May 2009 Minutes

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