2022.03.21 Regular Meeting

PUBLIC HEARING 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 March 21, 2022 for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Issuance of Approximately $16,500,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bonds 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, and Beth Wiese. Absent: None. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent Dr. Jared Smith, Board Secretary Randy Denham, and several members of the community.

Motion by Tyynismaa second by Werner to approve the agenda.  All Ayes.

Public Hearing – President Lekin opened the Public Hearing for the Proposed Issuance of Approximately $16,500,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bonds at 5:00 p.m. President Lekin asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Lekin asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to close the Public Hearing at 5:01 p.m.  All Ayes.

The Regular Session was called to order at 5:01 p.m.

On call of the roll the following were present:  Mandy Lekin, Penny Tyynismaa, Clint Werner, Elizabeth Dolezal, Beth Wiese.  Members Absent - None.  Quorum Present.  Also present were: Superintendent Dr. Jared Smith, Board Secretary Randy Denham, Maintenance Director Steve McAdoo, Activities Director Anthony Jahr, Mark Becker from Mark J. Becker & Associates, Nathan Compton from ISG Architects, and several members of the community.

Dr. Smith requested to remove the Proposal to Add Non-Voting Student Members to the Board Discussion Item due to the students requesting more time to prepare. Dr. Smith also requested to add a couple additional hires and a resignation that came in after the Board Packet had been sent out. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the agenda with the changes as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the following consent agenda items: Minutes from the March 7, 2022 regular meeting, March 10, 2022 special session, and March 14, 2022 special session; Bills for payment and Financial Statements as presented; Tennis Fundraiser selling burgers to raise funds for the general expenses of the tennis program; student teaching agreement with Morningside University for the 2022-2023 school year; and a 2022-2023 Senior Year Plus agreement with Iowa Valley Community College. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Public Comments – Amy Stotts thanked the Board for making sure that public comments were kept to the two minute minimum as stated in the Board agendas. Dixie Forcht asked the Board to table the Little Theater Upgrades agenda item so that she could meet with Mr. McAdoo and Mr. Jahr to discuss the upgrades further.

Mark Becker from Mark J. Becker and Associates presented the results of the Assessment of the District’s current insurance plans that was requested by the District earlier in the school year. Mr. Becker gave an outline of the District’s current insurance plans and options for next steps.

Director of Finance, Randy Denham presented the 2022-2023 Certified Budget to the Board. Mr. Denham presented the budget with an overall tax rate of $14.45 which is $0.64 lower than the prior year. Mr. Denham explained the drop was due to the Bond vote for the Middle School project where the voters approved to drop the $2.70 tax levy down to $2.06. Mr. Denham recommended setting a public hearing for the 2022-2023 Certified Budget for Monday, April 4, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.

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

Resignations: Nick Wheeler – High School Night Custodian

New Hires: Carley Bolhuis – Elementary Special Ed Para; Linda Puumala – High School Activities Secretary

Transfers: Steve Bearden – From First Grade to Elementary ELL Teacher; April Van Dee – From Middle School Special Ed Para to Middle School Library Media Aide; Deborah Price – From Middle School Part Time Special Ed Para to Middle School Full Tie Special Ed Para

Volunteers: Joe Miller – High School Boys Soccer

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to table approval of the High School Little Theater upgrades to a future meeting. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Dr. Smith provided an update to the Board on the process for selecting an architect for the Middle School Project moving forward. Dr. Smith reported that several RFP’s had been received and that a District Committee consisting of Board Members and Administration had interviewed Invision, OPN Architects, and ISG Architects on March 15. After careful consideration the Committee recommended that the District move forward on the Middle School Project with ISG architects due to their familiarity with the Iowa Juvenile Home site as well as their bid coming in at 6.25% of construction costs which was lower than the other two firms. Board member Dolezal requested that the agreement be changed from 24 months of service coverage to 30 months. Nathan Compton from ISG Architects said that this modification to the agreement could be made. Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the contract with ISG Architects with the changes presented to move forward with the Middle School Project. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to set the public hearing for the 2022-2023 Certified Budget for Monday, April 4, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. at the Elementary. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the resolution supporting the proposed issuance of approximately $16,500,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue and Refunding Bonds. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Mr. Denham presented the resolution authorizing the redemption of the outstanding General Bond Obligations. Mr. Denham explained that this resolution would authorize the District to pay off the remaining $405,000 for the General Obligation Bonds for the Elementary. Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of Outstanding General Obligation School Refunding Bonds. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Mr. Denham presented the 2022-2023 insurance renewal for the District. Mr. Denham recommended to move the District outside of the Mercer Trust and to change the District Benefits Consultant from Mercer to Mark J. Becker and Associates effective July 1, 2022. Mr. Denham explained that this switch will save the District at least $40,000 per year from the start with the potential for increased savings as the District works with Mr. Becker and his team to improve the District’s insurance offerings and plan design. Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to approve the 2022-2023 insurance renewal to move the District out of the Trust with Mercer at an increase of $137,581. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to terminate the Benefits Consultant agreement with Mercer effective June 30, 2022 with notice being given to Mercer by April 1, 2022 to comply with the 90-day termination notice in the current agreement. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the Benefits Consultant agreement with Mark J. Becker and Associates effective July 1, 2022. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following Board Policies: 605.4 Technology & Instructional Materials; 606.1 Class Size; 606.6 Insufficient Classroom Space. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the second and final reading of the following Board Policies: 505.8 Parental Involvement; 505.8R1 Parent and Family Engagement Regulation; 600 Goals and Objectives Educational Program; 601.1 School Calendar. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Activities Director Anthony Jahr presented a proposal to the Board to pause Varsity Softball for the 2022 season due to low numbers. Mr. Jahr explained that the girls would still play a Level 2 schedule and would potentially play a Level 3 schedule depending on Middle School numbers. Mr. Jahr stated that the District would look to add in other non-conference games where possible and that this pause would only be for this season. Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to pause the Varsity Softball program for the 2022 season as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Mr. Jahr gave an update on the District’s Athletic Training Services. Mr. Jahr explained that the District’s current athletic trainer had to terminate the agreement due to a family relocation. Mr. Jahr reviewed the different options that are being explored to provide athletic training services for the upcoming spring and summer activities as well as options going into next school year.  

Dr. Smith provided an update on the Middle School Project. Board Member Dolezal provided an update from the most recent Toledo City Council meeting where there was discussion around the Middle School project. Dr. Smith stated that a group consisting of Board members, District Administration, ISG Architects, and representatives from the City of Toledo and Tama County Economic development would be meeting on March 30 to discuss timelines and next steps.  

Mr. Denham provided an update on the Superintendent Search. Mr. Denham stated the Board would be having a closed session on March 22, 2022 to interview and screen candidates. Final candidates will be determined after that meeting with the final interviews taking place on March 29, 2022 from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to adjourn the meeting at 6:59 p.m.  All Ayes.

 

________________________________            _________________________________

Mandy Lekin, Board President                             Randy Denham, Board Secretary