REGULAR SESSION
OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
SOUTH TAMA COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Board of Directors of the South Tama County Community School District met in Regular Session on February 22, 2022 at the Elementary School, 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, Clint Werner, Elizabeth Dolezal, Beth Wiese. Absent: None. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent Jared Smith, Board Secretary Randy Denham, Curriculum Director Samantha Peska, Activities Director Anthony Jahr, and several members of the community.
Dr. Smith requested that an additional resignation and a transfer request that were both received after the Board Packet was sent out be added to the Personnel portion of the agenda. Dr. Smith also requested that a rental agreement with the Reining Center for Superintendent interviews on March 29 be added to the consent agenda. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the agenda with the additional changes as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the following consent agenda items: Minutes from the February 7, 2022 regular meeting; Bills for payment and financial statements as presented; an agreement with the Iowa Cubs for the South Tama baseball team to play at Principal Park on June 22, 2022; and a rental agreement with the Reining Center for Superintendent interviews on March 29. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comments – Sabrina Vest, Chad Vest, Amanda Timm, and Jim Little separately addressed the Board about a recent poem performance that was done at a high school pep rally. Each of the individuals expressed their concerns to the Board about the nature of the poem and how they felt that some of the content to the performance was offensive and should not have been done in school. Concerns of bullying and harassment due to the poem performance were also brought to the Board.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Resignations: Patricia Gomez – MS Para
New Hires: Bridget Diveney – Costumer; Chelsea Ahrens – Head MS Softball Coach
Transfers: Rashell Mendoza – From HS Special Ed Para to HS 1:1 Para; Keely Upah - From Kindergarten to Preschool Teacher
Volunteers: Quentin Moen – HS Driving and Supervision
Officials: Benjamin Ogle – HS Varsity Boys Wrestling, Nick Willenborg – HS Varsity Baseball, Bill Boyd – HS Varsity Baseball
Curriculum Director Samantha Peska presented information to the Board requesting approval for two special ed students to get their certificate of completion per the recommendation of the students IEP teams. Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the two special ed students to receive a certificate of completion as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Activities Director Anthony Jahr presented information to the Board requesting the addition of Girls Wrestling as a District sponsored activity starting with the 2022-2023 school year. Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to approve the addition of Girls Wrestling as a District sponsored activity starting with the 2022-2023 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Randy Denham presented pay application #8 from Midwest Tennis and Track in the amount of $27,910.74 and the list of change orders totaling $5,417.22 for the HS Tennis Court Project. Mr. Denham explained that the project is 99% complete and that the change orders would need to be formally approved by the Board. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve pay application #8 from Midwest Tennis and Track in the amount of $27,910.74 and the list of change orders totaling $5,417.22 as presented. Ayes: Lekin, Tyynismaa, Dolezal, Wiese. Nays: Werner. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the first reading of the following Board Policies: 406.4 – Licensed Employee Compensation for Extra Duty; 409.1 Employee Vacation & Holidays; 412.1 – Classified Employee Compensation; 501.5 – Attendance Center Assignment; 505.5 – Graduation Requirements. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Denham provided information on the 2022-2023 budget and explained that the District’s instructional support levy would expire at the end of the 2021-2022 year. Mr. Denham outlined the steps the Board would need to take to renew the instructional support levy. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the resolution for the District to participate in the Instructional Support Program and to set a public hearing on the Instructional Support Levy for March 21, 2022. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Dr. Smith provided the most recent COVID dashboard numbers to the Board and reviewed county positivity rates. Dr. Smith and Mr. Denham presented information on potential hazard pay for all STC employees that would be paid out of ESSER funds. The total cost of two days of hazard pay for all STC staff would be $114,559.54. The Board directed Dr. Smith and Mr. Denham to bring this information to the next Board meeting to be formally approved.
Dr. Smith provided an update to the Board on the upcoming MS Project Bond vote with the next community meeting taking place this evening at the high school after the conclusion of the Board meeting. The Board discussed the various voting locations available and encouraged community members to get out and vote. Mr. Denham provided an update on the architect RFP process stating that a preconference and walk through of the Juvenile Home Facility would be taking place on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Denham stated bids would be due on March 9, 2022. President Lekin gave a recap of the Governor’s visit to the Juvenile Home on February 18.
Mr. Denham provided an update on the search for a new Superintendent and shared that a community input survey was shared out on February 18 and that the survey would close on March 1. Mr. Denham reviewed upcoming dates with the Board. Special closed session meetings will take place on March 10 and March 22 to screen the applicants and narrow the field down. Final candidate interviews will take place on March 29 at the Reining Center.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 p.m. All Ayes.
________________________________ _________________________________
Mandy Lekin, Board President Randy Denham, Board Secretary