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 September 9, 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, Rick Hopper, and Megan Thiessen. Jackie Ellenbecker was absent. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Skyler Steveson, Taylor Brown, Desiray Popelka, Payton Aguilar, Berleen Wobeter, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - Berleen Wobeter spoke in regards to the STC football athletes and coaches, as well as the STC FFA leaders and members, and how they attended a funeral visitation. She stated our students are caring, thoughtful, and capable of great compassion. Kathy Wilkerson spoke about South Tama students having diversity in cultures, languages, and poverty levels and that realizing our students come from different backgrounds is a necessity. STC’s diversity is our strength.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the agenda with the addition of action items #6. Change Order Request 087 and #7. Change Order Request 088, while moving those original items 6-13 to follow. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the August 26, 2024 Regular Session, bills for payment, Athletic Trainer Contract, and $2,000 donation from the Clothes Closet for 4th grade snacks. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Members of the Future Farmers of America group and their leaders presented on the District’s vocational agriculture program.
The Board reviewed the open positions within the District.
Superintendent Cain informed the Board the plants at the middle school will be planted on October 2, 2024. The new basketball court at the new middle school was poured incorrectly, so that will be removed and redone correctly.
The Board touched briefly on future Board presentations and what those would look like.
The Board reviewed Bereavement Leave in the handbooks and will bring it back at a later date for changes.
Superintendent Cain told the Board to mark November 21, 2024 on their calendars for the IASB (Iowa Association of School Board) Annual Convention. Mr. Cain pulled the RSAI and IASB results together for legislative priorities, and they have been submitted. The state is currently involved with the Waverly - Shell Rock requesting admittance to the WAMAC. The state has yet to make the decision. With the initial review of enrollment numbers, STC’s enrollment has declined from last year.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Madison Henriquez - Bus Driver Preschool Transportation Route & PM Route and Natasha Klar - Special Education Paraeducator
Resignations: Shawn Arey - Preschool Transportation Route & PM Route, Tonia McBride - Color Guard Sponsor, David Wiese - Head Baseball Coach, and Dale Cruikshank - Middle School Assistant Boys Wrestling Coach
Transfer: Troy Wanatee from Middle School Paraeducator to Transportation Paraeducator
Officials: Middle School Football - Jon Reed and Michael Spurlin and High School Volleyball - Galen Hoodjer
Volunteers: High School Football - Josh Bly and Marching Band Volunteer - Jessica Wilson Healy
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the City of Toledo invoice, in the amount of $4,543.20, for School Resource Officer expenses and Overtime expenses. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Lexia quote (option #4), in the amount of $8,800.00, for 200 Lexia Core5 Reading/PowerUp Literacy Student Subscription Renewals. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Nagle Signs Inc. proposal, in the amount of $2,160.01, for converting the ID sign to LED lighting. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Garling Construction Change Order Request #0087, in the amount of $12,553.38, for smoke detection for magnetic hold opens. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the Garling Construction Change Order Request #0088, in the amount of $16,829.40, for added smoke detectors. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Garling Construction Change Order Request #0089, in the amount of $27,835.08, for site lighting revisions. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to table the Garling Construction Change Order Request #0090, in the amount of $5,348.81, for power to the existing well field sump pump, per owners’ request. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to table the Garling Construction Change Order Request #0091, in the amount of $20,476.80, to replace lights in the existing tunnel, per owners’ request. All Ayes. The motion carried
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve Garling Construction Change Order Request #0094, in the amount of $28,040.64, for ADA toilets and insulation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve JRF Concrete, LLC. estimate, in the amount of $10,924.31, for concrete by concession stands. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the Garling Construction Pay Application #12, in the amount of $1,188,278.53, for contractor services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the SU Insurance Company invoice, in the amount of $43,748.50, for quarterly break/fix premiums. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the additional high school fundraisers: Girls & Boys Soccer - Kickball Tournament (similar to the dodgeball tournament). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the Trio overnight trips to UNI and Omaha. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board took a two-minute recess.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the first reading of the following policies: 503.01 - Education Records (FKA 505.01), 506.01 R1 - Education Records Access - Regulation (FKA 505.01 R1), 506.01 E2 - Education Records Access - Authorization for Release of Education Records (FKA 505.01 E3), 506.01 E3 - Education Records Access - Request for Hearing on Correction of Education Records (FKA 505.01 E4), 506.01 E4 - Education Records Access - Request for Examination of Education Records (FKA 505.01 E2), 506.01 E5 - Education Records Access - Notification of Transfer of Education Records (FKA 505.01 E6), 506.01 E6 - Education Records Access - Letter to Parent Regarding Receipt of A Subpoena (new), 506.01 E7 - Education Records Access - Juvenile Justice Agency Information (FKA 505.01 E8), 506.01 E8 - Education Records Access - Annual Notice (FKA 505.01 E9), 506.02 - Student Directory Information (FKA 505.02), 506.02 E1 - Student Directory Information - Authorization for Releasing Student (FKA 505.02 E1), 506.02 R1 - Student Directory Information - Use of Directory Information (new), 506.04 - Student Library Circulation Records (FKA 502.08), 503.09 R1 - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices - Regulation (new), 505.08 - Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide Policy, 505.08 R1 - Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide Policy - Building Level Regulation, and 103.00 - Long Range Needs Assessment. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the second reading of the following policies: 405.02 - Licensed Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, 411.02 - Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection, 501.01 - Resident Students, 501.02 - Nonresident Students, 501.04 - Entrance - Admissions, 501.05 - Attendance Center Assignment, 501.06 - Student Transfers In, 501.07 - Student Transfers Out or Withdrawals, 501.08 - Student Attendance Records, 501.11 - Student Release During School Hours. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the third reading of the following policies: 501.09 - Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy and 501.09 R1 - Chronic Absenteeism and Truancy Regulation. All Ayes. The motion carried.
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, September 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 6:57 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary