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 6, 2023 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, Elizabeth Dolezal, and Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Clint Werner was absent. Penny Tyynismaa joined the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Chelsea Ahrens, Rob Boley, Dixie Forcht, Marilyn Rippy, Nicole Hitchcock, members of the STC high school boys wrestling team and families, members of the STC speech team and families, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Hearing - Proposed selection of the 2023 - 2024 School Calendar at 5:01 p.m. President Lekin asked for public comments. With the early release on Mondays, it was discussed how previously STC had tried early release on Fridays and ran into some attendance issues with staff. A staff member stated that another school district in the area releases early on Tuesdays and this allows for them to work with the AEA, as the AEA visits several schools on Wednesdays for professional development. Another member of the community suggested a trial period to see if it works to have early releases on Mondays instead of Wednesdays. President Lekin asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to close the public hearing at 5:11 p.m.
The regular session was called to order at 5:12 p.m.
On call of the roll the following were present: Mandy Lekin, Elizabeth Dolezal, and Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Clint Werner was absent. Penny Tyynismaa joined the meeting at 6:05 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Chelsea Ahrens, Rob Boley, Dixie Forcht, Marilyn Rippy, Nicole Hitchcock, members of the STC high school boys wrestling team and families, members of the STC speech team and families, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the February 15, 2023 special Board meeting,minutes from the February 21, 2023 regular Board meeting, minutes from the February 21, 2023 work session, bills for payment and financial statements as presented, AEA Purchasing Agreement, UNI Cooperative Agreement, and Sioux City Special Education Agreement. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board celebrated the STC high school boys wrestling team and their achievements for the season. Jacob Youngbear, Macael Bear, Rudy Papakee, Gavin Bridgewater, and Amare Chavez introduced themselves and provided memories and highlights of the season. Coach Bailey Chyma spoke about the program and the highlights of the 13th winning season.
The Board celebrated the STC speech team and their accomplishments for the season. Libby Albright, Ryden Forcht, and Kara Nachazel introduced themselves and provided memories and highlights of the season. Speech coach, Dixie Forcht, spoke of the program and the accomplishments of the One-Act Play and Ensemble Acting at Large Group Speech All State.
Nicole Hitchcock spoke to the Board about the Backpack Program and how it has benefited several students at STC. When the funding was limited earlier this year, many community members stepped up and provided donations to ensure this program continues.
Public Comments – None
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Craig Harrison - 7th Grade Boys Track, Maria Guilera - Preschool Special Education Paraeducator, and Britt Michell pending graduation
Resignations: Zoe Garber - Kindergarten (effective end of 22-23 school year), Haley Wilson - Elementary Special Education (effective end of 22-23 school year), David Nitz - 9th grade boys basketball coach, and Nate Doran - assistant high school boys basketball
Transfer: Alison Brezina - from part-time bus driver to full-time bus driver
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the second and final reading of the following policies: Policy 403.03 (formerly known as 405.03) - Communicable Diseases - Employees, Policy 601.02 (formerly known as 601.03) - School Day, Policy 802.04 - Capital Assets, and Policy 804.07 - Radon Mitigation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: Policy 401.14 - Employee Expression, Policy 504.05 R1 - Student Fundraising, Policy 507.02 (formerly known as 507.04) - Administration of Medications to Students, Policy 601.01 - School Calendar, Policy 605.05 - School Library, Policy 607.01a - Student Guidance and Counseling Program, Policy 705.01a - Purchasing-Bidding, Policy 705.01 R2 - Purchasing - Bidding Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contract, Policy 704.06 - Online Fundraising Campaigns/Crowdfunding, and Policy 802.03 (formerly known as 902.03) - Emergency Repair. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to approve the 2023 - 2024 proposed calendar. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the insurance renewal and package as recommended. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the high school dress code recommendation of allowing hats and hoods; however, student faces should be able to be seen. The motion carried with aye votes from Dolezal, Lekin, and Wiese and one nay vote from Tyynismaa.
The Board discussed the need for a School Resource Officer in the future. Tama Chief of Police, Dan Quigley, spoke about what the role in the District might look like. He, along with Jason Bina, Toledo Chief of Police, have been meeting with the STC district to outline the job and responsibilities of a SRO and will continue to work with the district to create an initial job description and work out the hiring process. This position will be brought to the Board in the future for approval.
Superintendent Cain gave a middle school update. A pre bid meeting occurred this afternoon. A spec page-by-page meeting will be held in the near future before bid package 2 goes out.
The public hearing for the change for the 2022-2023 school calendar for the remainder of the year will take place on Monday, March 20th.
Superintendent Cain spoke on the IASB Summit on Student Success taking place on April 27th and 28th and encouraged Board members to attend. If interested, he asked for them to let him know to get them signed up.
Superintendent Cain reported he is excited for the Stronger Connections Grant and has a team working on this opportunity. He is looking at and working on job descriptions so they are more clearly aligned with each position. Mr. Cain attached the Satchel Pulse results in the News & Notes and encouraged Board members to review them. The district’s second writing assessment is completed so he will bring the data to the Board once it is compiled.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wise to go into closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)i to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. All Ayes.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to come out of closed session at 7:05 p.m.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to adjourn the meeting at 7:06 p.m. All Ayes.
Mandy Lekin, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary