Board Minutes - 2024.10.21 Regular Meeting

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Regular Board Meeting Minutes
October 21, 2024

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, October 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Jacob Bunch, Ann Ohms, Sam Barnes, Morgan Johnson, Lisa Strunk, Andrew Upah, Ragen More, and others not signed in.

Call to Order: President Houk called the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Ed Glenn, present; Eric Klyn, present; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present; Tom Judy, present; Tyrone Lobberecht, present; and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.

Public Hearing:
Instructional Support Levy: President Houk opened the public hearing at 6:00 p.m. With no one heard, the public hearing closed at 6:01 p.m.

Public Forum:
Jacob Bunch and Lisa Strunk spoke regarding the Eddyville Childcare Center.

Correspondence: None

Approve Agenda:
Glenn moved, and Vandello seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

Reports & Presentations:
Scott Williamson, Superintendent, gave his report on certified enrollment and enrollment trends. Jordan Buell, Jr./Sr. High Principal, and Lori Hugen, Director of the Explore Academy, each read their board reports. Other reports submitted but not read were from the curriculum director, the elementary principals, the director of special services, and the childcare director.

Consent Items:
Glenn moved, and Vandello seconded, to approve consent items 7a to 7c(v): September 16, 2024 minutes, account balances as of September 30, 2024, October 2024 bills list, and school board policies: Transfer of Funds – 701, Financial Records – 702, Accounting Practices – 703, Cash in School Buildings – 704, and the first reading of Fundraisers – 730. Motion carried unanimously.

Lobberecht then requested that the board review the board report from Michele Ratliff, Childcare Director.

Personnel:
Van Mersbergen moved, and Vandello seconded, to approve the hires of Angela Koebke – Fall 2024 Semester ELA Duties, Leslee Hansen – Fall 2024 Semester ELA Duties, Shelly Jager – STEM, Kierra MacPherson – STEM, Michelle Seddon – STEM, Rick Scott – Head Baseball Coach, Megan Lehman, and Jeff Harland – Jr. High Girls Basketball, and volunteers Brandon Jackson, Richard Lettington, Brad Steele, Adam Proctor, Justin Stout, Derek Fye – Boys Wrestling, Sydney Bowlin – Girls Wrestling, and Travis Stout and Eric Klyn – Boys Basketball. Motion carried unanimously. There were no resignations.

Action Items:

• Judy moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the Southern Iowa Mental Health Center contract for services available at no cost to the district. Motion carried unanimously.
• Glenn moved, and Vandello seconded, to approve the resolution for continued participation in the Board Approved Instructional Support Levy. Discussion was held regarding the history of the levy and giving the public the opportunity to vote on the levy. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Vandello – yes; Van Mersbergen – no; Judy – yes; Lobberecht – yes; Houk – yes. Motion carried 6 to 1.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the resolution to set the date for a public hearing for November 18, 2024, for the proposed issuance of approximately $4,500,000.00 in School Infrastructure Sales, Services, and Use Tax Revenue Bonds. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Vandello – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Judy – yes; Lobberecht – yes; Houk – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
• Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the Limited English Proficient (LEP) Allowable Growth request of $17,756.11. Roll call vote: Glenn – yes; Klyn – yes; Vandello – yes; Van Mersbergen – yes; Judy – yes; Lobberecht – yes; Houk – yes. Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Klyn seconded, to salvage an unused John Deere diesel lawnmower and publish the intent to take sealed bids until noon on November 18, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded, to increase the activity pay rate to $15/hour on all non-school days. After a small discussion, Van Mersbergen moved, and Vandello seconded, to amend the recommendation to increase the activity pay rate to $15/hour for all trips, not just those on non-school days, starting on October 21, 2024. Amended motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to increase the daycare rates, effective November 4, 2024, to the following: Infants - $215/week flat rate; 2-year-olds - $205/week flat rate; 3-year-olds - $200/week flat rate; Before and After School Program - $90/week flat rate. Motion carried 6 to 1, with Vandello voting against.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to approve the 2024-25 EBF Lau Plan. Motion carried unanimously.
• Vandello moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the additional item in the EBF Jr./Sr. Handbook: Metal Detector Hand Wand Policy. Motion carried unanimously.
• Glenn moved, and Vandello seconded, to approve the band trip to Kansas City from April 24 to April 27, with the district providing transportation and a driver. Motion carried unanimously.

Discussion Items:
The next regular board meeting is Monday, November 18, 2024. Superintendent Williamson would like to form a committee to review the daycare finances and present an action plan at the November 18 board meeting. Open Enrollments were viewed by the Board. Open positions are: Jr./Sr. High English Teacher (2), Regular Route Driver, Childcare Associates, Substitutes for all positions, and Coaching/Supplemental Positions: Assistant Football Coach, Basketball Cheer Coach, Jr. High Boys Basketball Coach (2), Jr. High Girls Basketball Coach (2), Head Girls Golf Coach, Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Baseball Coach, and 9th Grade Baseball Coach.

Adjournment:
Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

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Curt Houk
Board President

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Mary McCrea
Board Secretary