Board Minutes - 2022.02.21

 

February 21, 2022

North Mahaska Board of Education met in regular session on February 21, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the high school library in New Sharon, Iowa. Those members present: Keith Foster, Todd Vanderwilt, and Brett Morris. Also present: Angela Livezey, Amber Goemaat, Tim Veiseth, Stacie Johannes, Polly Ehret, Sherrill Strobel, Renee Ferguson, and Sarah McGriff. 

 

Keith Foster called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. 

 

A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the agenda. Motion carried.

 

A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried. 

 

COMMUNICATIONS 

 

PUBLIC FORUM

No one was present for public forum.

 

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION 

No written communication at this time.

 

UPDATE ON CONSTRUCTION -DCI GROUP 

The following update was provided by Trent Kain of DCI.

 

There are continued issues with HVAC. They tried to resume commissioning efforts last week, but are still finding that contractors have loose ends on the programming. There has been a new issue with the recent power outages in New Sharon. This has burnt up a couple of motors and added more problems. Outside of HVAC, the punch list is relatively small now. Electrical issues in the Fitness Center are fixed. Door access system is finalized and will be turned over on Thursday. Walsh installed cylinders on North doors this morning so they can be manually unlocked. New flooring is loose in the preschool and will be fixed over Easter break and the lights in the fitness and wrestling room have bad components that will be installed in the next week. Planning to finalize the project at the next meeting if they feel comfortable with that. 

 

A.D. COMMUNICATION UPDATE

Ryan Groom provided a proposal to implement a split season Jr. High Basketball and Wrestling. This gives the students an opportunity to participate in both sports, allows for longer gym time for basketball at the beginning of the season, and allows Jr. High coaches time during the season to work with high school coaches to help develop a system. This would also help with transportation issues that are currently occurring getting all teams to events at the same time. Mr. Groom explained that nearly eighty-five percent of our conference and neighboring districts are currently in split seasons, so building a schedule won’t be difficult. 

 

OLD BUSINESS

UPDATE ON ROOFING OPTIONS

A representative from Triotoflex will attend the March board meeting to present their roofing product and answer board questions. 

 

NEW BUSINESS

AUDIT REPORT FOR FY 2021 - DAVE SIESTRA VIA ZOOM

Dave Sietstra reviewed the FY21 audit with the board via Zoom. A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the audit as presented. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE PRE-LEVY BOND AMOUNT & RESOLUTION  - $2.70 DEBT SERVICE LEVY

The pre-levy bond amount of $2.70 debt service levy and resolution per Ahlers and Cooney was approved with a vote of three AYES and zero NAYS. 

 

APPROVE SPLIT SEASON FOR JR. HIGH BASKETBALL / WRESTLING 

A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to approve a split season for Jr. High Basketball and Wrestling. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT FOR AT-RISK / DROPOUT PREVENTION 

Modified Supplemental Amount - The district’s administration is authorized to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $107,437 due to comprehensive program plans and budgetary costs to meet the needs of returning dropouts and potential dropouts. The board approves the request amount as well as the At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program plan as presented. Ayes: Morris, Vanderwilt, Foster Nays: None The request was announced approved.

 

SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR FY23 BUDGET, AND SCHOOL CALENDAR  - APRIL 11, 2022

A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to set the public hearing date for the 2022-2023 school calendar and the FY23 budget as April 11, 2022. Motion carried.

 

SET DATE FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR AMENDMENT OF FY22 BUDGET - MARCH 21, 2022

A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to set the public hearing date for the amendment of the FY22 budget as March 21, 2022. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE BOARD RESOLUTION FOR BUDGET GUARANTEE 

RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of North Mahaska Community School District, will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa. A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt. Motion carried. 

 

APPROVE RESOLUTION TO LOAN FROM FUND 33 TO FUND 31

RESOLVED, the North Mahaska Community School District's administration is authorized to loan $5,913.86 from fund 33 to fund 31 with the requirement that the funds must be repaid before October 1 of FY23 and interest must be paid from fund 31 to fund 33 at a rate of .1000%. This interest rate is authorized and has been established as the interest rate the funds would have earned in the district's money market account should they not be loaned to fund 31 for use. A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to approve the resolution. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE FY23 CONTRACTS AND LETTERS OF ASSIGNMENT 

A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the FY23 contracts and letters of assignment. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE CONTRACT WITH FIERCE CREATIVE FOR WEBSITE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT 

A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the contract with Fierce Creative for continued website management and support. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION FOR ASSOCIATE BUSINESS MANAGER 

A motion was made by Vanderwilt and seconded by Morris to approve the job description and position of Associate Business Manager. Motion carried.

 

APPROVE QUOTE FOR LAWN CARE MANAGEMENT -FERTILIZER & WEED CONTROL 

A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to approve the lawn care management quote from Four Seasons Yard Care. Motion carried.

 

 

PRINCIPAL’S REPORT 

 

PRESCHOOL DESK AUDIT 

Mrs. Livezey explained that the yearly Preschool Desk Audit was submitted to and approved by the State of Iowa.

 

FAST SCREENING DATA -READING

Mrs. Livezey presented the elementary FAST Screening Data in reading. She explained that we continue to see an impact from instruction lost during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the District continues to utilize resources to provide intervention for students who are not at benchmark. 80% at benchmark is the goal by the end of the year.

 

FAST SCREENING DATA -MATH 

Mrs. Livezey presented the elementary FAST Screening Data in math. The same goals were set as in reading.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT 

DISTRICT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - FEBRUARY 18, 2022

Mrs. Livezey shared the PD agenda from last Friday, February 18. Solution Tree was to be here for the session and was rescheduled for March due to a weather issue. 

 

SUPERINTENDENT GOAL UPDATE 

Mrs. Livezey shared her superintendent goal update based on goals established during the superintendent evaluation in June of 2021. 

 

OPAA REPORT - JANUARY 2022

A written report was provided to the board from OPAA Nutrition Management. 

 

APRIL MEETING DATE 

The April meeting has been scheduled for April 11, 2022.

 

COMMENTS

Mrs. Livezey noted that the administration is working with Paul Hawkins from the Montezuma School District who has offered to train new bus drivers at a cost to the district and potentially share substitute drivers next year. 

 

Mr. Morris mentioned that he has seen students parking in handicap parking and would like to see this addressed. Mrs. Livezey, Mrs. Goemaat, and Mr. Veiseth assured him that this would be followed up on tomorrow. Mr. Morris also noted that he’s seen many students driving off of their school permit route. Mrs. Goemaat noted that they know this is a problem, but that the permits cannot be revoked or disciplined by the district, and this must be handled by law enforcement.

 

Mr. Foster asked about gates being locked. Mrs. Livezey mentioned that the gates are being rekeyed and that electronic gates are being quoted for the possibility of adding them to the summer construction project. 

 

THANK YOU

Anthony Goemaat for announcing at basketball games

Mike and Julie Van Utrecht for pulling the band trailer, changing a flat tire, and offering to donate new tires for the trailer

 

ADJOURN 

A motion was made by Morris and seconded by Vanderwilt to adjourn the meeting at 7:54p.m. Motion carried. 

 

Sarah McGriff

Board Secretary

 

Keith Foster

Vice President