REGULAR AND CLOSED 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 October 28, 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. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Janelle Pirkl, Dan Lopez, April VanDee, Graci Zeiger with Gear Up, Sarah Novotny, Sam Peska, Rob Boley, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - None
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the agenda with the addition to Action Item 1. Personnel - After School Program Teachers of Cami Vajgrt, Addison Krueger, and Michelle Wiegand and the addition of action item #8. Lauderdale/Mansfield funds for playground. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the October 14, 2024 Regular Session; bills for payment; Safety-Kleen quote, in the amount of $250.00, for services; Memorandum of Understanding between VU, LLC and STC; and the Tyr Energy Development donation, in the amount of $3,750.00 towards negative lunch balances. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Lopez presented on the District’s Gear Up program. Janelle Pirkl, South Tama’s Director of Curriculum, presented the District’s Fall Data to the Board.
Public Hearing - Calendar Change: President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the calendar change of releasing two (2) hours early on January 31, 2024 for hosting a district girl wrestling tournament. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to close the Public Hearing at 6:19 p.m.
Superintendent Cain gave an update on the new Middle School construction.
Parent/Teacher Conferences are wrapping up. They were held in person on October 22nd and 24th. The production of The Sting will be shown on November 7, 8, and 9 at 7:00 p.m., with the matinee performance November 9 at 2 p.m., at the Wieting Theatre. Tama County Veterans Day Celebration will be on Monday, November 11th, with a reverse parade at 8:45 a.m. at the South Tama County Elementary School. Breakfast will be at 9:00-9:30 a.m. for veterans, with a program from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. at the South Tama County High School.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Reece Abbott - Middle School Special Education Paraeducator
Resignations: Courtney Welton - High School Special Education Paraeducator and Corey Upah - JV & Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach
Officials: High School Basketball - Mark Watts, Terry Schneekloth, Steve Wise, Cedric Edwards-Thomas, Steven Klein, Jeff Bermel, John Woodward, Rod Kolder, Mike Schmidt, Michael Gretzmacher, Dereck Klaassen, Scott Zahnle, Ryan Dixon, Stacy O’Hare, Loren Wood, John Koehn, Max Matthias, Mike Bonwell, Nik Hahn, Deidra Mohr, Steve Allman, Cody Oakes, Chris Shaw, Daniel Dyrland, Richard Ripley, Jonathan Morrow, Clint Tisdale, Todd Donels, Scott VanBeck, Daniel Wilson, Michael Joensen, Tom Kemper, Stephanie Kaftan, Seth Koch, Dave Nitz, Eugene Ubben Tiffany Theissen; High School Basketball/Wrestling - Kaden Timm; and High School Wrestling - Craig Bencke, Curt Hilmer, Dewey Huple, Andrew Shivers, Bob Yilek, Patrick Kopsa, Bryan Foster, Joe Fontenot, Brendan Schott, and Brandon Dufoe.
After School Program Teachers (Beyond the Bell Grant): Katie Schuett, Cassie Sokol, Emma Johnson, Emeri Krueger/Taylor Ray (sharing 1 position), Tasha Becker, Amy Wyatt, Carley Bolhuis, Rebecca Talk - After School Program Sub, Kelli Smith - After School Program Sub, Cami Vajgrt, Addison Krueger, and Michelle Wiegand.
Motion by Hopper, second by Thiessen to approve the calendar change of dismissing two (2) hours early on January 31st, 2024. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve using the Lauderdale and Mansfield funding towards the new middle school playground. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Hopper to approve the ISG Professional Services Proposal for Middle School Furniture, in the amount of $500,000.00. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the IASB School Improvement Needs Assessment. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Thiessen to approve the Hudl invoice, in the amount of $8,500.00, for hardware components, AD package essential, Hudl Streaming, and Hudl Sideline Premium Software. STC Activities Booster will be paying $4,000.00 towards it and high school activities will be paying $4,000.00 and middle school activities will be paying $500.00. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to table the bus purchase quotes until next meeting, when more information is provided. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the new following positions: Middle School ELL Paraeducator, High School ELL Paraeducator, and Elementary Special Education Paraeducator. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: 501.16 - Homeless Children and Youth, 900 - Principles and Objectives for Community Relations, 902.01 - News Media Relations (FKA 1001.02), 902.03 - News Releases, 902.04 - Live Broadcast or Recording, 903.03 - Visitors to School District Buildings & Sites (FKA 1003.01), 903.04 - Public Conduct on School Premises (FKA 1003.02), 903.05 - Distribution of Materials (FKA 1003.04), 903.05 R1 - Distribution of Materials - Regulation (IFKA 1003.04 R1), 904.02 - Advertising and Promotion (FKA 1003.05), 905.02 - Nicotine/Tobacco-Free Environment (FKA 1003.03), 1002.01 - School Community Groups (903.01), and 1002.02 - Community Volunteers (903.02). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the second reading of the following policies: 502.10 - Use of Motor Vehicles (FKA 508.01), 603.01 - Basic Instruction Program (FKA 602.01), 605.04 - Technology and Instructional Materials (FKA 605.05), 700 - Purpose of Non-Instructional and Business Services, 701.05 R1 - Fiscal Management, 802.03 - Emergency Repairs, 802.04 - Capital Assets, and 802.07 - Energy Conservation (New). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to approve the third reading of the following policies: 503.09 - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices (FKA 502.08) and 503.09 R1 - Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices - Regulation (new). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Upcoming Events and Community Update: The STC HS Student Council will hold a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Tuesday, October 29th from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the STC HS gym. Mr. Boley received information from an opposing team on what great sportsmanship our football team exhibited. Mr. Boley also thanked the Dolezals for the eggs and Seth Koch for making the omelets for a professional development day.
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, November 11, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
The Board took a recess from 7:02 p.m. to 7:08 p.m., before going into the Closed Session.
Motion by Thiessen, second by Wiese to enter into Closed session at 7:08 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to come out of Closed Session at 7:57 p.m.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary