July 20, 2009 Board Minutes

MINUTES, Annual and Regular Meeting
Anita Board of Education
Monday, July 20, 2009, 7:30 p.m.

The Anita Board of Education was called to order by President Randall Rabe for the annual and regular session on July 20, 2009 at 7:33 p.m. in the media center at the high school. Members present were Jeff Gregersen, Phyllis Nichols, Randall J. Rabe, Dr. Gerald Wessels, and Julie Williamson. Also present were Superintendent John Brazell, Secondary Principal Dominic Giegerich and Secretaries Glennda Nelsen and Linda Edwards. No visitors were in attendance.

POSITIVE COMMENTS: Mr. Brazell and the board congratulated Michelle Harris on receiving the Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence. The administration had received a letter from the company that had transported the group to Washington DC and the board had sent a letter to Larry Hunt to congratulate him and his group for an “outstanding group of talented young people” and “their excellent behavior.” Thank yous were received from the Rabe and Wessels families for flowers sent for their recent losses.

AGENDA CHANGES: Transportation report was tabled until next month.

CONSENT AGENDA: A motion was given by Wessels and seconded by Gregersen to accept the consent agenda as presented which included the approval of agenda (with change), minutes of June 15, 2009 and joint board minutes of July 13, and bills. Bills approved totaled $181,122.32 for paid early June bills (FY 09), $81,139.22 of late June bills (FY 09) presented for payment, and $9,367.83 in July bills (FY 10). Other bills presented were $7,608 of late June bills from the PPEL Fund (FY 09), $12,783.13 of late June bills from the SILO Fund (FY 09) and $76,666.52 of June bills from the Agency Fund (FY09). The motion carried 5-0.

APPROVE FINANCIAL REPORTS: A motion by Gregersen, second by Nichols, to approve the financial reports of the General Fund, PERL Fund, PPEL Fund, SILO Fund, Hot Lunch Fund and High School and Elementary Activity Funds was carried 5-0.

ANNUAL MEETING: A motion by Wessels, second by Nichols, carried 5-0 to appoint Linda Edwards as Board Secretary and Board Treasurer for 2009-2010 and to add her signature to all school bank accounts and remove that of Glennda Nelsen; to designate the Rolling Hills Bank and Trust, Bankers Trust Co., and First National Bank as depository banks with deposit limits of $1,000,000 each; to name The Anita Tribune as newspaper for official publications; and to appoint Ahlers & Cooney, P.C. as school attorney. The oath of office was given Linda Edwards by Board President Rabe. Glennda Nelsen left the meeting at this time.

RECEIVE BIDS ON HOT LUNCH ITEMS, TRANSPORTATION FUEL AND GARBAGE HAULING: A motion by Wessels, second by Gregersen, to accept the dairy bid from Anderson-Erickson Dairy, the bread bid from Interstate Brands Corporation, the bid for gasoline and diesel purchases from Olsen Fuel Supply, and the garbage hauling bid from Dan's Sanitation for 2009-10 was carried 5-0.

SET FEES FOR 2009-2010: The following fees were approved for the 2009-2010 school year: Book fees: (increased $2) Elementary $38, Middle School and High School $44 (maximum charge of $130 per family); student and staff lunch and breakfast prices were increased 10 cents and milk was increased 5 cents. Athletic passes will remain the same as last year. Driver Education fees will be set at the January joint board meeting. A motion by Gregersen, second by Williamson, to approve the 2009-10 fees carried 5-0.

RESIGNATION: Alicia Pohan submitted her resignation as special education paraeducator for the 2009-2010 school year. She will be offered the English teaching position. A motion from Williamson to accept her resignation was seconded by Nichols. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

CONTRACTS:
a. English Teacher: Nichols made a motion to accept the recommendation to approve the contract for Alicia Pohan as English teacher for the 2009-2010 school year. This motion was seconded by Williamson and carried with a 5-0 vote. She is working at her own expense to complete her teaching certification. Larry Hunt will serve as her supervising teacher.
b. School Nurse: Heather Kauffman was offered a contracted services agreement to serve as the district’s school nurse for one to two hours per week at $25 per hour. All Iowa schools are now required by state statute to have a school nurse. Motion to approve this contract was made by Wessels, seconded by Gregersen. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.
c. Technology services: Gregersen motioned to accept the recommendation to approve a contracted services agreement with Casey Computer Consulting (Jim Casey), seconded by Williamson. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

FACILITIES:
a. Update on projects: The commons wall materials have been removed and will be replaced with a wall carpet that is fire-rated. This is being paid for with the Harkin Grant. The windows in the family consumer science room will also be replaced using Harkin Grant funds. The hallway carpeting has been installed and the base shoe still needs to be installed. In the shop building, they are working on the venting in the welding bays. The inside doors at the high school are going to be rekeyed and an electronic entry system will be installed on the east door of the high school.
b. Football field lights: Discussion was held on replacing the lights at the football field. Estimated costs are $75,000 to install new lights on the track and security fixtures. A motion was given by Gregersen, seconded by Williamson, to approve the installation of lights on the track and security fixtures, using a combination of PPEL, SILO, and PERL funds. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

NEGOTIATIONS: Discussion was held on the negotiation process for the 2010-2011 school year. The board requested that Mr. Brazell compile some more figures, including what a 10% increase in insurance would cost the district. No action was taken on this item.

2009-2010 HANDBOOKS: After discussion on the weighting of semester tests, the board approved the 2009-2010 handbooks on a motion by Wessels, seconded by Nichols. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES: The following legislative priorities for 2009-2010 were adopted by the board: #1 Priority: Supports restoring Phase I funding or find an equitable way to restore loss to teachers’ funding. #2: Opposes unfunded mandates. #3: Supports predictable and timely state funding for serving special education students at a level that reflects the actual cost, including education programming and health care costs. #4: Supports reinstatement of state funds to allow school districts and AEAs the ability to offer long-term differential pay, or other incentives, to fill shortage area positions critical to student achievement, such as high qualified math, science, foreign language, fine arts and other personnel critical to meet district learning goals. #5: Supports a four-year phase-in to achieve full funding of the state’s portion of the instructional support levy. During the transition period, IASB supports an equitable proration formula and school district spending authority for any shortfall. Motion to approve these priorities was made by Wessels, seconded by Gregersen. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

RESOLUTION OF CERTIFICATION TO APPOINT AEA VOTING DELEGATE: A resolution of certification was adopted authorizing Julie Williamson, delegate, or Randall L. Rabe, alternate, to cast the district’s weighted elector votes for district director at the elector district convention number 3 of the Reorganized Area Education Agency that will be created by the merger of AEA 13 and AEA 14 at the election to be held on July 29, 2009. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Wessels, seconded by Gregersen. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote.

POLICY:  Shared time staff – 2nd reading: This policy #603.7 has had its first reading approval and was presented to the board for its second reading. A motion to accept this second reading was given by Wessels and seconded by Gregersen and carried with a 5-0 vote.

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL AGREEEMENT (CCEOC): Previously our alternative high school students were educated at the Cass County Independent Learning Center. Atlantic CSD had an EOC program. These programs are being combined to form the Cass County Educational Opportunity Center and will be housed and overseen by the Atlantic district. A motion to approve participation in the CCEOC was made by Nichols, seconded by Williamson. The motion carried with a 5-0 vote. Our students will need to meet our graduation requirements.

ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS: The superintendent’s report included Better Boardsmanship Credits, the Activity Calendar, Visual Phonics training, Love and Logic training, and football athletic trainer. The secondary principal reported on the summer baseball and softball teams and a schedule showing the new ending time.

ADJOURNMENT President Rabe declared the meeting adjourned at 9:37 p.m.

signed Randall J. Rabe , Board President 

signed Linda Edwards. Board Secretary

Pursuant to Iowa Code Policy #279.30, the following bills were paid with the joint approval of the board president and the superintendent: