2022.09.07 Regular Session

 

REGULAR SESSION

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE

SOUTH TAMA COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

 

The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on September 7, 2022 for a Regular Session at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 5:00 p.m. with members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.

On call of the roll the following were present:  Mandy Lekin, Penny Tyynismaa, Elizabeth Dolezal, Clint Werner. Absent: Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Randy Denham, Bridget Diveney, Sandra Tracy, Marilyn Rippy, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the agenda as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried. 

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the following consent agenda items: Minutes from the August 15, 2022 regular session with a correction stating that the sub rate was changed to $130 per day; bills for payment and financial statements as presented; three year contract with Edgenuity for instructional software at Trojan Academy; and early graduation requests for the following students: Darrell Hill Jr. and Gabriel Carillo. The motion carried. 

Public Comments – None. 

Mr. Cain shared a document from the Iowa Department of Education congratulating the District for approval of the Family and Community Services (FCS) program for another five years. High School FCS teachers Bridget Diveney and Sandra Tracy then gave a presentation outlining the current FCS program at the High School.  

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the following personnel requests.  All Ayes. The motion carried. 

Resignations: Estrella Yepez – Trojan Academy Para

New Hires: Riley Barrett – Strength & Conditioning Coach; Cortney Slack – Middle School Cook; Bridget Diveney – Fall Musical Costumer; Morgan McFate – Head Varsity Girls Soccer Coach; Emily Chyma – Half Time Student Council Sponsor; Jill Dilly – Mentor for 22-23 school year

Officials: Football: David Nitz, Kory Staff, Tom Kemper, Brian Murphy, Daniel Johnson, Tyler Heeren, Jeremy Weierman; Wrestling: Bob Yilek, Andrew May, Justin Brand, Benjamin Ogle, Brandon Dufoe

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the list of volunteers for the 2022-2023 school year as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.  

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the first reading of the following Board Policies: 410.01 Substitute Teachers; 504.5 Student Fundraising; 504.5 R1 Student Fundraising Regulations. All Ayes. The motion carried. 

Motion by Dolezal, second by Tyynismaa to approve the second and final reading of the following Board Policies: 501.14 Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Sending District and 501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers – Procedures as a Receiving District. All Ayes. The motion carried. 

Motion by Dolezal, second by Tyynismaa to approve the list of overnight trips for the 2022-2023 school year as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.  

The Board discussed a recent letter received by the City of Toledo stating that bidding for asbestos mitigation and demolition at the Iowa Juvenile Home (IJH) recently went out. On Monday, September 12 there will be a walk through on the property for prospective bidders. Bids will be awarded in late September. The Board discussed the potential uses of the existing geo-thermal system at the IJH site for the new middle school and asked administration to look into this further with the architects. Mr. Cain informed the Board that administration would be meeting with the architects on September 12 to review initial drawings for the new middle school. Mr. Cain stated that the District is still waiting on the State to complete the necessary steps to transfer the property over to the City of Toledo. 

Mr. Cain reviewed the District Strategic plan with the Board. Mr. Cain and the Board discussed having a single vision statement throughout the District. As part of the District Branding plan the vision statement will be visible in all buildings as well as on the website and social media platforms. 

Mr. Cain gave his Superintendent’s Report to the Board on the following items: Safety walk throughs took place at all the buildings on September 6 with the City of Tama, City of Toledo, Tama County, and Meskwaki Police Departments; Met with Middle School Administration and ISG architects to review initial concepts for the new middle school; Informed the Board of the Rural School Advocates Annual Meeting and dinner that will take place on October 25; Shared information on the IASB Annual Convention that will take place November 16-18. 

Mr. Cain presented an initial template outlining different committees the District will be looking to set up in the near future and discussed them with the Board. Mr. Cain asked the Board to consider which committees they would like to be a part of. Committees will be brought back at a future Board meeting for approval. 

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m.  All Ayes.

Mandy Lekin, Board President                  

Randy Denham, Board Secretary