2021.08.30 Regular Session

 

WORK SESSION & REGULAR SESSION

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE 

COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF SOUTH TAMA COUNTY

The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on August 30, 2021 in a Work Session at 5:00 p.m. at the Elementary School with members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.

On call of the roll the following were present:  Penny Tyynismaa, Mandy Lekin, Alan Kline, and Clint Werner. Members Present through Google Hangouts: Ron Houghton.  Absent: None.  Quorum Present.   

Also present were: Jared Smith, Randy Denham, Laura Peterson from Invision Architects, Ryan Ellsworth from Estes Construction, Travis Squires from Piper Sadler, Rod Wright from Creative Entourage, Jerry Gallagher from Donovan Group, members of the Middle School Task Force, and several members of the community.

Director of Finance Randy Denham gave a presentation to the Board and the Middle School Task Force reviewing school finance. Mr. Denham also provided information regarding the District’s historical tax rates, costs related to the Derecho storm, and a historical overview of the District’s PPEL and SAVE Funds.

Travis Squires from Piper Sadler gave a presentation to the Board and the Middle School Task Force reviewing the capital financing and capabilities of a Middle School Project. Mr. Squires discussed the District’s current debt obligations and the different options available to finance a potential project.

The Board and Middle School Task Force discussed the presentations from Mr. Denham and Mr. Squires and participated in a Q&A session.   

Work session concluded at 6:37 p.m.

The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on August 30, 2021 in a Regular Session at 6:37 p.m. at the Elementary School with members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.

On call of the roll the following were present:  Penny Tyynismaa, Mandy Lekin, Alan Kline, and Clint Werner. Present through Google Hangouts: Ron Houghton.  Absent: None.  Quorum Present.  

Also present were: Jared Smith, Randy Denham, Laura Peterson from Invision Architects, Ryan Ellsworth from Estes Construction, Rod Wright from Creative Entourage, Jerry Gallagher from Donovan Group, members of the Middle School Task Force, and several members of the community

Motion by Kline second by Lekin to approve the agenda.  All Ayes.

Emily Chyma and Student Council president Carly Mathes-Henle provided an update to the Board of all the activities that will be going on throughout the District during Homecoming week. Ms. Chyma and Ms. Henle discussed how they are working to get the community involved in these activities. Ms. Chyma and Ms. Henle stated that the Student Council is in the process of rewriting their constitution to be more inclusive of everyone.

Rod Wright from Creative Entourage gave a presentation to the Board regarding the communication consulting services his firm could provide for the Middle School project.

The Board took a break at 7:30 p.m. The meeting resumed at 7:34 p.m.

Jerry Gallagher from Donovan Group gave a presentation to the Board regarding the communication consulting services his firm could provide for the Middle School project.

Motion by Kline, second by Houghton to approve the following consent agenda items: Minutes from the August 16, 2021 Regular Board Meeting, bills as presented, and early graduation requests for the following students: Tristin Henle, Ethan Pesina, and Autumn Ruckman.   All Ayes.

Public Comments – Charlotte Upah stated that she does not agree that a communications firm is needed at this time for the Middle School Project and feels that the Middle School Task Force could be a better option to handle the communication needs for the project. Ms. Upah stated that she felt hiring a communications firm was premature and would be contradictory to what the Task Force is trying to do. Ms. Upah felt that spending money on a communications firm at this time would be fiscally irresponsible.

The Board thanked Ms. Upah for her comments.

Motion by Lekin, second by Houghton to approve the personnel requests as presented.  All Ayes.

Contracts – Taylor Ray – Part Time Elementary ELL Para, Heather Keen – Elementary Special Ed Para, Nicholas Wheeler – High School Custodian.

Volunteers – Marla Behounek – Musical, Marlene Crabtree – Work in Classrooms and Field Trips as the Elementary

The Board discussed the two presentations that were given by Creative Entourage and Donovan Group. The Board stated that they would prefer to wait and see what recommendation the Middle School Task Force came back with before making a decision. Motion by Werner, second by Houghton to table selecting a Communications Company to a future Board Meeting once they have received a recommendation from the Middle School Task Force. All Ayes.

Motion by Kline second by Lekin to approve an agreement with ISFIS Write to Learn to purchase 250 licenses and training for the 2021-2022 school year for $4,250. All Ayes.

Motion by Hougton, second by Kline to approve a resolution to set a public hearing on the conveyance of property located at 806 State Street for September 20, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at the Elementary Building.  All Ayes.

Motion by Werner, second by Lekin to approve switching the District’s credit card company from BMO Harris to Lincoln Savings Bank.  All Ayes.

Motion by Kline, second by Lekin to approve an agreement with Mark J. Becker & Associates, LLC to provide benefits consulting for the District for the 2021-2022 year at $15,600.  All Ayes.

Motion by Lekin, second by Werner to approve Ahlers & Cooney as the District’s legal counsel for the 2021-2022 year.  All Ayes. 

The Board decided to table the consent agenda discussion to the September 20, 2021 Board meeting. 

Dr. Smith presented the list of the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) 2022 Legislative priorities. Dr. Smith asked the Board to review the priorities and determine which four priorities they would like to vote on and submit to IASB at the next Board meeting.

Motion by Kline, second by Houghton to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m.  All Ayes

________________________________            _________________________________

Penny Tyynismaa, Board President                     Randy Denham, Board Secretary