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 May 15, 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, Penny Tyynismaa, and Clint Werner. Quorum Present. Beth Wiese joined at 5:03 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Marilyn Rippy, Mary Mixdorf, Toledo Chief of Police - Dan Quigley, Jill Kienzle, Nick Vesely, Dixie Forcht, Rob Boley, Brad Schweppe, Emma Johnson, Emeri Krueger, Melody Cole, Alice Koch, Joy Schirmer, Jonathan Meyer with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Werner to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the
May 1, 2023 regular Board meeting, bills for payment as presented, financial statements, and early graduation request for Ashleigh Finch - January 2024. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comments – A few elementary staff members voiced their concern on cutting a 1st grade section.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Addison Krueger - 5th Grade Teacher
Resignations: Glory Meyer - English Language Arts Teacher, Britt Mitchell - English Language Arts Teacher, Bridget Diveney - Costumer, and Riley Barrett - District Substitute (Middle School Focused) & 7/8th Grade Physical Education,
Transfers: George Kuhter from 7th Grade Social Studies Teacher to 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Officials: Ibrahim Sabanagic - HS Soccer, Daniel Hawkins - HS Baseball, Braden Alberts - HS Baseball, David Nitz - HS Baseball, Billy Yuska - HS Baseball, Caleb Grave - HS Baseball, Andre Verdendaal - HS Baseball, Greg Davis - HS Baseball, Ty Kelderman - HS Baseball, Ryan Willis - HS Baseball, Steve Schmidt - HS Baseball, C. Richard Stockner - HS Baseball, John Leonhart - HS Baseball, Mark Beerends - HS Baseball, Keith Rath - HS Baseball/Softball, Brad Friest - HS Softball, Daniel Miller - HS Softball, Brad Thiel - HS Softball, Tiffany Thiessen - HS Softball, Keith Hawkins - HS Softball, Myron Jack - HS Softball, Keith Schmitz - HS Softball, Jed Hammen - HS Softball, Justin Wells - HS Softball, Mike Vint - HS Softball, Michael Spurlin - HS Softball, David Mohr - HS Softball and Richard Sebring - HS Softball
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the sign language interpreter position for a student with an IEP. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the Goodheart-Wilcox Publisher quote, in the amount of $17,469.01, for the health curriculum adoption without the sex education portion. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve using RC Systems for cameras and fobs at certain buildings, pending additional information and using the vulnerability assessment funds. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the TRIO overnight trips on June 20-22 to Des Moines and July 18-21 to Madison, Wisconsin. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the Software Unlimited invoice, in the amount of $8,950.00, for the District accounting software. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the SHI invoice, in the amount of $22,307.81, for the JAMF PRO renewal and subscription license. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to approve Tanager Place invoice, in the amount of $7,500.00, for mental health services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve The Math Learning Center quote, in the amount of $7,920.00, for replenishing math consumables. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the ESSER funding contract incentive. Those staff members who turn in their 2023-2024 contract within 7 days of the issuance will receive pay of two days per diem on his/her September 5, 2023 paycheck. District nurses will receive pay of four days per diem on their September 5, 2023 paycheck. All Ayes except Tyynismaa, who abstained. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to table the redistricting of the director districts. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Boley presented ISASP and ACT results to the Board. Jill Kienzle and Nick Vesely presented on the iJAG program at STC. Students are learning how to get and maintain jobs. The instructors have been reviewing the job process with the students. In addition, the students have taken field trips to learn about different careers available.
Superintendent Cain and Dan Quigley informed the Board, the development of a School Resource Officer at STC is getting closer to being completed. It should be communicated soon as to if funding has been secured through the Mansfield Grant to help with the cost among all organizations. Operational sharing will also be available and utilized, starting in the 2024-2025 school year. The Board would like to see the City of Toledo and the City of Tama on board before posting the position for hire.
Superintendent Cain provided an update to the Board on K-12 enrollment and enrollment trends. The Board discussed and determined to reassess the class size situation and data next year and to develop a plan/policy in the next six months the Board can stand behind in order to evaluate data and trends to make crucial decisions with classes, while remaining fiscally responsible.
The interior work is coming along with the new middle school project. A small group took a tour of the building to see the work being completed.
Superintendent Cain presented posters from the kindergarten classes, to the Board members in honor of School Board Recognition Month. These posters thanked the Board members for their commitment to the District.
The Board reviewed the personnel openings as of May 12, 2023.
Superintendent Cain discussed the book study with the Board. He also would like to see a Board retreat, involving administrators and directors at some point this summer. The Board is to get him dates of what would work best to meet on the book study.
The Board discussed the upcoming vacancy in District 3 on the Board at the end of June. Katie Mathern will get the proper documentation published in the paper, asking for those interested to contact her at the Administration Office by June 9th.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to go into exempt session at 7:45 p.m. All Ayes.
The Board went into exempt session per Iowa Code 21.9 to discuss strategy relating to employment conditions of employees not covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The exempt session ended at 8:15 p.m.
The Board went into closed session at 8:15 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) - Superintendent Evaluation. All Ayes.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to come out of closed session at 9:13 p.m. All Ayes.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Werner to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 p.m. All Ayes.
Mandy Lekin, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary