Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
September 26, 2022 – 6:15 p.m.
Vice President Marianne Schlabach called the meeting to order in the absence of Jeremy Pickard, Board President.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Marianne Schlabach, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard, and Jed Seward.
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Jake Snider. Motion carried 4-0.
WORK SESSION
Hawk Highlight
Superintendent Stone introduced Kaden Meader and recognized him for his accomplishments as he will join the Navy as a US Navy AIRR (Navy Air Rescue Swimmer). This is an elite accomplishment as the US Navy employs around 346,000 men and women in it ranks. The number of AIRR members are less than 350. Meader is already participating in monthly Navy training sessions as he prepares for this assignment after graduation. The motto of AIRR is “So others may live.” The Board expressed appreciation for his work and accomplishments and wished him well.
Board Member and Administrator Dialogue
Superintendent Stone noted the Professional Learning Communities efforts that are going on within the District and asked the Administrators to report. Administrators discussed the specific focus on student learning and collaborating on data and learning strategies. The work is district-wide with emphasis building level teams. This is a continuous cycle of collaboration and improvement.
Business Manager Swartzentruber discussed the use of Hills Bank Investment Management Account Arrangement within the Hills Bank Trust Department for short term investments. He noted the rising interest rate environment makes this favorable to begin again. He asked if the Board would like to see a presentation from Hills Trust Department. It was thought that was not necessary, though a concept page/document may be a good step along with the account opening documents.
Superintendent Stone discussed the Emergency Readiness progress and the on-going documentation.
Middle School is finishing up the I-Ready diagnostics to help students with the learning plans. This replaces the STAR assessment. The Middle School Team is quite impressed with the new tool. There will be 3 testing days throughout the year.
General Obligation Bonds
Superintendent Stone opened this conversation early as it is last on the Business Meeting Agenda Items and noted the assignment given by the Board. The minutes on this entire segment are recorded in the Business Session agenda items to keep the recorded minute in one place.
BUSINESS MEETING
Public Forum– 7:00 p.m.
No one spoke.
Consent Items
Jake Snider moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of September 12, 2022;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for September 26, 2022;
Open Enrollment Requests
Christine Brito requests Theresa Taylor (Grade 11), attend Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy from Keota Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Andrea Farrier requests Rebecca Farrier (Grade 12), attend Mid-Prairie as a High School dual enrolled from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Greg and Mandy Lybeck request Isaac Lybeck (Grade 12), attend Mid-Prairie as a High School dual enrolled from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Wilson and Wendy Paiva request Madeline Paiva (Grade 12), attend Mid-Prairie as a High School dual enrolled from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Randy and Kristen Rempel request Jace Rempel (Grade 12), attend Mid-Prairie as a High School dual enrolled from Iowa City Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Rachel Bartachek requests Jordan Bartachek (Grade 9), Quinn Bartachek (Grade 4), and Serena Bartachek (Grade 2) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from BGM Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Michelle Haveman requests Ezra Haveman (Grade 10) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Clear Creek Amana Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Abigail Drost requests Deborah Drost (Grade 6) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Washington Community School District for the 2022-23 School Year;
Personnel Items
Work Agreement issued to Melyssa Kleitsch, High School Paraprofessional, $14.67 per hour;
Fundraising Requests
Fine Arts Boosters request approval to raise funds through the raffle of a finished hog between September 26th and November 5th with funds to be used for supplies for the Fine Arts program;
Purchase in Excess of $25,000
Walsh Door proposal of $34,300 to replace the doors and glass in the main entrance and vestibule at West Elementary School.
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 4-0.
Student Learning
Graduation Requirements
Chuck Banks, High School Principal, noted a change in the graduation requirements for the post-secondary occupation graduation requirements in Board Policy 505.5. The Career Immersion Leadership Assessment (CILA) is no longer available or offered. He also noted removal of the paragraph starting with “Starting with 2016…” as the testing elements may no longer apply or be offered.
Denise Chittick moved to approve changes to Board Policy 505.5 as proposed on First Reading. Jake Snider seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Finance
IASB Annual Conference Registration
Business Manager Swartzentruber reported that 4 of the 7 Board Members have contacted him to register for the November 16-18 Conference. 2 are planning to attend all 3 days and 2 are attending November 17th, only. We would like to register all Board Members simultaneously, if possible.
Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Treasurer’s Report
Business Manager Swartzentruber presented the Fiscal Year 2022 Treasurer’s Report. This is the report that is provided after the Certified Annual Report is submitted to the State Department of Education Portal by the September 15, 2022, due date. Net Operating Fund Balance increased by $271,000, compared to $236,000 for the previous fiscal year. Swartzentruber discussed the reasons for the decrease in Fund Balance for the Management Fund. He noted increases to the Student Activity Fund, SAVE Fund, and PPEL Fund. He noted specifically the positive fund balance in the Nutrition Fund as the first of its kind in at least 15 years. Federal assistance program due to COVID that ended at June 30, 2022 has provided significant breathing room to the Nutrition Fund. While we cannot expect that trend to continue, we are now in a position of strength from which to operate going forward.
Denise Chittick moved to accept the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Treasurers Report as presented. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Special Education Deficit Spending Authority Resolution
Superintendent Stone and Business Manager Swartzentruber 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, 2022. The reported deficit was $69,462.55 for last year as compared to $271,387.11 for the previous year. The request is rounded up to $75,000 to allow for any upward adjustment that might be found during the Department of Education’s year-end review. The deficit is lower than last year due to the Tuition-out students being significantly fewer than the previous year.
Denise Chittick moved to approve Resolution 0926221 to authorize the Superintendent to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for additional allowable growth of up to $75,000 to cover the deficit in Special Education funding from the year ending June 30, 2022. Mary Allred seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Gabrielle Frederick - absent Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - absent Jeremy Pickard - absent
Marianne Schlabach - yes Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - yes
Motion carried 4-0.
Timing on the General Obligation Bonds and Priority Setting
From the Work Session, Business Manager Swartzentruber presented on a Bond Thumbnail analysis of potential bond proceeds that would be available and answered questions as well as showed some of the variables with interest rates and taxable valuation growth assumptions.
Superintendent Stone then reported on the feedback from the last Facilities Committee process. Stone noted some of the specifics that were communicated to him on items that might need to be smoothed out on the next project cycle. Communication of the short-term plan and the long-term elements of the plan is needed. He noted some options of how to proceed with either starting over with a new assessment through fresh eyes, however, the prioritized lists of the last cycles are very detailed in a way that the work completed previously can be built upon and expanded. Superintendent Stone shared some preliminary results of the feedback from the previous Facilities Committee Survey and the pointed out the items completed or targeted for completion with the current Revenue Bond proceeds. The Board discussed the information and next steps based on the information provided. Stone suggested that there be some priorities set for both current and various points in the future. The Board discussed identifying additional priorities from the Administrators to add to the list. A few items were suggested for the list by the High School, West Elementary, Home School Education Center administrators for discussion. Stone will clean the list up and add items to the current list, then take steps with the Board as well as gather/regather a Facilities Committee. The specifics of this process will need to be discussed with and by the Board.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
Business Manager Swartzentruber announced that the external Audit RFP is not needed until September of 2024 as the audit agreement with Nolte, Cornman, and Johnson was extended for three years. The next RFP will be five years from Fiscal Year 2025 to Fiscal Year 2029.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, October 10, 2022, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Bond Discussion continues.
Board Highlights
- The Home School Assistance Program’s Mums sale was noted as impressive.
- Positive productive conversation this evening was noted as invigorating.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.