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 November 11, 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, and Rick Hopper. Megan Thiessen was absent. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Chelsea Ahrens, Brad Schweppe, Ben Adams, Steve Baier, Brooks Baier, Steve Chyma, Shawn Baier, Kristina Levchuk, Brian Sokol, Jon Huebner, Cody Blocker, Maddalyn Brown, Chad Brown, Jennifer Brown, Kylie Husak, Janette Cervantes, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried
Public Hearing - Use May 30th, 2024 as a make-up day for no school on September 20th, 2024, with an early release. President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the calendar change at 5:02 p.m. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to close the Public Hearing at 5:05 p.m.
The regular session was called to order at 5:06 p.m.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Beth Wiese, and Rick Hopper. Megan Thiessen was absent. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Chelsea Ahrens, Brad Schweppe, Steve Baier, Brooks Baier, Steve Chyma, Shawn Baier, Kristina Levchuk, Brian Sokol, Jon Huebner, Cody Blocker, Maddalyn Brown, Chad Brown, Jennifer Brown, Kylie Husak, Janette Cervantes, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - None
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes from the October 28, 2024 Regular Session; bills for payment; Services Agreement with the University of Iowa on behalf of the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; and donations from the STC Activity Boosters - high school sign ($1,000.00), stencil ($800.00), volleyball trainer ($1,125.00) and Hudl ($4,000.00). All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board celebrated the following students and their achievements: Janette Cervantes - Senior Captain Volleyball and 1st Team WaMaC All Conference for Volleyball, Cody Blocker - Senior Captain Football and 1st Team Class 3A District 6 for Football, Brooks Baier - Junior, one of the leads in the Fall Play “The Sting,” and All State for Trombone, Kylie Husak - Senior, All State for Saxophone, and Maddalyn Brown - Junior, one of the leads in the Fall Play “The Sting,” and letter winner for Football Cheer.
Mr. Schweppe and Mr. Huebner presented data to the Board on the elementary attendance, discipline, curriculum and ESSA action plan.
Mr. Adams presented data to the Board on the middle school attendance, behavior, cell phones, safety, response to FAST data, and the ESSA Leadership Team.
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 girls wrestling tournament. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Chelsea Ahrens gave the Board an activity update and also stated boys golf will remain in the Spring. Esports will offer Overwatch 2 this Winter.
Superintendent Cain gave an update on the new Middle School construction. Concerns with the minor leaks in the glass atrium have been addressed. The Board discussed the projection system in the gymnasium.
The 2024 Iowa School Performance Profile for districts have been released but are currently embargoed. They will be available to the public this week. Mr. Cain discussed the calendar change updates. The Board will move forward with IASB’s School Improvement Survey to support strategic planning.
Work Based Learning now has an impact on the new Iowa School Performance Profile.
The Board discussed some of the pros and cons of offering an early retirement package.
The Board discussed utilizing the Education Support Personnel Salary Supplement for classified staff making less than $18.01 per hour and also possibly looking at attendance and years of service as additional factors to consider.
One interested candidate, Joe Hanus, was given the opportunity to answer three questions in front of the STC Board of Education to fill the District 2 vacancy on the Board. He was asked the following questions: Tell us about yourself and your desire to serve on the Board. What are a couple of important issues facing our District? What are a couple points of pride you have regarding our District?
The Board discussed the qualities of this candidate.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to appoint Joe Hanus for the District 2 position on the Board. All Ayes. The motion carried. President Dolezal gave Hanus the Oath of Office.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper, to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Kodi Hillman - Head Varsity Softball Coach, David Nitz - Head Varsity Baseball Coach, and Rubi Pesina - Middle School ELL Paraeducator
Resignations: Tracy Everts - High School Special Education Paraeducator
Officials: Tatin Sorensen - High School Football
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the calendar change of using May 30th, 2024 with an early release as a makeup day for September 20th, 2024. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the changes to Bereavement Leave in the Certified and Classified handbooks. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to keep Board meetings “as is” - offered for online viewing via Google Hangouts. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Archery Fundraiser to obtain business sponsorships for signs for their two home tournaments on December 7th and February 1st. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the Flinn Scientific, Inc. quote, in the amount of $6,327.99, for microscopes. This will be paid for with Gear Up funds. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the application to the School Budget Review Committee in the amount of $4,459.17 for special education administrative costs associated with the River Hills Consortium program for the 2025-2026 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Impact Aid Indian Policies and Procedures for the 2025-2026 school year. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Hoglund Bus Company quote, in the amount of $164,000.00, for a 2026 handicap bus. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve Garling Construction, Inc.’s pay application #14, in the amount of $1,212,152.81, for contractor services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the Park Planet quote, in the amount of $150,223.00, for the new middle school playground equipment. This will be paid for out of the Lauderdale donation and Mansfield funding. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the Lied Center driver position from STC to North Tama and back. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the K-12 Migrant Tutor position. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Wiese to approve the first reading of the following policies: 407.06 - Employee Early Retirement, 210.08 E1 - Board Meeting Agenda (Public Hearing), 507.03 - Communicable Diseases - Students (FKA 507.05), 507.04 - Student Illness or Injury at School (FKA 507.06), 507.05 - Emergency Plans and Drills (FKA 507.08), 507.06 - Student Insurance (FKA 507.09), 507.07 - Custody and Parental Rights (new), 507.08 - Student Special Health Services (FKA 507.02), 507.08 R1 - Student Special Health Services - Regulation (new), 508.01 - Class or Student Group Gifts (FKA 504.11), 508.02 - Open Night (new), 605.03 E3 - Objection to Instructional and Library Materials - Sample Letter to Individual Challenging Instructional Materials (new), and 705.02 - Credit Card and Procurement Cards (FKA 803.02 R1). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to approve the second 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), 903.02 - School Community Groups (FKA 1002.01), and 903.01 - Community Volunteers (FKA 1002.02). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Upcoming Events and Community Update: The play was great and a big “thanks” to Dixie Forcht and all of those involved.
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 25, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
The Board took a recess from 7:45 p.m. to 7:51 p.m., before going into the Closed Session.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hanus to enter into Closed session at 7:51 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate, but only when premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the Board would have to pay for the property, or in case of a sale reduce the price the Board could receive for the property.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to come out of Closed Session at 8:25 p.m.
Motion by Wiese, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary