PUBLIC HEARINGS AND 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 April 14, 2025 for a Public Hearing on the 2025-2026 Certified Budget at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 5:00 p.m. with some members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Rick Hopper, and Joe Hanus. Absent: Megan Thiessen and Beth Wiese Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Dixie Forcht, Jennifer Nelson, Joe Otten, Deanna Zmolek, Emily Chyma, and members of the community in person and through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Hearing - 2025-2026 Certified Budget
President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the 2025-2026 Certified Budget at 5: 02 p.m. The published tax rate $14.86201 was explained compared to last year. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Hearing none, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to close the Public Hearing at 5:03 p.m. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on April 14, 2025 for a Public Hearing on the 2024-2025 Calendar Changes at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa at 5:03 p.m. with some members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Rick Hopper, and Joe Hanus. Absent: Megan Thiessen and Beth Wiese Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Steve McAdoo, Dixie Forcht, Jennifer Nelson, Joe Otten, Deanna Zmolek, Emily Chyma, and members of the community in person and through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Hearing - 2024-2025 Calendar Changes
President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing for the 2024-2025 Calendar Changes at 5:04 p.m. The last day of school for students and teachers will be June 4th with early dismissal at 11:20/11:25. President Dolezal asked for public comments. Deanna Zmolek voiced her concern of staff having their last contract day as the same day as the last day for students, and this would not allow much time in their classrooms to close up and finalize things. President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to close the Public Hearing at 5:05 p.m. All Ayes. The motion carried.
The Regular Session was called to order at 5:05 p.m.
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, Rick Hopper, Beth Wiese, and Megan Thiessen. Absent: Joe Hanus Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Sam Peska, Dixie Forcht, Katie Hulin, Brad Schweppe, Vern Jefferson, Jon Huebner, Chelsea Ahrens, members of the community in person and through Google Hangouts.
Public Comment - Deanna Zmolek addressed the Board, thanking them for their time and dedication to the District She urged them to continue to ask more questions to support transparency. She also emphasized that schools build a community and then voiced her concern on veteran teachers leaving and asked about exit interviews to better understand the reasons behind staff turnover.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the agenda with the addition of the personnel item: Missy Jesina transferring from 2nd Grade Teacher to Elementary EL Teacher. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the following consent agenda items: minutes of the March 24, 2025 public hearings, regular session, and closed session; bills for payment as presented; Kuder Statement of Work; ProCare Therapy Addendum A - Client Assignment Confirmation; donation from STC Activity Boosters of $1,000 for movable pop-up goals for STC Soccer; Grinnell Hospital & Bikes To You donation of bike helmets for all 3rd grade students; and an early graduation requests for Yvonne Seremba (May 2026). All Ayes. The motion carried.
Superintendent Cain gave the Board a middle school construction update. Progress is really coming along. Mr. Cain informed Board members to let him know if they wanted to take a look. May 15th is the targeted date for a soft close out. Big things are on the horizon that need to be finished, including the phone system and elevator. A community open house will be planned in August.
Superintendent Cain spoke about the Work Session prior to the regular meeting at the middle school and then of the Work Session following the regular meeting for Community & District Strategic Planning. Contracts are in the hands of the teachers and the team is working to process the remaining contracts. We are moving forward with piloting an advanced water refill system in the buildings. Each building will be equipped with one advanced purification system throughout the month of May.
Superintendent Cain reviewed current open positions with the Board.
Superintendent Cain spoke about the Summer of 2025 Teacher Externship Academy and what that entails for staff.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Hires: Madison Resendez - Special Education Paraeducator, Patience Petty - 8th Grade Writing Teacher, and April Van Dee - Family Consumer Science Teacher
Resignations: Robert Tyynismaa - Assistant Coach High School Boys Track, Kodi Hillman - 7th Grade Boys Basketball Coach, Hilary Port - 4th Grade Teacher, Michelle Wiegand - 6th Grade Literacy Teacher, Michelle Wiegand - Middle School Student Council, and Justice Chavarria - Middle School Special Education Paraeducator
Transfers: Kristee McGrew from K-4 ELL Teacher to 1st Grade Teacher, Katelyn Gettle from 3rd Grade Teacher to K-4 ELL Teacher, Jayden Terrill from High School Health/PE to Elementary Physical Education, Paula Graves from High School Science to 1.0 Middle School Instructional Coach, and Missy Jesina from 2nd Grade Teacher to K-4 ELL Teacher
Officials: Alex Martinez - Middle School Soccer
Kelle Johannsen Mentor Contract
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve supplemental pay from the Education Support Personnel Salary Supplement for classified staff. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hopper to approve the Trane quote, in the amount of $5,832.00, for CU-C Cooling Changeover Repairs at the High School. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the Garling COR #0128, in the amount of $12,348.14, for the wall patch allowance. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the Garling COR #0129, in the amount of $10,473.40, for a small roof mount fan. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the Garling Pay Application 19, in the amount of $960,266.74, for general construction services. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the Kay Chapman, CPA invoice, in the amount of $8,500.00, for the final payment for the FY24 audit and additional hours for work associated with the Single Audit. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the Pan-O-Gold Bread bid for bread for 2025-2026. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the AE Dairy bid for milk for 2025-2026. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve MCC invoice #0768, in the amount of $6,396.24. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve MCC invoice #0783, in the amount of $7,456.79. All ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the 4 Season Fundraising invoice, in the amount of $6,934.88, for FFA fundraising items. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus, to approve the FY2026 Certified Budget as published. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the 2024-2025 School Calendar changes as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the transfer of Lauderdale and Mansfield money from the General Fund to PPEL Fund for new middle school playground. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the Husak Tiling Estimate, in the amount of $12,150.00, for tiling the FFA field. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the second readings of the following policies with the changes of moving Public Hearing to the beginning of the agenda and moving Public Comments to follow the approval of the agenda: 210.08 - Board Meeting Agenda, 210.08 E1 - Board Meeting Agenda - Example, and 210.08 E2 - Board Meeting Agenda - Example with Closed Session. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Mr. Cain reviewed the following upcoming events with the Board: Strategic Planning will follow our next three meetings (April 14th, April 28th, and May 12th). We will keep the content of our meeting to a minimum over the next three meetings to accommodate for our community/board meetings.
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, April 28, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama IA.
Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 6:11 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary