes
Mary Allred - absent
Jodi Meader - yes
Jeremy Pickard - absent
Marianne Schlabach - yes
Jeremy Gugel - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 5-0.
Student Learning
District Facilities Plan
Superintendent Schneider and Board President Jeremy Gugel continued the District Facilities Plan Discussion. Focus area was on the spreadsheet of priorities. The Board began to make some suggestions for the Short Term Priorities on the spreadsheet from the Recommendations list previously presented by the Facilities Committee. The Board will again review the buildings visited tonight during the Work Session with the projects in mind.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
The annual IASB convention is November 18th. Preconference sessions are on November 17th. The itinerary and agenda for the conference are firmed up and near finalized. Let Jeff know what days you wish to be registered at this conference in the next few board meetings.
The judge extended the temporary restraining order for mask mandates another 14 days today.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
School Board Candidate Documents were delivered to the County Auditor’s office. There are 9 candidates for three seats in the November election.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, October 11, 2021, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Public Hearing; Facilities Planning, and Appoint IASB Delegate.
Work Session
Tour of District Facilities – 7:00 p.m.
The Board toured the High School, West Elementary and the Home School Education Center with all Principals and Lead Custodians present. This annual review allows Board Members to see the physical locations, review improvements from the Summer, and discuss the ongoing District planning and facility needs and priorities.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. at the Home School Education Center.