February 21, 2022
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the district office on Monday, February 21, 2022 for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Travis Johnson, Brianne Johnson, Keegan Van Devender, Jenny Van Zante, Ann Ohms, Melissa Reed-Appel, Mary Gutch, Michele Ratliff, Christopher Ellerston, Steve Noble, Cathy Williamson and others not signed in.
Regular Board Meeting: Call to Order - Establish Quorum: President Brinegar called the regular board meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Eric Klyn, present; Rena Shepherd, present; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present; Curt Houk, present; Mark Haselhuhn, present; and Doug Brinegar, present. Quorum established.
Public Forum/Visitors Acknowledgement: Jenny Van Zante addressed the board regarding the following topics: cafeteria, instruction, technology, music department and public forum.
Correspondence: Secretary McCrea read the thank you note received from the family of Sheryl Friedman.
Approve/Amend Agenda: Vandello motioned and Shepherd seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Board President Comments: President Brinegar spoke to the board on expectations for all board members in board meetings, Robert's Rule of Order and that the board will have a work session with the Iowa Association of School Boards in the near future.
Reports: Superintendent Williamson gave the board an update on legislative news, financial update, curriculum updates and dates for the RFP for Nutrition Vendor. Steve Noble, principal of the Jr/Sr High, discussed the Behavior Student Assistance Team, the hiring of a long term substitute for the music department, Rocket Launch (senior interviews), and that the top 5% of the class of2022 are Carson Stetter, Emily Dicks, Kathryn Fairchild and Tanner Ray. Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services, updated the board regarding the upcoming STOP grant kickoffwebinar, transition meetings, para positions and the Explore Academy. Other reports submitted, but not read, were from the Curriculum Director, the Elementary Principals and the Activity, Daycare & Maintenance directors.
Consent Items: Shepherd motioned and Houk seconded to approve the Consent Items: January 17, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes; Financial Reports as of January 31, 2022; February's Bills; Change the numbering of board policies from chapters to series; Review of School Board Policies: 400.12 Hazardous Chemical Disclosure, 400.13 Employee Anti-Harassment, 400.14 Substance Free Workplace, 400.15 Drug and Alcohol Testing Program; the second reading of 700.12D Protest Procedure; Contracts and Agreements: Business Associate Agreement for Medicaid Data Sharing, STOP Consultant Contract and IHCC Contract for Composition II; and Open Enrollments: 2021-2022 Ryker Keeton, 5th Grade in from Albia to Blakesburg, family move, 2022-2033 Lillian Rockwell, 3rd Grade in from Albia to HSAP, Aaliyah Rockwell, 6th Grade in from Albia to HSAP, Coleman Tuller, 6th Grade in from Ottumwa to Blakesburg, Lydia De Groot, Kindergarten in from Twin Cedars to Eddyville Elementary, Adoniyah Van Maaf, 3rd Grade in from Oskaloosa to HSAP, Canaan Van Maaf, 2nd Grade in from Oskaloosa to HSAP, Peter Van Maaf, Kindergarten in from Oskaloosa to HSAP, Ruben Mendoza, Kindergarten in from Albia to Blakesburg Elementary, Bennett Eick, 4th Grade out to Ottumwa, Ellis Eick, 2nd Grade out to Ottumwa and Emmett Smith, Kindergarten out to Cardinal. Discussion on why we were changing the board policy from chapters to series. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Houk motioned and Klyn seconded to approve Megan Hole, Cook at Eddyville Elementary, Christopher Purdy, Para Educator at Fremont Elementary, Christopher Ellerston, Jazz Band, Dezirae Fairchild, Instrumental Varsity, all effective immediately, and Nathan Smith, Jr/Sr High Spanish Teacher for the 2022-2023 school year. Motion carried unanimously. Shepherd motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded to accept the resignations of Jenna Bates, Fremont Kindergarten Teacher, Christopher Ellerston, Jr/Sr High Vocal Teacher and Lea Kunkel, Blakesburg Elementary Kindergarten Teacher, all effective at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. Discussion held regarding the need to rebuild the music department. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Houk motioned and Haselhuhn seconded to approve the Budget Guarantee Resolution FY22-06, Roll call vote: Klyn, aye; Shepherd, aye; Vandello, aye; Van Mersbergen, aye; Houk, aye; Haselhuhn, aye Brinegar, aye. Motion carried unanimously. Klyn motioned and Vandello seconded to set the Budget Hearing date to April 11, 2022 at 6:00 pm and the publication date between March 22nd and April l st. Small discussion, Van Mersbergen motioned and Houk seconded to amend the motion to include the change of the date of April's board meeting from the 18th to the 11th. Motion to change the motion carried unanimously, Amended motion carried unanimously, Van Mersbergen motioned and Shepherd seconded to increase the current weekly daycare rates for Infant, Toddler, and 3&4 year olds by five dollars a week effective May 1, 2022. Discussion held regarding Cargill and staffing issues. Motion carried unanimously.
Capital Projects: Superintendent Williamson gave an update regarding the facility committee's meetings. At the March board meeting, the committee will present its recommendations.
Discussion Items: Discussion was held regarding the upcoming 2022-2023 school calendar. Parents and classified staff will be surveyed regarding the addition of a Spring Break to the calendar and the moving of professional development days from Fridays to Mondays. Kathy Street has informed the board that she will be stepping down from being the editor for The Rocket newspaper. Superintendent Williamson would like to see if we can incorporate this into a class at the Jr/Sr High school, but does know that The Rocket newspaper is something the district would like to continue, either as a class or outside of the school day. The board discussed in length and came to unanimous consensus to add Public Forum back to the regular board meeting schedules. Open positions: Immediate Instrumental Music Teacher/Band Instructor - Jr/Sr High, Alternative Education Teacher, Physical Education Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Para Educator - Jr/Sr High, Cook - Eddyville Elementary, Child Care Associate, Activity Route Driver, Head Golf, 9th Grade Baseball, Junior High Track, Junior High Softball and Junior High Baseball and for the 2022-2023 School Year: Preschool Teacher - Fremont Elementary, Kindergarten Teacher at both Blakesburg & Fremont Elementary Buildings, Vocal Music Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Head Football Coach and Junior High Football Coach.
Adjourn: Vandello motioned and Shepherd seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m.
Board Secretary
