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 October 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 Clint Werner. Quorum Present. Beth Wiese arrived at 5:01 p.m., and Megan Thiessen arrived at 5:24 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Dixie Forcht, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rob Boley, Rick Hopper, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner, to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the October 16, 2023 regular session, bills for payment as presented, Scanlan Mental Health Training Paraeducator Fellowship Agreement, and early graduation request from Ashton Tuske - November 2023. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comments – None
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Nate Doran - 7th/8th Grade Assistant Basketball Coach, Emily Hopper - MS Kitchen Staff, and Skylar Steveson - Assistant FFA Advisor.
Resignations: Jeff DeBondt - 8th Grade Assistant Football Coach and Jerrod Bridgewater - Assistant Varsity Football Coach
Officials: D.J. Norem - MS Football and Curt Hilmer - MS Boys Wrestling
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the resolution directing the sale of $21,885,000 school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue and refunding bonds, series 2023. The roll was called and the vote was: Ayes - Lekin, Dolezal, Werner, and Wiese Nays - none. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Werner to approve the resolution authorizing the redemption of outstanding school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue bonds, series 2016, dated June 30, 2016, of the South Tama County Community School District, State of Iowa, and directing notice be given. The roll was called and the vote was: Ayes - Lekin, Dolezal, Werner, and Wiese Nays - none. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the Hudl invoice, in the amount of $8,000.00, for the HUDL AD Package. STC Activity Boosters will be paying $4,000.00 towards the purchase. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the Cover Sports quote, in the amount of $16,825.80, for a gym floor cover for the high school. Proceeds from RAGBRAI in the amount of $7,500.00 will be used towards this cost, as well as a donation from STC Activity Boosters, in the amount of $7,500.00. The activities fund will cover the remainder. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve Marshalltown Community College invoice, in the amount of $8,558.07, for college books. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the reimbursement of coaching license fees for a volunteer coach. This will be paid out of ESSER funding. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the handbook update in the Classified Handbook: full day off for 12-month staff on Wednesday preceding Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Dolezal to approve the Nolte, Cornman & Johnson P.C. invoice, in the amount of $6,900.00, for professional services provided in the audit of June 30, 2022. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve cast the weighted vote of the Board for Maureen Hanson for the Central Rivers Area Education Agency Board of Directors, Director District #6. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Werner to approve the list of overnight trips requested for the 2023-2024 school year from Activities Director, Chelsea Ahrens. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the middle school Gear Up Coach position request. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Impact Aid Indian Policies and Procedures for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the application to the SBRC in the amount of $4,805.54 for special education administrative costs associated with the River Hills Consortium program for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: 402.03 - Abuse of Students by School District Employees, 403.04 - Hazardous Chemical Disclosure, 406.01 - Licensed Employee Compensation, 503.03 - Fines-Fees-Charges, 507.09 R1 - Wellness Policy, 507.09 E1 - Alliance for a Healthier Generation Model Wellness Policy, 605.06 - Internet - Appropriate Use, 605.06 R1 - Internet Appropriate Use - Regulation and tabling 409.03 R1 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Regulation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the second reading of the following policies: 407.03 - Employee Retirement (Formerly Known As 401.07) and 407.06 - Employee Early Retirement (Formerly Known As 401.07 R1). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the final reading of policy 503.08 - Discipline Policy (New). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Superintendent Cain provided information on the letter received from the City of Tama regarding the water. He also discussed mitigation measures.
Taylor Brown and Skylar Steveson presented via Google Hangouts on the need for a possible Vocational Agriculture position and what that would look like.
Mr. Cain presented updates on the Middle School project. There have been some changes in the ISG personnel the District is working with. There are construction meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month with ISG, Garling, the District, and others that may be involved at the time.
Mr. Cain updated the Board with the number of staff members who are eligible for Early Retirement. On November 27, 2023 there will be a second round of poverty training provided by Wartburg College for professional development. This will be a great opportunity. The Iowa School Performance Profiles have been released. STC Elementary school remained at “Commendable,” STC Middle School moved from “Acceptable” in 2022 to “Commendable” in 2023, and STC High School moved from “Needs Improvement” in 2022 to “Acceptable” in 2023.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m.
Mandy Lekin, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary