EMMETSBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular Meeting & Budget Hearing
Board of Education
March 25, 2020 Minutes
All motions are unanimous unless otherwise noted.
The Board of Education of Emmetsburg Community School District met in a regular session on March 25, 2020 at 5:30pm in the HS Conference Room. The Zoom technology and social distancing was used because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Present: Jane Hoyman, Bill Huberty, Scott Kibbie, Val Morton, Kathy Roethler, Katy Thomsen
(all by Zoom), Aaron Dietrich (in person)
Absent: None
Also Present: Darren Hanna, Lisa Chapman
Jane Hoyman, President, called the regular annual meeting to order at 5:30pm, acknowledged the fact of a quorum.
BUDGET HEARING
An area was set up in the Auditorium (Door 4) entrance for the public to watch the budget hearing and meeting via Zoom. Patrons were able to communicate with Zoom as well. The separate area and messaging methods were used to help enforce social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Hanna gave a presentation on the Certified Annual Budget for fiscal year 2021. Specific areas addressed included the Unspent Budget Authority, revenue v. expenditures, the solvency ratio, enrollment, special education funding, the budget guarantee, tax rate history and the calculations impacting the tax rate. The proposed tax rate is $12.53. It is expected that the final rate will come in slightly lower. This is due to updated formulas at the Department of Management. The final rate will not be higher than $12.53.
Kibbie asked about future revenues due to the COVID-19. Most of this is unknown at this time. Changes are happening daily. Hanna is following the information coming from the state as it comes out.
There were no patrons for comments.
Hearing was finished at 6:03pm.
REGULAR MEETING
Approval of Agenda: Dietrich moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Huberty. Motion carried.
Approval of Consent Items
Thomsen moved to approve the consent items. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Board Policies: Policies 402.1, 402.2, 402.2R1, 402.3, 402.3E1, 402.3R1, 507.8, 507.8E1 and 507.8R1 were presented for approval. Morton moved to approve the policies and was seconded by Kibbie. Motion carried.
EDUCATIONAL NEWS
Principal Reports-Principals did not have reports for this month. Watch in April for combined reports.
NEW BUSINESS
Resignations/Contracts: Kibbie moved to approve the following resignations: Kory Kuecker-HS Vocational Agriculture & FFA Advisor and Trent Teske-HS Vocal & Show Choir Director. Seconded by Huberty. Motion carried. Kibbie moved to approve the following assignments: Madison Johnson-MS Science, Tyler Bjustrom-Elementary Principal, Tiffany Tomlin-HS Vocational Agriculture & FFA Adviser. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried. Morton moved to table Erika Higgins-MS Softball and Scott Higgins-7th Grade Girls Track due to uncertainty of playing the respective sports. Thomsen seconded. Motion carried.
Board Policies: The board was presented with the following policies for a first reading: 412.1, 412.2, 413.1-413.5. The second readings will be in April.
Budget Approval: The budget was presented during the hearing at the beginning of the meeting. Mr. Hanna is recommending the approval of the budget. Thomsen moved to approve the FY21 budget. Huberty seconded. Motion carried.
Selection of Audit Firm: Roethler moved to approve Schnurr & Co as the audit firm for the next three years. Dietrich seconded. Motion carried.
Non-Certified Pay Resolution:.
Pandemic Response and Emergency Suspension of Policy
Emmetsburg Community School District Board of Directors
Resolution – Pandemic Response and Emergency
Suspension of Policy
Hoyman moved to approve the following resolution and seconded by Roethler .
WHEREAS, Iowa Code Ch. 279.8 authorizes local school boards to govern their respective
districts, including adopting policies for their own governance; and
WHEREAS the Board may, by formal, action suspend or rescind board policy as deemed
necessary, appropriate or in the best interests of the District; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a
pandemic; and
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the President of the United States declared a national state of
emergency and on March 15, 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds recommended closure of all
public and private K-12 schools in Iowa until April 13, 2020, to contain the spread of
COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds declared a State of Public
Health Disaster Emergency under the authority granted through Iowa Constitution, Art. IV, §§ 1,
8 and Iowa Code §§ 29C.6(1), 135.140(6), and 135.144 and directed implementation of the
Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Iowa Emergency
Response Plan in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); and
WHEREAS, most hourly non-exempt employees will be unable to report to work due to the
District’s closure and certified contract employees may be asked to work at remote locations
to help provide continuity in educational services; and
WHEREAS, it fulfills a public purpose to continue to pay District hourly non-exempt employees
during this closure to prevent or contain the spread of COVID-19, to promote morale and to
help retain current employees following the closure; and
WHEREAS, on March 17, 2020, the Iowa Legislature passed and the Governor signed SF 2408
granting waiver of the instructional time requirements in Iowa Code Ch. 279.10 for all public
school districts closing before April 12, 2020, in order to prevent or contain the spread of
COVID-19; and granting Governor Reynolds the ability to waive instructional time requirements
for any public school district which closes on or after April 12, 2020, to prevent or contain the
spread of COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, the Iowa Department of Education, which has the authority to establish and
interpret graduation requirements, and to oversee other crucial aspects of public education is
providing written guidance to Iowa school districts on issues related to COVID -19, including
but not limited to student attendance, distance/online learning, high school credit, meal
distribution, and other issues; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Emmetsburg Community School Board
hereby suspends provisions of its board policies and/or whole policies, as identified by the
District Superintendent or designee, if such suspension is necessary to implement written
guidance from state or federal agencies relating to containing COVID-19 for the duration
identified in the Governor’s State of Public Health Emergency declaration of March 17, 2020, or
as otherwise determined by the Board.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the District Superintendent will consult with and report to
the Board as feasible and appropriate regarding the emergency closure and efforts to
implement written guidance from health and government agencies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the District Superintendent is authorized to close any school
facility without further action by the Board of Directors. Such closure shall continue during the
emergency created by the COVID-19 pandemic until such time as the Superintendent, in
consultation with appropriate health and government authorities, deems it in the best interests
of the District and its students to open schools.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the District Superintendent is authorized, based upon the
needs of the District and guidance from health and government agencies, to direct staff
assignments during District closures, including but not limited to essential employees who
must report to work, employees who may be reassigned, and employees whose services are
not needed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that access to public school grounds and public school
buildings of the District may be limited as directed by the Superintendent during District
closures.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified, exempt employees will remain employed during
the school closure and until the number of days expressed on the contract have been fulfilled,
unless otherwise approved by the Board. Days that contracted employees do not report for
duty onsite or from a remote location, due to closure, do not constitute a fulfilled contract day
except to the extent those days are forgiven by the District.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in light of this District-wide emergency closure, the Board
authorizes the Superintendent to place hourly non-exempt employees on paid administrative
leave and to continue to pay them for up to four weeks during the period of school closure, and
the Board shall reevaluate this authority for any school closure lasting longer than four weeks.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in the interest of public health and/or to comply with federal
or state health department recommendations or guidance, the Board may limit the number of
people who can physically attend Board meetings and may, instead, encourage the public to
attend or listen to its open public meetings by video conference and or live streaming on the
the internet and the Board may also limit public comment to written comments.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the board reserves the right to adjust board meeting dates,
times, and locations during the district-wide emergency closure in a manner consistent with
the Open Meetings law, and notes that any or all board members may attend board meetings
electronically as permitted by law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that execution of this Resolution is conclusive evidence of the
Board’s approval of this action and of the authority granted herein. The Board warrants that it
has, and at the time of this action had, full power and lawful authority to adopt this instrument.
This resolution will remain in full force and effect until it is rescinded or amended by
subsequent action of the Board. Roll call vote: Hoyman-aye, Roethler-aye, Kibbie-aye, Morton-aye,
Huberty-aye, Dietrich-aye, Thomsen-aye. Nay-none. Motion carried.
Adopted and approved this 25th day of March, 2020.
By: ________________________________________
Board President or Designee-Darren Hanna
Attest: ________________________________________
Board Secretary-Lisa Chapman
Hoyman mentioned to the board that the hospital is looking for blood donors. Donors must be 17 years old or 16 years old with parent’s consent.
Hanna is talking with the teacher’s association in regards to negotiations. When an initial meeting is set, it will be posted.
Adjournment: Kibbie moved to adjourn at 6:34pm. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried.
______________________________________ ___________________________________
Board President Board Secretary
