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 December 4, 2023 for a Regular Session to hold the Annual Meeting, 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, Elizabeth Dolezal, Megan Thiessen, Clint Werner, and Beth Wiese. Absent: None. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Chelsea Ahrens, Jodi Hopper, Rob Boley, Larry DeVries with DeVries Electric, Rick Hopper, Jackie Ellenbecker, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the November 13, 2023 special meeting, minutes from the November 20, 2023 regular session, bills for payment as presented, Kay Chapman agreement, Kay Chapman Audit Engagement Letter, and early graduation request from Avery Blocker - January 2024. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Ms. Mathern reviewed the canvas of election results. Jackie Ellenbecker was declared the winner of the District 2 election, Megan Thiessen was declared the winner of the District 3 election, and Rick Hopper was declared the winner of the District 5 election.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve and accept the election results. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Dolezal to approve The Strengthening Center invoice, in the amount of $9,454.35, for Behavioral Health Intervention Services (BHIS). Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, and Werner Nays: Wiese The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the final reading for the following policies: 401.01 - Equal Employment Opportunity (formerly known as 400.01), 401.04 - Employee Complaints (formerly known as 406.01), 408.03 - Licensed Employee Tutoring (formerly known as 402.03), 409.01 - Employee Vacation - Holidays (New), 409.03 - Employee Family and Medical Leave (formerly known as 405.07), 409.03 E1 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Notice to Employees (formerly known as 405.07 E1), 409.03 E2 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Request Form (New), 409.03 R1 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Regulation (formerly known as 405.07 R1), 409.03 R2 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Definitions (formerly known as 405.07 R2), 503.01 - Student Conduct (formerly known as 502.01), 503.01 R1 - Student Conduct - Regulation (formerly known as 502.01 R1), 503.02 - Expulsion (formerly known as 502.01 R2), and 507.09 - Wellness (formerly known as 701.03). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Cain and the Board thanked Mandy Lekin and Clint Werner for their years of service on the Board.
Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to adjourn the annual meeting at 5:18 p.m.
Ms. Mathern called the Organizational Meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, Megan Thiessen, and Beth Wiese. Absent: None.
Mathern administered the Oath of Office to Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the agenda with the deletion of agenda item 8.A. #1. Action on the superintendent’s recommendation for termination of a classified employee and adding the resignation of Kim Zapata - transportation paraeducator. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Ms. Mathern accepted nominations for Board President. Beth Wiese nominated Elizabeth Dolezal which was seconded by Megan Thiessen. Receiving no other nominations, the motion passed to unanimously elect Elizabeth Dolezal as Board President for the next year.
Ms. Mathern administered the Oath of Office to Elizabeth Dolezal as Board President.
President Dolezal accepted nominations for Board Vice President. Board member Jackie Ellenbecker nominated Beth Wiese which was seconded by Rick Hopper. Receiving no other nominations, the motion passed to unanimously elect Beth Wiese as Board Vice President for the next year.
President Dolezal administered the Oath of Office to Beth Wiese as Board Vice President.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve removing Mandy Lekin and adding Elizabeth Dolezal on all of the District’s bank accounts. Mr. Cain and Ms. Mathern will remain as signers on those accounts as well. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Resignations: Kim Zapata - transportation paraeducator
Volunteers: Tyler Fulks - HS Speech and Brayden Smith - HS Wrestling
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to table the wrestling mat quote to the December 18th meeting. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to table the wrestling mat installation quote to the December 18th meeting. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve using TFD Photography for student and staff school pictures. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve a second vocational agriculture position. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve Change Order Number: 005, in the amount of -$2,000.00, to credit the District for eliminating punch list item #111 masonry wall demo patch. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Kay L. Chapman, CPA PC invoice, in the amount of $7,488.67, for the completion of the fieldwork portion of the 6/30/2023 audit. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve a $5,000 threshold for approving change order requests for the middle school project. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve changing the January 2, 2024 Board meeting to January 3, 2024. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen to approve the application to the SBRC in the amount of $4,805.54 for special education administrative costs associated with the River Hills Consortium program for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: 204 - Code of Ethics (formerly known as 200.01), 303.05 - Administrator Duties (new), 305 - Administrator Code of Ethics (New), 401.02 - Employee Conflict of Interest (formerly known as 402.09), 404 - Employee Conduct and Appearance (formerly known as 402.01), 701.01 - Depository Funds (New), 704.02 - Debt Management (New), 704.03 - Investments (New), 704.05 - Student Activities Fund (formerly known as 802.03), 705.01 - Purchasing - Bidding (New), and 705.04 - Expenditures for a Public Purpose (formerly known as 804.07). All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board recognized the Boys State Cross Country team and their accomplishments. Tommy Tyynismaa, Holden Schirmer, Cade Rosenberger, and Braxton Rohrs spoke to the Board about the highlights of their cross-country season.
Mr. Cain spoke about Voted PPEL and compiling a 5-year plan to present to the Board and have them prioritize what is needed. This 5-year plan will be reviewed at the December 18th meeting.
Ms. Mathern informed the Board there is an updated certified budget process effective this year, and she will present the Board with a timeline once she learns the details of the new process and deadlines.
Ms. Mathern discussed investing the new bond proceeds received and will reach out to the local banks and ISJIT to present information at the December 18th Board meeting.
Mr. DeVries with DeVries Electric had a valued engineering discussion with the Board in regards to aluminum vs. copper conductors for the electrical piece of the middle school project.
Mr. Cain provided an update on student discipline for the 2023-2024 school year.
Mr. Cain presented updates on the Middle School project. There will be discussion in the near future over the flushers, faucets, and hand dryers in the bathrooms at the new middle school. A letter was received from the City of Toledo stating the Toledo City Council members voted unanimously against covering the mitigation costs as requested.
Mr. Cain updated the Board with the snow day plans. Any hours that will need to be made up will be added to the end of the school year. Currently, May 24th is the District’s last student day.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary