April 19, 2010 Regular Board Meeting
MINUTES,
Regular Meeting
Anita Board of Education
Monday, April 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
The Anita Board of Education was called to order by President Randall J. Rabe for the regular meeting on April 19, 2010 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. There were 16 visitors.
POSITIVE COMMENTS: Congratulations to Emma Dorsey, runner-up in the 5th grade spelling bee. The elementary received a “Bags to Benches” grant from the Iowa Grocers Association that will provide eight benches for the playground. Kay Stork wrote the grant for this. The playground project should be completed this week. The music contestants turned in excellent performances Saturday with many individuals and groups receiving Division I ratings. Band instructor Neil Berry has returned to work after his illness. The conference art fair was held in Anita last week and 69 medals were awarded to CAM High School artists. Lisa Artherholt put in much effort and it was well organized. CAM golfers finished second in the Dale Erickson Memorial Golf Tournament.
AGENDA CHANGES: None.
CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was given by Director Kauffman that was seconded by Director Kinzie to approve the agenda, minutes of the regular meeting of March 15, 2010, budget hearing of April 8, 2010, and joint board meeting April 8, 2010, and the bills. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. The bills were approved in the amount of $51,818.91, from the General Fund, $195.47 from the PPEL Fund, $12,446.18 from the SILO Fund, $1,523.30 from the Elementary Activity Fund, $8,984.13 from the High School Activity Fund, and $8,550.41 from the Hot Lunch Fund.
APPROVE FINANCIAL REPORTS: March financial reports for the funds of General, Management, PPEL, PERL, SILO, Elementary Activity, High School Activity, and Hot Lunch 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.
AUDIT REVIEW/ACCEPTANCE: The 2008-2009 audit was presented to the board for review. After discussion, a motion to accept the 2008-2009 audit was made by Kinzie, seconded by Williamson. The motion carried 5-0.
CLOSED SESSION: A motion to go into closed session, at the request of John Brazell, to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session according to Chapter 21.5(1i), was made by Gregersen, seconded by Williamson. Roll call was read with all directors voting aye. The board went into closed session at 7:41 p.m. The audience left the room. The meeting was declared open at 8:27 p.m. and the audience returned to the media center.
EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS: Proposed staff deductions were discussed. Possible reductions included an elementary teacher retirement to be replaced with a half-time FTE; at the secondary level: reduce family & consumer science from .5 to .25 FTE, business from 1.5 to 1.25 FTE, math from 2 to 1.5 FTE, science voluntary reduction by .5 FTE, English certification corrections, reduce media from .2 to .1 FTE, staff reductions in the custodial department, no replacement of the superintendent secretary (retirement), remove extended contracts for counselor and grant writer, and pay secretaries for lunch work from the hot lunch fund.
Kinzie moved to accept the proposed expenditure reductions for the 2010-2011 school year, with the exceptions for the reductions to family and consumer science, business, and math, for an estimated total reductions of $157,241. Gregersen seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.
REORGANIZATION/S HARING DISCUSSION: The AEA hearing to hear objections to the reorganization petition will be held on June 7, 2010 at 7 p.m. at the Community Center in Anita.
RESOLUTION FOR OPERATIONAL SHARING WITH C & M FOR SUPERINTENDENT: This item was tabled.
RESIGNATIONS: Resignation letters were read from Glennda Nelsen, superintendent’s secretary to retire at the end of May, and John Brazell, superintendent to resign at the end of the current school year. The resignations of Glennda Nelsen and John Brazell were accepted with regrets on a motion by Nick Kauffman, seconded by Chuck Kinzie. The motion carried 5-0.
CONTRACTS: The contract for shared superintendent was tabled. A contract to Jodi Meyer for assistant softball coach for summer 2010 was approved on a motion by Williamson, seconded by Gregersen. The motion carried 5-0.
2010-2011 CALENDAR HEARING AND APPROVAL: There was no public comment regarding the proposed calendar for the 2010-2011 school year with a start date of August 19th. Director Kinzie motioned for the approval of the 2010-2011 calendar which was seconded by Director Kauffman. This motion carried with a 5-0 vote.
ISCAP RESOLUTION: The Iowa Schools Cash Management Program resolution, to allow the district to participate in the 2010-2011 Series A program to borrow money to fund cash flow shortages, was adopted on a motion by Gregersen, seconded by Williamson. Roll call vote was taken with all members voting aye. Motion carried 5-0.
APPROVE GRADUATING STUDENTS FOR 2010: Gregersen motioned to approve the seniors as presented for graduation provided all course requirements are fulfilled. This was seconded by Kauffman and carried 5-0.
OPEN ENROLLENT APPLICATIONS: A 2010-2011 application from the Anita district for Natalye Scholl (kindergarten) to Atlantic was presented to the Board for information only. 2009-2010 applications for Adam and Kristapher Claussen from the Exira district back to the Anita district following a move were approved on a motion by Williamson, second by Kinzie. The motion carried 5-0.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: The Superintendent/Elementary Principal reported that the handicap bus is out of service for a few days until parts are available. He also reported on employees’ bereavement and health issues.
The Secondary Principal reported on hosting “superintendent rounds” where superintendents from area schools visit and observe an initiative and then discuss the good things, observe any problematic issues, and then make recommendations on how to take things to the next level. They observed our reading initiative, CAM READS. Compliments were given to the district on the outstanding students and climate of our building.
On April 7, Mr. Casey, Ms. Clinton, Mr. Hunt, Ms. Pohan, Mr. Ruderman and Mr. Giegerich attended a 1 to 1 conference in Des Moines. Mr. Casey presented on managing a 1 to 1 district, Ms. Clinton on Moodle, and Mr. Giegerich presented on instructional leadership and technology. Mr. Giegerich reported that it was an electrifying, highly charged day. Most schools in attendance do not have a 1 to 1 but the number of districts is expected to triple next year.
Mr. Giegerich presented some information on free instruction for staff on how to develop and deliver an online course. Courses could be originated by our district and sharing money could be involved. President Rabe commented that if someone is going to do this, it might as well be us.
LOOKING AHEAD: Looking ahead items are classified staff wage review, classified contracts, negotiated agreement—teacher master contract, approval of issuance of certified contracts, administrative contracts, summer projects, resolution for inter-fund borrowing, and 1 to 1 progress.
ADJOURNMENT: President Rabe declared the meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
signed Randall J. Rabe, Board President
signed Linda Edwards, Board Secretary
