Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
March 28, 2022 – 6:00 p.m.
President Jeremy Pickard called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, Marianne Schlabach, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: None.
Also Present: Mark Schneider, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Marianne Schlabach moved to adopt the agenda as amended to table Proposed New Board Policy 415 Recruitment of Coaches and Sponsors. Seconded by Jake Snider. Motion carried 7-0.
WORK SESSION
Superintendent Search
Board President Jeremy Pickard introduced Trent Grundmeyer and Brian Mitchell from Grundmeyer Leader Services (GLS), Consultants in the Superintendent Search to the Board. The first thing presented a preliminary review of the results of the Stakeholder Survey where there were 334 responses. GLS provided input on their process and timeline that will be used in the Superintendent Search. The Board discussed the various elements and asked questions throughout the work session.
Task Force Updates
Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Agenda item moved to the end of the meeting.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Mary Allred moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of March 21, 2022;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for March 28, 2022;
Open Enrollment Requests
Carl Strabala requests Ryker Strabala (Kindergarten), attend Mid-Prairie from Washington Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Shawn Sandersfeld, HSAP and Middle School Band Director, $54,296 per annum;
Contract issued to Grace Andreassen, 3rd Grade Teacher, $39,365.00 per annum;
TLC Positions
Contract Issued to Kristan Hunter, TLC Curriculum and Instructional Leader 1.0 FTE, $64,477.00 per annum;
Contract issued to Jill Poock, TLC Model Literacy Coach 0.5 FTE and Title I Teacher 0.5 FTE; $66.476 per annum;
Contract issued to Emily Pennington, TLC Model Math Coach 0.5 FTE and Title I Teacher 0.5 FTE; $65,156 per annum;
Contract issued to Frank Slabaugh, TLC Interventionist and Instructional Support Leader 0.5 FTE; $30,542 per annum;
Contract issued to Taylor Weber, TLC Interventionist and Instructional Support Leader 0.5 FTE; $25,961 per annum;
Contract issued to Lori Simon, TLC Computer and Science Teacher 1.0 FTE; $49,206 per annum;
Contract issued to Erin Cavanagh, TLC Learning Design Leader 1.0 FTE; $66,475 per annum;
Resignation of Mark Schneider, Superintendent of Mid-Prairie Community Schools, $178,390, effective June 30, 2022
Resignation of Dorothy Miller, Home School Assistance Program Media Secretary, $14.21 per hour, effective May 9, 2022;
Fundraising Requests – No Fundraising Request Submitted.
Marianne Schlabach seconded the consent items. Motion carried 7-0.
Student Learning
Facility Needs
Superintendent Schneider updated the Board on current projects with a review of educational space needs and safety concerns, as well as developments from the previous meeting. In order to proceed with the Revenue Bonds there would need to be an action to authorize Piper Sandler to proceed with the amount of the bonds through a Preliminary Official Statement that Piper Sandler will prepare. The Bonds to be sold would be approximately $12,625,000 to raise construction funds of approximately $11,315,000. The First Priority Projects for Middle School and East Elementary will be addressed. There is also support for two of three of the Second Priority Projects including the Softball Lights and High School Track. The Wrestling Room needs further processing due to it being less complete in cost and concept. The Board discussed the variations from the original plan, especially noting the changes at the Middle School without a gymnasium and the educational class sizes to allow for expansion of programs.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the creation of the Preliminary Official Statement to be prepared by Piper Sandler for Revenue Bonds to include the Middle School Project, East Elementary Project, the Softball Lights, and the High School Track. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Second Reading of Board Policy 405.2 – Licensed Employees Qualifications, Recruitment, and Selection
Superintendent Schneider/Board President Pickard noted the Board Policy passed on first reading at the previous meeting. The have been no changes to the amendment approved at the March 21, 2022 meeting. It was asked if there were any further questions or discussion for Policy 405.2.
Mary Allred moved to approve Policy 405.2 on Second Reading as presented. Denise Chittick seconded. 7-0.
Second Reading – Series 300 School Board Policies
Superintendent Schneider noted the work and review done at the January Board Meetings on Series 300 Board Policies as well as the First Reading to accept the policies passed at the March 21, 2022 meeting. It was asked if there were questions or further discussion for the Series 300 School Board Policies.
Gabrielle Frederick moved to approve on Second Reading the Series 300 School Board Policies as presented. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Proposed New Board Policy 415 – Recruitment of Coaches and Sponsors
This agenda item was tabled to a future Board meeting.
District Behavioral Interventionist
Principal Amy Shalla recommends the addition of a Full Time Behavioral Interventionist for the 2022-23 School Year. This will be a District position that will support the elementary buildings. The position will replace the current behavior paraprofessional position hired for East Elementary earlier in this School Year. Additional support for proactively creating plans, working with small groups and responding to issues is needed. The increased funds will come from the General Fund with an estimated increase in expense of $34,000. The Board asked questions about program and need.
Marianne Schlabach moved to approve the addition of a Full Time Behavioral Interventionist for the 2022-2023 School year to replace and upgrade from the current Behavior Paraprofessional position. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Finance
Shared Staff 28E Agreements
Superintendent Schneider presented the four 28E Agreements with Clear Creek Amana School District. These are a continuation of sharing agreements that have been in place over the past number of years. The District hires and shares the Human Resources Coordinator position and the Social Worker Position with Clear Creek Amana School District. Clear Creek Amana School District hires and shares the Curriculum Director and Buildings and Grounds Director with the District. An additional paragraph has been added to the 28E Agreements to allow for termination of the agreements by September 30, 2022 with the understanding that both Districts have new Superintendents. There are sharing revenue dollars available to both Districts in this arrangement. It is 9 FTEs in funding received by both Districts that totals $66,600.
Jed Seward moved to approve the four 28E Agreements with Clear Creek Amana School District for the 2022-2023 School Year – Human Resources Coordinator, Social Worker, Curriculum Director, and Buildings and Grounds Director. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 7-0.
Work Session
Completion of Unfinished Work Session Items
Task Force Updates – Informal reports.
Board Development and Inservice Activities – The April 13th Training date will be repurposed for the Superintendent Zoom interviews in Closed Session.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, April 11, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Public Hearing for the 2021-2022 Amended Budget, Public Hearing on the 2022-2023 Certified Budget; Action items on both Budgets; and Discussion of Superintendent candidates.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:10p.m.
Interest-Based Bargaining Negotiations Strategy Session was conducted by the Board in exempt session.