December 21, 2009 Board Minutes
MINUTES,
Regular Meeting
Anita Board of Education
Monday, December 21, 2009, 7:30 p.m.
The Anita Board of Education was called to order by President Randall J. Rabe for the regular meeting on December 21, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. in the media center at the high school. Members present for opening were Jeff Gregersen, Nick Kauffman, Chuck Kinzie, Randall J. Rabe, and Julie Williamson. Others present were Superintendent John Brazell, High School Principal Dominic Giegerich, and Secretary Linda Edwards. One visitor was present.
POSITIVE COMMENTS: Positive comments were received by the Board. High school ITED scores look better than projected in reading, science and math. The winter concerts were excellent. A thank you from Linda Havens was read. One student, Trenda Hoffman, was selected to perform in the Southwest Iowa Honor Band.
AGENDA CHANGES: No changes were made to the agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was given by Director Williamson that was seconded by Director Kinzie to approve the agenda, minutes of the regular meeting of November 16, 2009, and the bills. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. The bills were approved in the amount of $40,597.68 from the General Fund, $58.00 from the Management Fund, $90.00 from the PPEL Fund, $2,887.97 from the PERL Fund, $4,279.13 from the SILO Fund, $3,781.99 from the Elementary Activity Fund, $58,699.97 from the High School Activity Fund, and $8,038.91 from the Hot Lunch Fund. One of the auditors’ requirements was that all checks issued by the District be approved by the Board and published.
APPROVE FINANCIAL REPORTS: November financial reports for the funds of General, Management, PPEL, PERL, SILO, High School Activity, and Hot Lunch (not available) were offered the Board. After reviewing the financial reports, Gregersen motioned to accept these financial reports. This was seconded by Williamson. The motion carried 5-0.
OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUESTS: Open enrollment requests were received for Xavier and Lucas Bruns, students who moved from Atlantic to Wiota, and requested to continue to go to school in Atlantic. Gregersen motioned to approve the applications. This was seconded by Williamson. The motion carried 5-0.
DISCUSSON ON REORGANIZATION: The School Improvement Advisory Committee will be asked by board members to attend the joint board meeting on January 11, 2010 to discuss the topic of reorganization. The suggested date for the election is in September of 2010. If passed, this would allow the two districts to merge on July 1, 2011. Each district will need to have its own petition.
CALENDAR CHANGES: A motion to amend the calendar to make January 4, 2010 a student attendance day with a three-hour early dismissal for professional development was made by Kauffman, seconded by Kinzie. The motion carried 5-0.
BOARD POLICIES: First reading of Board Policy 434 Voluntary Early Retirement was made. The policy would provide an early retirement incentive of $15,000 per eligible employee. Employee must be 55 years of age and have 15 consecutive years of service to the district to be eligible. Application deadline is February 15, 2010. Payments would be made in two equal installments on January 15 of 2011 and 2012. Approval of the first reading of the Early Retirement Incentive Policy was motioned by Gregersen, seconded by Kauffman. The motion carried 5-0.
SITE VISIT REPORT: Discussion was held on the recent Department of Education’s site visit. Mr. Brazell reported the DE commented that the committee groups were well prepared and the DE was impressed with what we had to offer. The official report has not been received yet. After receiving the report, the District will have 45 days to write a plan for corrections.
GASB 45 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: New financial reporting requirements for OPEB (Other Post Employment Benefits) are required to be met before the end of this fiscal year. The GASB 45 report will provide an analysis of district liability related to pension plans. Two bids were received for actuarial services. On a motion by Kinzie, seconded by Kauffman, the Board requested that the lower bid for services from Robert Hobson be accepted. Bids ranged from $600 to $1,700. The motion carried 5-0.
IASB BOARD OF DIRECTORS BALLOT: Scott Hansen from Griswold has been nominated for a three-year term on the IASB Board of Directors. A motion to cast a unanimous ballot for Scott Hansen to serve on the IASB Board as Director of District #7 was made by Kauffman, seconded by Gregersen. The motion carried 5-0.
COUNTY CONFERENCE BOARD REPRESENTATIVES: Chuck Kinzie volunteered to serve on the Cass County Conference Board and Nick Kauffman volunteered to serve on the Adair County Conference Board if needed.
ATTORNEY FOR CONSOLIDATION WORK: Because of his experience in reorganization work, it was recommended by Glenn Grove, Chief Administrator of the AEA, to appoint Rick Franck as the district’s attorney for the necessary work to prepare for the consolidation vote. Motion to accept Rick Franck as the attorney for consolidation work was made by Gregersen, seconded by Kauffman. The motion carried 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: The Superintendent/Elementary Principal’s report included major changes made to the Senior Year Plus guidelines, teacher sharing possibilities with the Atlantic Community Schools, the ISFLC conference he would be attending this week, trial of Purifans in the elementary, Voluntary Four-year-old Preschool Grant to be developed with C & M, and “Race to the Top” grant that the Department of Education wants to apply for.
The Secondary Principal reported on the end of semester assessments, textbooks and online resources, the classroom learning environments he has observed, the technology survey that is available on the front page of the CAM Moodle site, the Iowa Core Curriculum web page available on the CAM web page, and upcoming presentations to the Board.
LOOKING AHEAD: Looking ahead items are financial position of the district, presentations on the interactive white boards (February) and Project Lead the Way (March), solvency ratios and dollars on hand.
ADJOURNMENT: President Rabe declared the meeting adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
signed Randall J. Rabe, Board President
signed Linda Edwards, Board Secretary
