EMMETSBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Education
December 16, 2020 Minutes
All motions are unanimous unless otherwise noted.
The Board of Education of Emmetsburg Community School District met in a regular session on December 16, 2020 at 5:30pm in the HS Library.
Present: Jane Hoyman, Bill Huberty, Kathy Roethler, Aaron Dietrich (by Zoom), Val Morton, Katy Thomsen, Scott Kibbie
Absent: None.
Also Present: Darren Hanna, Lisa Chapman, Tracie Christensen, Tim Rodemeyer, Tyler Bjustrom, Sara Straw, Kelly Josephson, Mike Dunlap, Arik Kerr, Joe Schany, Kari Schany
Jane Hoyman, President, called the session to order at 5:38pm, acknowledged the fact of a quorum.
TEACHING & LEARNING: None
Approval of Agenda: Thomsen moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Kibbie. Motion carried.
REGULAR MEETING
CONSENT ITEMS: Morton moved to approve the consent items less any Student Activity Funds Reports. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried.
Student Activity Fund Reports from November: Dietrich moved to take Item 2a Student Activity Fund Reports from the table. Morton seconded. Motion carried. Hoyman asked the board if they would prefer to postpone the discussion about any Student Activity fund reporting to a date in January after they have a chance to meet in a workshop regarding the changes proposed. Morton moved to approve postponing the Student Activity Funds reports to a date in January. Seconded by Huberty. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
Board Policies: Updated Policies 409.1-409.2, 803.1, Handbook Title IX and Remote Learning were presented for approval. Thomsen moved to approve the policies and was seconded by Huberty. Motion carried.
Large Group Risk Pool for Natural Gas: Kibbie moved to take the discussion regarding the Large Group Risk Pool for Natural Gas off the table Seconded by Morton. Motion carried. Hanna presented the agreement to the Finance Committee and summarized it again with the entire board. The premium for the agreement would be paid from the Management Fund instead of paying for natural gas from the general fund. This would free up approximately $79,000 in the general fund. There is currently enough in the Management Fund to pay for this agreement as well as meet current and future obligations. The district is in need of additional funds in the general fund due to loss of students and increasing costs in the coming year(s). This is one tool that may be used to achieve that goal. Superintendent Hanna recommended approving the resolution with the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool. After due consideration and discussion, Director Morton introduced the resolution below and moved that the resolution be adopted, seconded by Director Thomsen. After due consideration, President Hoyman put the question to the motion and the roll being called, the following Directors voted:
Ayes: Morton, Thomsen, Huberty, Kibbie, Roethler, Hoyman, Dietrich
Nays: None
Whereupon, the President declared the resolution duly adopted, as follows:
RESOLUTION
Resolution approving the participation by the School District in a joint agreement establishing local government risk pools
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Emmetsburg Community School District in the County (Counties) of Palo Alto, State of Iowa (the “School District”) is required by Section 274.3 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, to operate, control and supervise all public schools within the boundaries of the School District and is authorized to exercise any broad and implied power not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Iowa and administrative rules adopted by state agencies pursuant thereto, related to the operation, control and supervision of those public schools; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 670.7, subsection 1 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, the School District may join and pay funds into a local government risk pool to protect the School District against any and all liability, loss of property, or any other risks associated with the operation of the School District and the costs of local government risk pools shall be included in the School District’s management levy as provided in Section 296.7 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, or, if the School District has not certified a management levy, the costs shall be paid from the School District’s general fund; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 296.7 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, the School District may enter into agreements obligating the School District to make payments beyond its current budget year to establish and maintain local government risk pools to protect the School District from tort liability, loss of property, environmental hazards or any other risk associated with the operation of the School District; and
WHEREAS, the School District is authorized pursuant to Chapter 28E of the Code of Iowa, as amended, to enter into joint agreements with other public agencies and with private agencies (both as defined therein) for the joint exercise of powers, privileges and authorities exercised or capable of being exercised by the School District; and
WHEREAS, because of the fluctuation of the costs of natural gas and variability of the quantities of natural gas used by the School District caused by changes in winter weather conditions, it is in the best interests of the School District to enter into a joint agreement with other public agencies, in substantially the form as has been presented to and considered by the Board (the “Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement” or the “Agreement”) providing for the forming and creation of the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of establishing one or more local government risk pools (together, the “Local Government Risk Pools”) to help the participating public agencies mitigate budget risks associated with winter heating and other natural gas consumption, to enter into contractual arrangements with private parties to access natural gas for the benefit of the participating public agencies, to establish premiums to be paid by the participating public agencies, to pool their risks and stabilize gas prices annually and to facilitate the purchase by and delivery to the participating public agencies of natural gas periodically;
NOW, THEREFORE, It Is Hereby Resolved by the Board of Directors of the School District, as follows:
Section 1. The participation by the School District in the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement and the Local Government Risk Pools established in accordance therewith are hereby approved.
Section 2. The Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement is hereby approved, and the President and Board Secretary are hereby authorized and directed to accept and execute the same and any related documents for and on behalf of the School District.
Section 3. The Board shall determine from time to time which, if any, of the Local Government Risk Pools established by the Commission are appropriate for the School District to participate in and shall enter into such related documents and agreements as may be necessary in connection therewith and the President and Board Secretary are hereby authorized and directed to execute the same for and on behalf of the School District.
Section 4. To the extent that the School District incurs obligations to pay premiums or other costs in connection with such Local Government Risk Pools, the Board agrees to include in its annual budget sufficient funds to pay such obligations each fiscal year from its management levy and/or general fund levy.
Section 5. The President and the Board Secretary (or their acting designees) are hereby authorized to execute and deliver any and all agreements, documents and instruments required in connection with the Agreement and to carry out the purposes set forth in this resolution.
Section 6. All resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.
Passed and approved the 16th day of December, 2020.
President, Board of Directors:
Jane Hoyman
Attest:
Lisa Chapman
Secretary, Board of Directors
The Board took up and considered matters relating to participating in a joint agreement relating to the establishment of a local government risk pool.
After due consideration and discussion, Director Morton introduced the resolution below and moved that the resolution be adopted, seconded by Director Thomsen. After due consideration, the President put the question on the motion and the roll being called, the following named Directors voted:
Ayes: Morton, Thomsen, Huberty, Kibbie, Roethler, Hoyman, Dietrich Nays:
Whereupon, the President declared the resolution duly adopted.
PRINCIPAL REPORTS
HS Report (Christensen): There have been many discussions with teachers regarding students that are not doing any work. Christensen is working with Apex Learning to make sure students are going to be able to get all the credits that they need to graduate. She feels disheartened that students are not putting forth the effort. There is language that says that you can limit the remote learning to those that have medical exemption from a doctor. Administration is looking at requiring students to attend in person. Teachers are spending a lot of time and effort with no reciprocation from some students. STEM Best group met today. The program will include the entire K-12 student body in the program. The goal is to incorporate the concepts into the classroom to increase accessibility.
MS Report (Rodemeyer): Rodemeyer reviewed the Students of the Week honors. Even though remote learning has had negative impacts, the Hybrid Model also has students doing really well, especially with 5th and 6th graders. The students are following directions and showing up when they are asked. Behavioral referrals are down. Homework Camp on Wednesdays has great numbers. The Middle School has four students competing for the All Iowa Honor Band. Seventh and eighth graders recorded their Holiday Vocal Concert. The Food Drive will be accepting donations and delivered to the Food Bank before Christmas break.
Elementary Report (Bjustrom): PBIS Winners were listed. In regards to the Hybrid Model, the overall feeling is that everyone is ready for it to be over. Teachers are working on report cards and linking to curriculum mapping. The PBIS team is working with students that may need that extra encouragement. Working with the school therapist to find additional ways to help students beyond the PBIS team. Students are excited to have more youth programs opening up. The Holiday movie will be held in-house this year.
Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress: The assessments will be held in the spring and will be done online. It is the hope to have results by the end of the school year.
NEW BUSINESS
PERSONNEL: There were no resignations or contracts.
BOARD POLICIES: The board presented the first reading of board policies 409.4-409.8. The policy development committee plans to rescind these policies as the wording will be in the handbooks in the future.
OPEN CAMPUS CHANGES: The changes would include giving the privilege to leave during 9th period Directed Study Hall and arrive after morning college classes or study halls. In other words, they will be able to come later and leave earlier if all requirements are met. The majority of students are meeting the expectations. Grades will be reviewed and privileges can be revoked if necessary. Huberty moved to approve the changes as set out by Principal Christensen. Seconded by Roethler. Motion carried.
MODIFIED SUPPLEMENTAL AMOUNT for AT-RISK/DROPOUT: A motion was made by Thomsen and seconded by Hoyman to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the School Board Review Committee in the amount of $117,929 for Modified Supplemental Assistance for the purpose of the Dropout Prevention and At-Risk programs. Motion carried.
PALO ALTO COUNTY GAMING CORPORATION MINI GRANT APPLICATION:
Christensen informed the board the request for a greenhouse for the district. Administration is working on finding grants to raise the money for the greenhouse. Today’s request is to purchase the benching and materials for the greenhouse through the PACGDC Mini Grants. This signature program can draw the interest of students and help retain instructors. The goal is to have the best equipment and facilities for all students to make the district appealing to everyone. Director Aaron Dietrich made a motion to apply for a Mini Grant from PACGDC for Emmetsburg Community School District - Greenhouse Project in the amount of $3,825.00. Director Kathy Roethler seconded. Motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT: Kibbie moved adjourn at 6:52pm. Thomsen seconded. Motion carried.
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Board President Board Secretary
