REGULAR SESSION
OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE
The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met in Regular Session on January 10, 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, Buildings & Grounds Director Steve McAdoo, Jill Kienzle and Cara Rypka from iJag, and several members of the community.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the agenda. All Ayes.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Werner to approve the following consent agenda items: Minutes from the December 13, 2021 regular meeting, December 22, 2021 work session, and December 27, 2021 special meeting; Bills for payment as presented; early graduation request for Nicolas Bernabe; and a memorandum of understanding with Child Abuse Prevention Services to provide health education curriculum. All Ayes.
Public Comments – Lori Rushford shared her concerns about COVID vaccine mandates with the Board. Matt Kesl, Pat Henry, and Robert McBride shared their concerns about the possibility of sharing baseball and softball programs with Meskwaki Schools.
Jill Kienzle and Cara Rypka from iJag gave a presentation to the Board. Ms. Kienzle and Ms. Rypka provided a summary of what the iJag program is and how it serves junior and senior students at the high school. Ms. Kienzle and Ms. Rypka shared with the Board what the program would look like if expanded to serve all high school students.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes.
Hires: Kodi Hillman – 7th Grade Girls Track Coach; Heather Garrett – 2nd Semester mentor for District wide sub; George Kuhter – 2nd Semester mentor for District wide sub; Sandra Tracy – 2nd Semester mentor for FCS teacher
Resignations: Nicole Krafka – High School Paraeducator; Brycelyn Haughey – Elementary Paraeducator
Volunteers: Hunter Caraccio – Elementary Classroom
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to accept the Early Retirement Requests meeting Board Policy 401.07R1 for Susan Crain – Preschool Teacher; Alice Murphy – Middle School Paraeducator; Julie Hagerty – High School Activities Secretary; Carolyn Haughey – Accounts Payable Specialist; Charlene Willaby – Middle School Food Service; and Melanie Kemper – Elementary Guidance Counselor and to deny the Early Retirement Request that did not meet Board Policy 401.07R1 for Michelle Bradley-High School Math Teacher. Ayes: Lekin, Tyynismaa, Dolezal. Nays: Werner, Wiese. The motion carried.
Mrs. Peska reviewed the proposal to approve offering additional English classes at the High School. Mrs. Peska explained that this proposal would provide more options for students to choose from. Mrs. Peska also explained that the addition of these courses would not result in a requirement of additional credits of the current curriculum. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to accept the new class proposals for the High School English Department as presented. All Ayes.
Mr. Jahr presented the athletic sharing agreements to the Board. Mr. Jahr explained how the sharing works for each of the activities that was presented and discussed how sharing impacts each program. Mr. Jahr explained the financial process for sharing agreements stating that each District is responsible for costs associated with the shared programs. Mr. Jahr reviewed the BEDS enrollment count that is used to calculate state classification for High School Activities.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to accept the sharing agreement with East Marshall CSD for Boys & Girls Soccer as presented. All Ayes.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to accept the sharing agreement with Marshalltown CSD for Bowling as presented. All Ayes.
Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to table a decision on sharing baseball and softball with Meskwaki CSD until more information can be gathered on how sharing would impact the District’s current program. Ayes: Lekin, Werner, Dolezal, Wiese. Nays: Tyynismaa. The motion carried.
Mr. Jahr, Mr. McAdoo, and Mr. Denham presented two quotes for the purchase of a Gator ATV. The first quote was from USS Polaris for $27,775.09 and the second quote was from John Deere for $32,500. The Board asked if there was an option to add on a mower to the Gator. It was determined that a mower could be added and the estimated cost to add a mower feature was roughly $4,500.
Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to approve the purchase of a Gator ATV from USS Polaris for $27,775.09 with the option to add on the mower feature. All Ayes.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the School Budget Review Committee application request for modified supplemental amount of $243,524 for the At Risk and Drop Out Prevention Program. All Ayes.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the resolution ordering an election on the issuance of $15,000,000 General Obligation Bonds for renovation of the Iowa Juvenile Home into a Middle School.
Dr. Smith provided a COVID update to the Board. Dr. Smith reviewed an email that had been sent out to staff regarding the latest on the OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard. Dr. Smith shared that the Supreme Court recently heard arguments around the OSHA Standard and would be making a ruling in the near future. Dr. Smith then shared that the Iowa Division of Labor had came out late the prior week stating that they would not enforce the OSHA standard. Dr. Smith stated that the District would continue the current practice of not enforcing the OSHA standard based on the current stance of the Iowa Division of Labor as well as legal counsel advice. Dr. Smith stated the District would continue to monitor the situation as things unfold and a Supreme Court Decision is made.
Motion by Werner, second by Dolezal to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 p.m. All Ayes.
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Mandy Lekin, Board President Randy Denham, Board Secretary