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 August 12, 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, Dixie Forcht, Sam Peska, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - None
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the agenda with the addition of Internal Transfer of Sheri Berry from At-Risk Liaison to Title VI Liaison to action item J1. Personnel and action item J20. COR 82R. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the July 22, 2024 Regular Session; bills for payment; iJAG Memorandum of Understanding; and Memorandum of Understanding between Child, Adolescent, & Parent Support and South Tama School District. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Superintendent Cain summarized the work session with the Administration and Board in regards to discipline, attendance, and cell phones. The Board reviewed Lou Ann Gvist’s (IASB) letter summarizing the Board workshop.
Sam Peska, Brad Schweppe (via Google Hangouts), Ben Adams (via Google Hangouts), and Rob Boley (via Google Hangouts), gave the Board updates on personnel and handbooks for each of their buildings.
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 and select their options via electronic survey, as it will be brought back to the Board at the August 26th Board meeting for approval.
The District is partnering with community volunteers to beautify the new middle school campus with landscaping designed by our own community member, Denise Fletcher. To support this initiative, the District is asking if community members are interested in sponsoring plants.
Superintendent Cain told the Board to mark November 21, 2024 on their calendars for the IASB (Iowa Association of School Board) Annual Convention. He reviewed the Administrative Team Problem Solving Protocol (Culturize Protocol): Champion for Students, Expect Excellence, Carry the Banner, and Merchant of Hope. The Administrative Team has crafted their beginning steps for ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) to roll out smoothly in every building.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Andrew Walton - Assistant 8th Grade Football Coach, Ryan Cassady - Assistant 7th Grade Football Coach, Jeff Niedermann - Head 8th Grade Football Coach, Nathan Doran - Head 8th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, Angelica Gomez - High School Concession Stand Manager (Fall/Winter/Spring), Margarita De la Torre - Middle School Kitchen Staff, Josie Purk - Partnership High School Behavior Interventionist/Liaison, and Amber Porter - Partnership High School Behavior Interventionist
Resignations: Danielle Stubbs - K-6 Behavioral Interventionist, Lon Wilkerson - Head Varsity Girls Softball Coach, and Angela Bair - High School Special Education Teacher
Transfers: Sheri Berry from At-Risk Liaison to Title VI Liaison
Volunteers: Laura Ridout - Volleyball Coach
District PLC Leads: Taylor Brown - CTE, Victoria Hamilton - ELL/World Language, Teresa Smith - Performing Arts, Nate VanDyke - PE/Health, Anita Townsley - School Counselors, and Nate Doran - Visual Arts
High School PLC Leads: Deanna Zmolek - English Language Arts, Robert Tyynismaa - Mathematics, and Audrey Roth - Science
Middle School PLC Leads: Amy Stotts - Literacy, Ashley Steven - Math, Paula Graves - Science, Travis McBride - Social Studies, and Ashley Raue - 5th Grade
Elementary School PLC Leads: Maggie Jesina - Preschool, Jennifer Anderson - Kindergarten, Emeri Krueger - 1st Grade, Missy Jesina - 2nd Grade, Hana Kucera - 3rd Grade, and Hilary Port - 4th Grade
ESSA Elementary Leads: Bailey Barnes, Emma Johnson, Kelli Smith, Samantha Boldt, Kelsea Anderson, Megan Rosenberger, and Madison Winkelman
ESSA Middle School Leads: Amy Stotts, Ashley Steven, Paula Graves, Ashley Raue, and Jeanette Stacey
ESSA High School Leads: Nate Doran, Dixie Forcht, Dustin Peska, Audrey Roth, and Deanna Zmolek
BLT Elementary Leads: Jill Dilly, Natasha Becker, Amy Parizek, Leah Fonua, and Dawn Henley
BLT Middle School Leads: Leti Babinat, Jessica Wilrkeson, Morgan McFate, Crystal Hass, and Ashley Steven
BLT High School Leads: Emily Chyma, Dixie Forcht Kelle Johannsen, Dustin Peska, and Tammy Weiss
BLT Partnership High School Lead: Brintley Elsbury
Elementary Building Data & Assessment Lead: Rhonda Ricker
Middle School Building Data & Assessment Leads: Leti Babinat and Levi Klopping
High School Building Data & Assessment Lead: Dixie Forcht
District Special Education Leads: Amy Wyatt, Jeanette Stacey, Kelle Johannsen, and Dustin Peska
Coach in Training: Missy Jesina, Amy Wyatt, Megan Rosenberger, Emily Chyma, and Danny Mayo
Trojan Way Leads: Anita Townsley, Paula Graves, and Emily Chyma
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Tyler Technologies invoice, in the amount of $20,977.60, for the annual transportation software subscription. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve S&P Global Ratings invoice, in the amount of $18,525.00, for analytical services rendered. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Thiessen to approve the Garling Construction pay application #11, in the amount of $2,603,401.37, for general contractor services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Preschool and Substitute Teacher Handbooks. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Cambium Assessment invoice, in the amount of $7,567.50, for English Language Proficiency Assessments. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the overnight trip requests for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Wiese to approve the anticipated high school fundraisers for the 2024-2025 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the ISG invoice, in the amount of $18,028.08, for construction administration, commissioning - construction, and commissioning - reimbursables. All Ayes. The motion carried
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to deny the open enrollment request of K.B. due to not meeting state-mandated deadlines or good cause. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Ellenbecker to table the Park Planet quote, in the amount of $150,223.00, for new playground equipment at the new middle school. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Imagine Learning quote, in the amount of $12,825.00, for Imagine Language & Literacy Reusable License. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Extra Duty/Co-Curricular Schedule Updates as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the Administrative Assistant mentorship, in the amount of $500 per semester. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Wiese to table the special education caseloads until they are completed after the start of school. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve a bonus for the special education teacher position at the Partnership that is shared with the Partnership High School Program and Trojan Academy Program and pay for the additional alternative assessments completed. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to appoint Katie Mathern as Board Secretary. All Ayes. The motion carried.
President Dolezal administered the Oath of Office to Secretary Katie Mathern.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve Superintendent Cain putting together RSAI and IASB Legislative Recommendations for 2024-2025, sending a survey to Board members, and compiling the highly favored recommendations to bring back for approval at the August 26th Board meeting. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Ellenbecker to approve the Grant Procedures forms and documents. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve Garling Construction’s COR 82R, in the amount of $9,853.20, for landscape edging and amend soil installation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Ellenbecker to approve the first reading of the following policies: 501.03 - Compulsory Attendance, 501.09 - Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy, 501.09 R1 - Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation, 502.06 - Weapons, 502.07 - Student Substance Use, 503.01 - Student Conduct, 503.01 R1 - Student Conduct Regulation, 503.02 - Expulsion, 503.08 - Discipline Policy, and 503.08 R1 - Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Ellenbecker, second by Hopper to approve the second 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), 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 13, 2024 new teachers have orientation. August 19th is the all-staff “Welcome Back.” August 20, 2024 is parent night/open house. August 23, 2024 is the first day of school.
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 26, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary