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 in a Work Session on June 5, 2023 at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 4:30 p.m., prior to the Regular Session.
On call of the roll the following were present: Mandy Lekin, Elizabeth Dolezal, Penny Tyynismaa, Clint Werner, and Beth Wiese. Absent: None. Quorum Present. Also present were: John Cain and other administrators.
The Board and administrators discussed a book they are completing a book study on. Next work session for the book study will be on June 19, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa.
The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on June 5, 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, Clint Werner, and Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Marilyn Rippy, Sam Peska, Kris Collins, Brad Schweppe, Matt Zmolek with Assured Insurance Services, Rob Boley, Jonathan Meyer with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion Dolezal, second by Tyynismaa to approve the agenda with the removal of action item B. RC Systems and Fobs, C. ISG Change Order Proposals and discussion item B. Safe Track Safety App Demonstration. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the
May 15, 2023 regular Board meeting with the change of the dollar amount for the health curriculum , minutes from the May 22, 2023 special meeting, May 23, 2023 special meeting, bills for payment as presented, and tabling of early graduation requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comments – None.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Maci Fritz - 5th Grade Teacher, Rhonda Ricker - Academic Interventionist (Elementary), Stephanie Kaftan - 7th Grade Social Studies, Ellen Moran - English Language Arts, Amy Dolash - Temporary Assistant Volleyball Coach, and Rubi Pesina - ELL Paraeducator
Resignations: Sarah Weierman - HS Assistant Girls Soccer, Emilee Bean - 4th Grade Teacher, Olivia Gannaway - Elementary Paraeducator, Margarita Moreno - Elementary Food Service, Bridget Diveney - Family Consumer Science Teacher, Sandra Tracy - HS ELL Teacher, Joe Miller - 7-12 Trojan Academy Teacher, Hannah Mullen - Preschool Teacher, Leah Fonua - ⅞ Grade Assistant Volleyball Coach, Connor McKibben - MS Head Boys Soccer Coach, Alison Galvez - HS At-Risk Counselor, Marilyn Rippy - Elementary Music Teacher, Jay Hoskey - 8th Grade Assistant Football Coach, and Jordan Bowers - District Wide Sub-Elementary Focused
Officials: James Hall - MS Baseball, Chase Gustafson - MS Baseball, Gavin Bridgewater - MS Baseball, and Hayden Morris - MS Baseball
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the 2023 - 2024 Property Casualty and Work Comp Insurance with Iowa Public School Insurance Program, in the amount of $532,165.14. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the Herc-U-Lift work order estimate, in the amount of $2,629.53, for repairs to the scissor lift. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to approve the Goodheart-Willcox Publisher quote, in the amount of $16,849.57, for the 9-12 comprehensive health curriculum with the essential +1 teacher’s license. Ayes: Lekin, Tyynismaa, and Wiese. Nays: Dolezal and Werner. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Tyynismaa to table the Lexia Adoption. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Tyynismaa to approve the Lexia Quote, in the amount of $28,685.00, for LETRS Participant Materials. Six thousand dollars will be used from Special Education funds and the remainder will be used from Professional Development funds. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to approve the Frontline invoice, in the amount of $19,906.36, for the absence and time program. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Werner to table the Makita cordless vacuum quote until more information is received. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Dolezal to approve the Garling Construction Application and Certificate for Payment, in the amount of $256,571.25, for bid package 1. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Schweppe provided an end of the year report to the Board on the elementary. The elementary had a 92.8% average daily attendance this year. The kindergarten - 4th grade goal for majors and minors was 500 or less. For the 2022-2023 school year, there were 529 behavior referrals. The concern with this is the time away from the student’s learning environment. With the Satchel Pulse results, 80% of the questions were answered. The highest-rated categories with this survey were meaningful work and relationship with colleagues.
Mrs. Peska provided an end of the year report to the Board on the Student Services. For 2022-2023, 255 of 1242 students received special education services. STC is currently in need of a K-4 Level 3 Special Education Teacher, 7-12 grade Trojan Academy Special Education Teacher, and a High School Level 3 Special Education Teacher. For 2022-2023, 205 of 1242 students received ELL services. STC is currently in need of a 5-8 grade ELL Teacher and two 9-12 grade ELL Teachers.
The Board reviewed the personnel openings as of June 2, 2023.
Superintendent Cain reported to the Board the School Resource Officer position is posted. He will be meeting with Dan Quigley, the City of Toledo Chief of Police to review the 28E agreement. The book study went well and the next book study discussion will be on June 19th prior to the Board meeting. The end of year brunch went very well. Mr. Cain is excited about the 2023-2024 professional development action plans. A one-page document is being created for each goal.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to adjourn the regular meeting at 6:24 p.m.
The Board went into closed session at 6:27 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(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 Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to come out of closed session at 6:47 p.m. All Ayes.
The Board went into closed session at 6:47 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(e) to discuss whether to conduct a hearing or to conduct hearings to suspend or expel a student, unless an open session is requested by the student or a parent or guardian of the student if the student is a minor. All Ayes.
Motion by Tyynismaa, second by Wiese to come out of closed session at 7:00 p.m. All Ayes.
Mandy Lekin, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary