EMMETSBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Education
February 24, 2020 Minutes
All motions are unanimous unless otherwise noted.
The Board of Education of Emmetsburg Community School District met in regular session on February 24, 2020 at 5:30pm in the Library.
Present: Jane Hoyman, Kathy Roethler, Scott Kibbie, Bill Huberty, Val Morton, Katy Thomsen
Absent: Aaron Dietrich
Also Present: Darren Hanna, Lisa Chapman, Tracie Christensen, Mike Embrock, Sara Straw, Erika
Higgins, Danielle Auten, Anesa McGregor, Brett Hansen, Darca, Saxton, Emma
Auten, Dylan Fiene, Maysen Theesfeld, Mike Dunlap
Jane Hoyman, President, called the regular annual meeting to order at 5:30pm, acknowledged the fact of a quorum.
TEACHING & LEARNING
Maker Space
Mr. Brett Hansen and Mrs. Darca Saxton were on hand with Dylan Fiene, Emma Auten and Maysen Theesfeld to demonstrate activities with Maker Space. Maker Space started in 2017 with ideas from students that has snowballed into what is now called Maker Space or Library Lab. Maker Space is a hands on place for students to invent, design, imagine without grading and fear of failure. Maker Space came to fruition with funding from the gaming grant and donations by patrons. The students took the board members through some of the activities so they could better understand what the students are doing in the Maker Space. Hansen, Saxton, Auten, Fiene and Theesfeld exited at 5:51pm.
Approval of Agenda: Morton moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried.
Approval of Consent Items
Huberty moved to approve the consent items. Seconded by Thomsen. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Board Policies: Policies 401.05, 401.05R1, 401.07-401.11 were presented for approval with minor language and technical changes. It was moved to rescind 401.06 Transporting of Students by Employees by Huberty and seconded by Thomsen. Motion carried. 401.06 Limitations to Employment References was moved to be approved by Thomsen and seconded by Kibbie. Motion carried.
EDUCATIONAL NEWS
Principal Reports-Submitted for review. Board is to contact administration if there are questions.
Christensen reviewed the results of the new system of accountability, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Middle School has experienced an 8 point increase. If designated today, they would not be considered a Targeted School. Funding continues and the plans continue to move forward.
NEW BUSINESS
Resignations/Contracts: Roethler moved to approve the following resignation: Judy Janssen-MS Paraprofessional. Seconded by Kibbie. Motion carried. Hoyman thanked Janssen for her service from the entire board. Thomsen moved to approve the following assignments: Jadyn Schutjer-NHS Advisor, Joyce Froisland and Dorie Waldschmidt-from Substitute Cook to Full Time Cook for FY21 and transfers of Dan Hewitt from Elem-MS Art to Secondary Art and Chad Francis from MS Science to Secondary Science. Also approved were adjustments for the Transportation Department as follows: Tom Griffin-$7,500 stipend for FY20 as Director and $1.00 per hour added for Julie Bird and Kent Kerber for their additional transportation duties. Seconded by Huberty. Motion carried.
Board Policies: The board was presented with the following policies for a first reading: 402-01-402.3R1, 507.08-507.8E1. The second readings will be in March.
FY19 Audit Review: Huberty moved to approve the review of the FY19 audit. There were two concerns in compliance which were segregation of duties and the negative book balance of the Nutrition Fund. Segregation of duties is commonplace for small schools though we always look for ways to improve internal controls. It was explained to the board that the Nutrition Fund spent more cash last year than the year before, but we did end with a positive cash balance. The book balance became negative with the GASB 68 regulations requiring the IPERS future liability that must be considered. Morton seconded. Motion carried.
Budget Guarantee: Hanna explained the reason for the budget guarantee. RESOLVED, tha the Board of Directors of Emmetsburg Community School District will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2020-2021 for the regular program budget adjustments as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa. Morton moved to approve the resolution and Thomsen seconded. Roll call vote: Morton-aye, Thomsen-aye, Huberty-aye, Kibbie-aye, Roethler-aye, Hoyman-aye. Motion carried.
Bus Lease: Hanna reviewed leases for buses. Huberty moved to approve leases through Hoglund Bus Company for 2 International Buses. Lease totals are as follows: Bus with lift is $99,602 and bus without lift is $95,500. The leases are 3 years with 2.55% interest. These leases also include a 5 year extended warranty. Kibbie seconded. Motion carried.
Middle School Baseball/Softball: The Little League Board has approached the district asking the district to take over 7th and 8th grade softball and baseball teams. Athletic Director Dunlap reported that currently there are 7 of the 12 schools in the Twin Lakes Conference that sponsor 7th & 8th grade softball/baseball. The games will be double headers with one game of 7th grade and one of 8th grade. The games will be at 10:00am. Five dates have been scheduled at this time and will be kept in June. There will be a 15-20 game schedule when all games eventually get scheduled. First year costs are estimated at $9,600. Each year thereafter is estimated at $6,000. The district will not have the expense that was incurred in the past to help the Little League with coaching stipends. Thomsen moved to approve the district taking over the 7/8 baseball and softball programs. Roethler seconded. Thomsen-aye, Morton-aye, Huberty-aye, Roethler-aye, Hoyman-aye, Kibbie-nay. Motion carried.
EXEMPT SESSION: Morton moved to enter exempt session at 6:55pm for negotiating sessions, strategy meetings of public employers or employee organizations, mediation or the deliberative process of arbitration. Thomsen seconded. Motion carried.
Exit exempt session at 9:01pm.
Adjournment: Kibbie moved to adjourn at 9:01pm. Seconded by Thomsen. Motion carried.
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Board President Board Secretary
