PUBLIC HEARING AND REGULAR SESSION
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 18, 2024 for a Public Hearing on the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 School Calendar at the STC High School, Tama, Iowa at 5:00 p.m. with some members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Absent: Beth Wiese Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Allison Graham with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, Audrey Roth, Dixie Forcht, Seth Koch, Kathy Wilkerson, Chelsea Ahrens, Amy Karg, Rob Boley, Gustav Ojenholt, Keiler Alvarado, Tim Kerns, Patty Kerns, Betty Hayes, Diane Novak, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Hearing - 2023-2024 School Calendar Amendment
President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the amendment to the 2023-2024 School Calendar at 5:00 p.m. Superintendent Cain explained the amendment would reflect plans to make up instructional hours due to this winter’s weather. The last day for students will now be Wednesday, May 29th with a three hour early dismissal at 12:25 p.m. The last day for staff will be Thursday, May 30th. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to close the Public Hearing at 5:02 p.m. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Hearing - 2024-2025 School Calendar
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Absent: Beth Wiese Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Allison Graham with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, Audrey Roth, Dixie Forcht, Seth Koch, Kathy Wilkerson, Chelsea Ahrens, Amy Karg, Rob Boley, Gustav Ojenholt, Keiler Alvarado, Tim Kerns, Patty Kerns, Betty Hayes, Diane Novak, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the 2024-2025 School Calendar at 5:03 p.m.
Superintendent Cain explained the school calendar and changes made from previous years. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to close the Public Hearing at 5:04 p.m. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The regular session was called to order at 5:05 p.m.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Absent: Beth Wiese Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Allison Graham with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, Audrey Roth, Dixie Forcht, Seth Koch, Kathy Wilkerson, Chelsea Ahrens, Amy Karg, Rob Boley, Gustav Ojenholt, Keiler Alvarado, Tim Kerns, Patty Kerns, Betty Hayes, Diane Novak, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the March 4, 2024 regular session, minutes from the March 11, 2024 work session and special meeting, and bills for payment. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comment - Seth Koch expressed concern with the Board on looking at current successes within the District and staff retainage. Audrey Roth also expressed concern with valuing staff working in the District currently.
The Large Group Speech Team, consisting of Gustav Ojenholt, Keiler Alvarado, and Nadia Onichimowska (absent), presented their All-State recognized short film, “Without You.”
Mr. Boley and Mrs. Karg presented an update on the high school’s safety drills and student discipline.
Mrs. Ahrens presented the Board with an update on participation numbers and program growth. She also gave the Board an update on the WAMAC.
Each Board member reflected on their Board purpose and what their why is in relation to their Board role.
The Board took a five minute recess.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Resignations: Vanessa Rivera - Elementary At-Risk Liaison (End of 2023-2024 school year), Lori Dvorak - High School Special Education, and Alison Brezina - Bus Driver
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Thiessen to approve the 2023-2024 School Calendar Amendment. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Ellenbecker to approve the 2024-2025 School Calendar. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the following operational sharing agreements with the North Tama Community School District, effective July 1, 2024: Superintendent (60%/40%), Operations and Maintenance Director (80%/20%), and Other Business Official (80%/20%). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Thiessen to approve the Sterling quote, in the amount of $104,580.00 less the amount paid for the Chromebook lab already purchased, for Dell Chromebooks for grades 9-12. These will be paid for with ESSER funding. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the ISG invoice, in the amount of $15,000.00, for construction administration and close-out. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Ellenbecker to approve the HD Supply quote, in the amount of $9,565.50, for hand dryers for the new middle school. These will be paid for with ESSER funding. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Kay Chapman, CPA PC invoice, in the amount of $7,250.00, for the final payment for the FY23 audit and additional hours for work associated with the Single Audit. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve the Cornelius Seed invoice, in the amount of $5,600.65, for seed for the FFA program. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve Terracon invoice, in the amount of $6,188.25, for concrete observation and testing. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the 2024-2025 health insurance renewal at an increase of $149,556.00. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the TLC Lawn Care estimate, in the amount of $19,450.00, to mow, spray, and fertilize the baseball, football, softball, and practice fields. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the BSN Sports order, in the amount of $6,287.86, for volleyball uniforms. The volleyball team will fundraise for $4,467.86 and $1,820.00 will come from the general activities fund. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to maintain the same benefit bucks and cash in lieu amounts for 2024-2025 as they were in 2023-2024. In addition, benefit bucks will only be allowed to be used towards health, dental, and vision insurance. All Ayes. The motion carried.
President Dolezal brought up the Iowa Association of School Board Summit on Student Success on Tuesday, June 11th and encouraged Board members to attend.
The Board reviewed the current Iowa Works postings.
The Board discussed the status of the budget restructure for the District.
Superintendent Cain reported pictures of the progress of the new middle school project will be posted on the website soon. The walls of the gym are currently going up.
Mr. Cain explained the Board will be getting back into reviewing policy by series again in future meetings. On the evening of March 12, 2024, the Toledo-Tama Kiwanis Club hosted the Middle School Golden Achievement Awards Banquet at the Tama-Toledo Country Club. Sixteen students, two girls and two boys each from grades 5 through 8, were honored for their outstanding scholarship and citizenship.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary