December 21, 2009 Board Minutes
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF BOARD OF EDUCATION
C & M COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT – DECEMBER 21, 2009
CALL TO ORDER: President Gary Dinkla read the mission statement of the C & M Community School District, welcomed the visitors, and called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. in the superintendent’s office in Massena.
ROLL CALL: Directors Present: Gary Dinkla, Jennifer Holste, Todd McKee, Sean South
(arrived at 4:09)
Absent: Rob Ticknor
Superintendent: Steve Pelzer
Secretary: Linda Edwards
Visitor: Carlleen Bell (Atlantic News-Telegraph), Sandy Booker, Dean Downer, Karen Carns, Zeli Rasmussen, Peg Wheatley, Peg Hensley
AGENDA: Motion by McKee, seconded by Holste, to approve the agenda. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 3-0.
MINUTES, BILLS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Holste moved, seconded by Ticknor, to approve the minutes of the November 16 board meeting, bills, and financial statements. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 3-0.
COMMUNICATIONS: An open enrollment application for third-grader Angela Meyer back to the Atlantic Community School District due to a move was presented for information only.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: Mr. Pelzer attended the ISFLC conference this week in Des Moines and took the Negotiations track. He felt this was the best session he had attended at this conference. There was considerable discussion on the single salary schedule that will need to be implemented for the next school year.
The elementary and middle school programs were held before the bad weather hit and were very well attended. Good comments were made regarding holding the elementary program in the evening. Mr. Pelzer reported that some kinks need to be worked out but felt everything went well. The new scoreboards have been installed and in operation for a few ball games already. Thanks to Kyle Williams and Josh Behnken for getting them installed so quickly. The preschool grant meeting was rescheduled because of the bad weather and will be held tonight at 6:30.
Some experienced card players have been coming to Skills Block this last week to teach middle school students some card games. This has been an enjoyable experience for students and adults. ITBS results are expected soon. The weather forecast sounds doubtful for school on Wednesday.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: Sandy Booker, standing in for Mike Cormack who was coaching a junior high basketball game, read the introduction for the CMEA chief negotiator. Sean South arrived at 4:09. Peg Wheatley presented the CMEA’s opening proposal for the 2010-2011 master contract.
Reorganization was a topic of discussion. The sharing committee of Gary Dinkla, Randy Rabe, John Brazell and Steve Pelzer will meet on January 4th to set the groundwork for the joint board meeting on January 11th. Mr. Pelzer presented information on the process required to get reorganization started. The only way to bring it to a vote is by petition in each district. The number of signatures required is 20% of the regular voters or 400 votes, whichever is less. Board members will make phone calls to the SIAC committee members to invite them to the joint board meeting. A December 2010 vote would mean that the reorganization could not go into effect until the 2012-13 school year. It is feasible that this could be put on a September 2010 ballot and have a start date of July 1, 2011. The districts would still get four more years of incentives—one for whole-grade sharing and three years for reorganizing.
The board discussed the expiration dates of the district’s levies. The voted PPEL levy was just renewed and will expire June 30, 2020. The instruction support levy will expire June 30, 2011. The joint board meeting will be held on January 11th in the Middle School Commons in Massena at 7 p.m.
The voluntary four-year-old preschool grant process was discussed. A meeting will be held this evening. The Anita Community School District is interested in joining us in the grant consortium. This could help our chances of being awarded the grant, which is one year of on-time funding at .6 per pupil cost per student.
Discussion was held on the rental fees for the school facilities. It was felt with the cost cutting measures that were being implemented by the district (turning the heat down, shutting hallway lights off during the day, etc.) that groups that were using the building should be charged. Governor Culver has ordered the Iowa Department of Education to apply for a “Race to the Top” grant. More information to school districts will be available at a meeting held in Creston on January 7th. Superintendents, board presidents, and representatives of the teachers’ unions are encouraged to attend. January 15th is the grant deadline.
EARLY RETIREMENT: Board policy states that every year the board can set an early-retirement plan for the district. This plan does not have to be the same from year to year but must be the same to everyone that year. Previous plans have included $100 per month toward health insurance. Four employees would be eligible to accept the early retirement plan this year. Mr. Pelzer recommended to offer all four early retirement and to offer a $15,000 lump sum cash payment. The management fund is used to pay early retirement fees. Todd McKee made a motion to offer a $15,000 lump sum available in up to two payments for early retirement to eligible employees. Sean South seconded this motion. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
MODIFIED ALLOWABLE GROWTH FOR DROPOUT PREVENTION: This program used to be called at-risk. We have always applied for the maximum amount but stricter guidelines for use have been implemented. We are eligible, through the formula, to apply for approximately $10,000. Possible uses for this in the future would include hiring an at-risk teacher for a Room of Opportunity. Motion to approve application for maximum modified allowable growth for dropout prevention was made by McKee, seconded by Holste. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
CASS COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE: President Dinkla appointed Rob Ticknor as the district’s representative to the Cass County Conference Board. Ticknor has served in this capacity for several years.
IDATP PARTICIPATION: McKee moved, seconded by South, to continue participation in the Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing Program for our bus drivers. Motion carried unanimously 4-0.
MID-YEAR GRADUATES: Approval was given for six students to graduate early, pending completion of all requirements, on a motion by South, seconded by Holste. The graduates are Josh Behnken, Danielle Holste, Ranae Huggins, Jordon Kopp, Brandon Ramsey, and Blake Butcher. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
SCHOOL CALENDAR: Discussion was held on modifying the school calendar because of missed days due to snow. It was decided to add January 4th as a school attendance day with a three-hour early dismissal for professional development. Motion to approve modifying the school calendar was made by Holste, seconded by McKee. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
IASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS: The Board moved to cast its vote for Scott Hansen to the IASB Board of Director on a motion by McKee, seconded by Holste. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
ATTORNEY FOR CONSOLIDATION WORK: Mr. Pelzer recommended hiring Rick Franck of Denison to handle the legal matters for the district during the reorganization process. Mr. Franck is currently C & M’s legal counsel and was recommended by Glenn Grove, AEA Chief Administrator because of his familiarity with reorganizations. The Anita Community School District was also vote on this matter at their board meeting tonight. Motion by McKee, seconded by South, to hire Rick Franck as attorney for reorganization work. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0.
BOARD REPORTS: Dean Downer commented at this time that he appreciates the effort that the board puts in. He stated, in regards to negotiations, that the younger teachers have stated that they want nothing to do with the negotiations process because the state will take care of them through teacher compensation money. Gary Dinkla met with Randy Rabe, Anita Board President to discuss the reorganization issue and process.
CLOSED SESSION: Jennifer Holste moved, seconded by Sean South, to go into closed session to discuss negotiations. Roll call vote was taken and all voted aye. The board went into closed session at 5:30 p.m. After negotiations discussion, through a unanimous roll call vote, the board returned to open session at 5:52 p.m. No action was taken in closed session.
ADJOURNMENT: A motion to adjourn was made by McKee, seconded by South. Voice vote, motion carried unanimously 4-0. President Dinkla adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.
signed Gary Dinkla, Board President
signed Linda Edwards, Board Secretary
