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 November 20, 2023 for a Regular Session at the STC 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, Elizabeth Dolezal, Megan Thiessen, Clint Werner, and Beth Wiese. Quorum Present. Elizabeth Dolezal left the meeting at 6:40 p.m. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Dixie Forcht, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, Heather Niedermann, Kinnick Niedermann, Jill Kienzle, Seth Koch, Brad Schweppe, Joy Schirmer, Dan Lopez, Ben Adams, Steve McAdoo, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese, to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the November 3, 2023 special session, minutes from the November 6, 2023 regular session, bills for payment and financials as presented, and Gear Up Agreement. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Jill Kienzle made a Partners in Education presentation with a plaque to Velocity Nutrition owner Heather Niedermann.
Public Comments – Seth Koch thanked Mandy Lekin and Clint Werner for their service on the Board and welcomed Jackie Ellenbecker and Rick Hopper to the STC Board of Education.
Joy Schirmer, along with Brad Schweppe, reported on the use of data at the elementary to guide its resources and support to increase student achievement.
Superintendent Cain announced and presented a plaque for the current STC Board of Education earning a Team Achievement Annual Board Award this year from the Iowa Association of School Boards.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Tracy Everts - HS Special Education Paraeducator and Andrew Walton - Assistant Varsity Boys Soccer Coach
Resignations: Marsha Keahna - HS Special Olympics Sponsor
Officials: Kory Staff - MS Girls Basketball and Mark Kenny - HS Girls Wrestling
Transfer: Sarah Novotny - From HS Paraeducator to MS Gear Up 3.0 Coach
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Gear Up 3.0 Iowa Assistant Coach position. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the SUIC Proposal, in the amount of $175,973 (will be prorated for the year), for equipment break/fix insurance. Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, and Wiese Nays: Werner The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the A-One quote, in the amount of $19,550.00, for well field testing at the new middle school. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Dolezal to approve Change Order 001 for Bid Package 2, without Change Order Request 13: Add access doors $2,027.45. All Ayes. The motion carried.
There was no motion for agenda item 8.F. Threshold for Approving Change Order Requests.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Dolezal to approve the Amazon quote, in the amount of $5,153.86, for drinking fountains at the high school and partnership. This will be paid out of ESSER funding. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Dolezal to approve the ISG invoice, in the amount of $35,625.00, for construction administration and close-out. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to table agenda item 8.I. BHIS Invoice. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the Terracon invoice, in the amount of $6,242.75, for earthwork, foundation, and concrete observation and testing. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve Selective Insurance bill, in the amount of $41,928.00, for builder’s risk insurance. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the elementary music teacher position to receive a $1,100.00 stipend per concert performed. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve resolution appointing paying agent, bond registrar, and transfer agent, approving the paying agent, bond registrar and transfer agent agreement and authorizing the execution of the same. Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, Werner, and Wiese Nays: None The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the tax exemption certificate. Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, Werner, and Wiese Nays: None The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Wiese to approve the continuing disclosure certificate. Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, Werner, and Wiese Nays: None The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the resolution authorizing the terms of issuance and providing for and securing the payment of school infrastructure sales, service and use tax revenue and refunding bonds. Ayes: Lekin, Dolezal, Thiessen, Werner, and Wiese Nays: None The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the application to the SBRC for Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2022, in the amount of $116,562.00. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Dolezal, second by Thiessen to approve the application to the SBRC for ELL beyond 5 years, in the amount of $122,541.75. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: 401.01 - Equal Employment Opportunity (formerly known as 400.01), 401.04 - Employee Complaints (formerly known as 406.01), 408.03 - Licensed Employee Tutoring (formerly known as 4020.03), 409.01 - Employee Vacation - Holidays (new), 409.03 - Employee Family and Medical Leave (formerly known as 405.07), 409.03 E1 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Notice to Employees (formerly known as 405.07 E1), 409.03 E2 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Request form (new), 409.03 R1 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Regulation (formerly known as 405.07 R1), 409.03 R2 - Employee Family and Medical Leave - Definitions (formerly known as 405.07 R2), 503.01 - Student Conduct (formerly known as 502.01), 503.01 - Student Conduct (formerly known as 502.01), 503.01 R1 - Student Conduct - Regulation (formerly known as 502.01 R1), 503.02 - Expulsion (formerly known as 502.01 R2), and 507.09 - Wellness (formerly known as 701.03). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the second 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, and 605.06 R1 - Internet Appropriate Use - Regulation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Cain presented updates on the Middle School project. He brought up the following areas and how the contractors should move forward: security system, automatic interior self-locking doors, well system, and commissioning.
Mr. Cain updated the Board a District team is working with the AEA on early learning programming data and working to align our program based on LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) learning. Our LETRS training is moving along and having a positive impact for our elementary staff. This year, the majority of our secondary teachers are engaged in SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) training and spending time reviewing data to fine tune our plan.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 p.m.
Mandy Lekin, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary