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 March 16, 2026 for a work session at the Partnership Center, 215 W 9th Street, Tama, Iowa beginning at 5:00 p.m.
On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Rick Hopper, and Joe Hanus. Danya Keahna joined the meeting at 5:05 p.m. and Megan Thiessen was absent. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Cheryl Husak, Gerald Husak, Katie Hulin, Megan Rosenberger, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.
Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the agenda. All Ayes. The motion carried.
Public Comment - None
The Board engaged in a work session discussion regarding employee benefit contributions, including Cash in Lieu and Benefit Bucks. Current Cash in Lieu is set at $857 per month ($10,284 annually), with 59 staff members participating and 34 utilizing the full benefit. Various phased reduction options were reviewed, along with administrative Cash in Lieu structures and associated district costs, including IPERS implications. The Board also discussed potential adjustments to Benefit Bucks, currently $857 per month, and how changes could align with insurance plan options and premiums. Comparative information on WaMac conference insurance contributions was reviewed, noting that South Tama offers strong insurance benefits across employee groups. The discussion emphasized the financial impact to the district, equity among staff, and the importance of approaching any changes thoughtfully due to the sensitive nature of the topic.
Motion by Keahna, second by Hopper to adjourn the meeting at 6:37 p.m.
Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary