Board Minutes - 2025.04.21 Regular Meeting

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Regular Board Meeting Minutes
April 21, 2025

The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the Fremont Elementary Library on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms, Andy Alexander 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 – absent, Brianne Batterson – present, Micah Van Mersbergen – present, Tom Judy – present, Tyrone Lobberecht – present, and Curt Houk – present. Quorum established. Klyn arrived at 6:01 p.m.

 

Public Hearing – 2025-2026 School Budget Summary and Presentation of Budget Tax Rate:

President Houk opened the first public hearing at 6:00 p.m.
Superintendent Williamson gave a presentation on the FY2026 tax rate. Andy Alexander spoke on concerns regarding future capital projects and feels that November is too short of notice for a Bond referendum.  With no further comments, the public hearing was closed at 6:21 p.m.

 

Public Forum:

No one spoke.

 

Daycare Presentation:

This presentation was not given as the daycare committee member that was to give the presentation was not able to attend. 

 

Correspondence:

None

 

Approve Agenda:

Glenn moved, and Lobberecht seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Reports & Presentations:

Jordan Buell, Principal at the Jr/Sr High and Michael Nicodemus, Principal at Fremont Elementary presented their reports to the board. Other reports submitted but not read were from the curriculum director, and director of special services.

 

Consent Items:

Glenn moved, and Van Mersbergen seconded, to approve consent items 8a to 8c(iv): March 24, 2025 minutes, account balances as of March 31, 2025, April 2025 bills list, and school board policies: Statement of Guiding Principles – 100, Purpose of Policy Manual – 101, State and Federal Law Regulation – 102, Name of School District – 103, Education Philosophy – 104, Second Reading of Purchasing - Bidding – 712, Second Reading of Revised Fixed Assets Management System – 731, and Second Reading of Revised Award of Construction Contracts – 805. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Personnel:

Judy moved, and Klyn seconded, to approve the hires of Tony Fenton, Head Softball Coach, Kylie Batterson, 9th Grade Softball Coach, Madysen Wage, Assistant Softball Coach, Megan Lehman, JH Softball Coach, Dustin Snakenberg, 9th Grade Baseball Coach, Curt Johnston, JH Baseball Coach, Ed Glenn, JH Baseball Coach, Nichole Ellington, Mental Health Counselor at Eddyville Elementary, Annika Boonstra, MH Intern, Kaylee McKee, MH Intern, Saydee Smith, MH Intern, 2.0% Cost of Living Raise for Mental Health Counselors for 2025-2026: Polly Davis - $68,544.00, Alesia Houser - $68,544.00, Heather Main - $68,544.00, Polly Davis, MH Intern Supervisor, Heather Main, MH Intern Supervisor, Amy Spurgeon, MH Intern Supervisor and Ashlynn Sheets, volunteer softball coach (pending authorization). Motion carried with Glenn abstaining.   

Action Items:

• Judy moved, and Klyn seconded, to approve the Contract and Agreements: Operational Sharing Position - Transportation - North Mahaska (5 FTE) Agreement, Operational Sharing Position - Maintenance - North Mahaska (5 FTE) Agreement, and Student Assurance Services - Voluntary Accident and Catastrophic Insurance Renewal. Motion carried unanimously.
• President Houk opened the floor for discussion on potential changes to the budget that would lower the tax rate prior to a motion.  Following discussion, Van Mersbergen moved, and Klyn seconded to approve the 2025-2026 School Budget setting the tax rate at 10.26293.  Lobberecht left meeting at 7:20 p.m. Roll call vote: Glenn – no, Klyn – yes, Batterson – yes, Van Mersbergen – yes, Judy – yes, Lobberecht – absent, Houk – yes.  Motion carried 5-1.     
• Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded to request bids for vehicle fuel.  Motion carried unanimously.
• Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded to set the board hearing date for the FY2025 Budget Amendment to May 19, 2025. Motion carried unanimously. 
• Judy moved, and Klyn seconded to approve the Emergency Operations Procedures.  Small discussion.  Van Mersbergen moved, and Batterson seconded to table motion to allow board members to review the plan.  Motion to table carried unanimously. 

Discussion Items:
The air conditioning should be installed in time for graduation.  The new property tax legislation is a big topic that school districts are keeping informed on.  It is still not sure how these changes will affect school funding.  EBF will continue sharing agreement that allows Twin Cedars students to participate in our wrestling program. The next regular board meeting is Monday, May 19, 2025 at Blakesburg Elementary, 407 Wilson St. Blakesburg.  Open Enrollments were viewed by the Board. Open positions are Vocal/Choir Teacher at Jr/Sr High, Bus Mechanic, Regular Route Driver, Daycare Associates and Substitutes for all positions, and Coaching/Supplemental Positions: 9th Grade Baseball Coach.

Adjournment:
Glenn moved, and Batterson seconded, to adjourn the board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 p.m.

 

 

______________________________                

Curt Houk
Board President

 

______________________________

Mary McCrea
Board Secretary