May 2009 Minutes
May 18, 2009
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD
OF EDUCATION
C & M COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – MAY 18, 2009
CALL TO ORDER: President Gary Dinkla read the mission statement of
the C & M Community School District, called the meeting to
order at 7:00 p.m. in the superintendent’s office in Massena, and
welcomed the visitors.
ROLL CALL: Directors Present: Gary Dinkla, Jennifer Holste, Sean
South, Todd McKee
Absent: Rob Ticknor
Superintendent: Steve Pelzer
Secretary: Linda Edwards
Visitors: Peg Hensley, Mary Schoning, Dean Downer, Sandy Booker,
Mike Cormack, Jan Waddell, Karen Carns, Mendy Stender
AGENDA: Motion by South, seconded by Holste, to approve the agenda.
Voice vote, motion carried 4-0.
MINUTES, BILLS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Motion by Holste, seconded
by McKee, to approve the minutes of the April 20th board meeting,
bills, and financial statements. Voice vote, motion carried
4-0.
COMMUNICATIONS: May 10-16 was School Board Recognition Week and Mr.
Pelzer presented certificates to the directors and thanked them for
their service to the C & M District. The Massena City Council
has passed a resolution in support of honoring the board members
for their public service. Letters to the editor that dealt with the
Phase I reduction situation were handed out.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Mr. Pelzer reported that the Middle School
and Fourth and Fifth grades completed their charity walk-a-thon
last week with over $3,700 collected. Organizations selected were
American Cancer Society, Cass County Relay for Life, Friends of the
Atlantic Animal Shelter, and the Cass County Outdoor Classroom. The
publicity for this event was very good and Mr. Pelzer thanked Sandy
Booker and Staci Venteicher for their part in this.
Lots of end of the year field trips have been happening. Groups
have gone to the zoo, Lewis Lake, the Outdoor Classroom, and middle
school students will be participating in their Cougar Traits reward
trip to Adventureland this week. Students will be dismissed early
on their final day of school on Thursday.
A retirement reception is being planned for Lance Lage at noon on
Thursday. Mr. Lage will be recognized for his years of service to
the C & M School District. NWEA testing has been completed. Mr.
Pelzer is looking into the possibility of sharing a PE teacher with
Griswold for next year. With sharing incentives, the actual cost of
a beginning teacher, including benefits, would be approximately
$3,400. Legislative priorities will be a topic of discussion next
month.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: Mr. Pelzer and Kyle Williams have compiled a list
of proposed projects for completion over the summer. The fire
escape doors in the east building will all be replaced. Several
doors were on the list of items needing correction cited by the
State Fire Marshall on his recent visit. All other items on that
list will be completed this summer. Other projects are to restore
and repaint lockers, repair the drain between the buildings,
landscaping, drainage on the east side of the building,
repair/remove skylights in commons, and refinish the gym floor
Projects will be completed as time and funding allows.
Advertisements have been placed in area newspapers for the position
of shared business manager between the Anita and C & M
Districts. Discussion was held on the elimination of Phase I
teacher funding that was cut late in the last legislative session.
$13.5 million was reduced in an agreement to help balance the state
budget. Phase I funding was implemented in the late 1980s as a way
to even the playing field in salaries between large and small
districts. C & M will lose over $38,000 in funding and was the
12th hardest hit district in the state per pupil. Teachers in our
district stand to be cut over $2,000 per teacher if something
cannot be done to resolve this issue. Mr. Pelzer said he has been
advised to wait and see what develops on this matter.
The three areas of the ARRA stimulus funds were discussed. The
first area is the state fiscal stabilization funds which will
generate over $100,000 over the next two years. These funds replace
State Aid funds that were reduced when the State made cuts earlier
this year and will not generate additional spending authority. The
second area is in Title I allocations. Our Title I funds will
increase by over $36,000 next year. This money will possibly be
used to upgrade the guided reading library, the second change
reading library, PD opportunities, additional paraprofessional, and
technology. The third area is Special Education IDEA Part B
allocations. FY2010 additional funding will be over $30,000. Mr.
Pelzer anticipates using these funds to update technology in the
resource room by purchasing additional computers and software and
training for teachers and paraprofessionals.
2009-2010 SCHOOL CALENDAR: The 2009-2010 calendar, with a start
date of August 20th for students, was approved on a motion by
McKee, second by South. Voice vote, motion carried 4-0.
SPECIAL EDUCATION DELIVERY PLAN COMMITTEE: The Iowa Administrative
Rules for Special Education (IAC41.408) require that each Iowa
school district create a delivery system for special education
instructional services. The board was asked to approve the planning
activity and the planning group for this activity. McKee moved that
the C & M Community School District create a special education
instructional delivery system and that the system be developed by
Steve Pelzer, Karen Carns, Nathaniel Adkins, Julie Schmidt, Ron
Russell, Pam Russell, and Tina Wahlert. South seconded the motion
and it was approved on a voice vote 4-0. This will be a joint Anita
and C & M effort. Mr. Pelzer stated that he is planning to
write the plan and the committee will meet to discuss and approve
the plan.
2009-2010 SUPPORT STAFF CONTRACTS: Contracts to current staff
members were approved with an increase of 25 cents per hour per
employee. A motion to approve the contracts was made by McKee,
second by Holste. Voice vote, motion carried 4-0.
2009-2010 SCHEDULE B CONTRACTS: Contracts for coaches were approved
with the increases according to the Master Contract. A motion to
approve the contracts was made by McKee, second by South. Voice
vote, motion carried 4-0. The only position open at this time is
junior high football co-coach.
AUDIT BIDS: The audit bid from Hunt, Kain, and Associates of
Oskaloosa for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 fiscal years was approved on
a motion by McKee, second by Holste. Voice vote, motion carried
4-0.
CONTRACT MODIFICATIONS: Contract modifications for part-time
employees for staff development were discussed. Our only part-time
teacher is Mrs. Nichols at .9 time. She will receive an additional
$168.67 for extra time necessary for professional development.
Motion to approve the additional money was made by McKee, second by
South. Voice vote, motion carried 4-0.
BOARD REPORTS: McKee asked about possible changes to the
administrative structure in Anita and positions that are open in
the districts. Dinkla talked about a discussion that was held at
the joint SIAC meeting about what it takes to start a petition of
reorganization. Mr. Pelzer will check with Glenn Grove, AEA Chief
Administrator, to see what the process is for this.
CLOSED SESSION: At this point, South made a motion to go into
closed session to evaluate the superintendent, motion seconded by
McKee. Roll call vote was taken with Holste, South, McKee, and
Dinkla voting aye. The board went into closed session at 8:45 p.m.
The board reviewed the three goals set at the beginning of the year
and will complete and return the evaluation form by the first week
in June for compilation and approval at the June board meeting. The
board voted to return to open session at 9:28 on a motion by
Holste, second by South. Roll call vote was taken with Holste,
South, McKee, and Dinkla voting aye and the board returned to open
session at 9:28. No action was taken in closed session.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by McKee, seconded by
South. Voice vote, motion carried 4-0. President Dinkla adjourned
the meeting at 9:29 p.m.
signed Gary Dinkla, Board President
signed Linda Edwards, Board Secretary
