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 July 22, 2024 for a regular session at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 5:00 p.m. with some members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.
The Board and guests stated the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the District’s mission statement.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal , Beth Wiese, Jackie Ellenbecker, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Jonathan Meyer with the Tama-Toledo News Chronicle, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - Board member, Rick Hopper, voiced his concern on the District’s goals for proficiency.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Thiessen to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the June 17, 2024 Regular Session, minutes from the June 25, 2024 Special & Work Session, bills for payment, District Career and Academic Plan (DCAP), Care Coordination Agreement for Certified Community Behavioral Health Center Services, and Scharnweber donation, in the amount of $1,000.00 for the high school sound system. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Superintendent Cain reviewed the year’s attendance and referral information with the Board.
Chelsea Ahrens, on Google Hangouts, gave the 2023-2024 annual activities report for the high school and middle school, including participation.
The Board reviewed the open positions within the District.
Superintendent Cain asked the Board to review the Rural School Advocates of Iowa (RSAI) and Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) 2025 Legislative Issues Survey, as it will be brought back to the Board in August.
Superintendent Cain provided the updated Extra & Co-Curricular Salary Schedule to the Board.
An area of current focus is on the landscaping at the new middle school. Denise Fletcher is heading up this area and the District would like to get the community involved.
Superintendent Cain noted the Administration and Board Team will have a retreat on August 6th with Lou from IASB. Teams from the high school and middle school have attended training July 17th & 19th related to student engagement. Director of Curriculum, Janelle Pirkl and building administrators also attended this training. At this time, we have not generated enough interest in moving forward with another PPEL vote in September 2024. Our plan is to table these efforts until the middle school project is complete.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Pam Fowler - Middle School Main Dish Kitchen Staff, Donald Weiermann - Bus Route Driver, Tyler Fulks - Summer Help, Kallee Wall - Middle School Custodian, Amanda Husak - Cross Country Assistant Coach, and David Hanus - High School Custodian
Resignations: Seth Jawitz - High School Special Education and Maria Aguilera - Elementary Paraeducator
Transfers: Jenna Plum from Middle School Special Education Paraeducator to Middle School Interventionist
Officials: Ryne Christopher - High School Softball
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the volleyball overnight request for July 23-25 to the Wisconsin Dells. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Wiese to approve the Activities Transportation Procedures, with the change of the definition of out of season. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the District-Developed Special Education Service Delivery Plan. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the Certified Handbook as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Wiese to approve the Classified Handbook as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the Parent/Student Handbook as presented, with anticipation of changes to the cell phone policy to be brought back to the Board. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Activities Handbook as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board took a 5-minute recess.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the following as Level I Investigators for 2024-2025: Brad Schweppe, Jon Huebner, Anita Townsley, Ben Adams, Scott Bolen, Crystal Hass, Blake Wedeking, Robert Boley, Amy Karg, Dan Lopez, Dina Keahna, Samantha Peska, and John Cain (Level I Alternate). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve the Savvas quote, in the amount of $17,683.76, for Spanish curriculum. All Ayes. The motion carried
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Tanager invoice, in the amount of $7,500.00, for mental health support services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Garling Construction COR #0076, in the amount of $15,040.15, for paging system revisions. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the Garling Construction COR #0078, in the amount of $6,310.54, for power to the sump pump controllers. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Garling Construction COR #0079, in the amount of $33,899.93, for fire alarm and strobe light changes. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the Garling Construction COR #0080, in the amount of $13,705.55, for adding brake metal at precast for the aluminum windows. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Garling Construction COR #0081, in the amount of $5,011.13, for power to the elevator video phones and changes to the kiln disconnect switch. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Piper Sandler invoice, in the amount of $29,000.00, for municipal advisory services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Central Rivers Area Education Agency invoice, in the amount of $10,660.00, for 2nd semester work experience. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Garling Construction pay application 10, in the amount of $1,113,150.64, for contractor services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the ISG invoice, in the amount of $15,000.00, for construction administration/close-out. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Norton’s Greenhouse bid, in the amount of $6,448.00, for the new middle school landscaping (plants). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the operational sharing agreement of the Director of Curriculum, with Grinnell - Newburg Community School District, for 20% of time. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve Lincoln Savings Bank, State Bank of Toledo, ISJIT, and WCF Financial as the District’s depositories for 2024-2025, with upper limits of $30,000,000, $10,000,000, $15,000,000, and $5,000,000 respectively. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve the Tama-Toledo Chronicle as the official District publication for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Navigate360 quote, in the amount of $8,600.00, for curriculum and behavioral intervention for students and annual service and support fees for curriculum subscriptions. This will be paid for out of the Stronger Connections Grant for two years. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the first reading of the following policies: 303.01 - Administrator/Director Positions, 303.02 - Administrator/Director Qualifications, Recruitment, and Appointment (formerly known as (FKA) 302.01, 303.01, 304.01, 305.01), 303.03 - Administrator/Director Contract and Contract Renewal (new), 303.04 - Administrator/Director Salary and Other Compensation, 303.05 - Administrator Duties (FKA 304.04), 303.06 - Administrator/Certified Director Evaluation (FKA 306.01), 303.07 - Administrator/Director Professional Development (FKA 304.03), 303.08 - Administrator/Director Civic Activities (new), 303.09 - Administrator/Director Consulting/Outside Employment ( FKA 306.02), 304.01 - Development and Enforcement of Administrative Regulations (new), 304.02 - Monitoring of Administrative Regulations (new), 306 - Succession of Authority to the Superintendent (FKA 306.04), and 705.04 R1 - Expenditures Public Purpose - Use of Public Funds Regulation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Ellenbecker to approve the second reading of the following policies: 300 - Role of School District Administration (new), 301.01 - Management (new), 302.01 - Superintendent Qualifications, Recruitment, Appointment (FKA 301, 301.01), 302.02 - Superintendent Contract and Nonrenewal (FKA 301.02), 302.03 - Superintendent Salary and Other Compensation, 302.04 - Superintendent Duties (FKA 301.04), 302.05 - Superintendent Evaluation (FKA 306.01), 302.06 - Superintendent Professional Development (FKA 301.03), 302.07 - Superintendent Civic Activities (new), and 302.08 - Superintendent Consulting/Outside Employment (new). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Upcoming Events and Community Update: On August 5, 2024 the Summer School Program kicks off.
Each Board member presented a “positive” they have witnessed in the District or their role as a Board member.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to adjourn the meeting at 8:28 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary