December 19, 2022
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, December 19, 2022 at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Cathy Williamson, April Glosser, James Fineran, Jil Nelson, Steve Noble, Melissa Reed-Appel and Ann Ohms.
Call to Order: President Houck called to order the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors at 6:00 p.m. Roll call: Eric Klyn, present; Rena Shepherd, present via Zoom; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present via Zoom; Doug Brinegar, present; Mark Haselhuhn, absent and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.
Public Hearing: President Houk opened the public hearing on Categorical Fund Transfer Resolution at 6:00 p.m. With no comments from the public, hearing closed at 6:01 p.m.
Public Forum: None
Correspondence: None
Approve Agenda: Brinegar motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports: Superintendent Williamson gave an update on FY23 budget and assumptions for unspent balance in five years. Steve Noble, principal at the Jr/Sr High school gave his report next and informed the board of upcoming professional development from Mike Donahue. This will be for teachers and students and occur in January, February and March. April Glosser, Curriculum Director, was next and discussed desk audits, course book updates, curriculum updates, January 16th professional develop with Adam Holland, and ISASP testing. James Fineran, principal at Fremont Elementary gave the combined elementary principal’s board report regarding Winter activities and that all principals met with Tera Tech to assess building safety. Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services, updated the board on special education counts and billing, Explore Academy, new para educators hired and the EBF Lau Plan. Other reports submitted, but not read were from the Daycare Director, Maintenance Director, and the Nutrition department.
Consent Items: Brinegar motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve Consent Items 7a to 7c(v): November 7, 2022 and November 21, 2022 Board Meeting Minutes; Account Balances as of November 30, 2022; December’s Bills and Review of School Board Policies: Care of School Property/Vandalism – 521, Student Conduct on School Transportation – 522, Student Lockers – 523, Weapons – 524 and the second reading of board policy 555A -Naloxone Supply & Administration for Opioid Overdose. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the second reading of board policy 722 – Meal Charges. Discussion held on the Iowa Department of Education Bureau of Nutrition guidance regarding negative lunch accounts and what can and cannot be done. The district is limited on being able to have a clear plan on recovering money owed for negative accounts. Motion carried with 5 yeas, 1 no. Brinegar motioned and Klyn seconded to accept open enrollment in for Maximo Six, 8th Grade from Oskaloosa to Jr/Sr High and Makenzi Meyers, 11th Grade from Oskaloosa to Jr/Sr High and open enrollment out for Jacob Beyer, 10th Grade to North Mahaska and Haylee Evans, Kindergarten to Ottumwa. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship TPRA Grant Contracts for Megan Bahr and Ashley Wilson and for the Tuition Reimbursement Contract for Buffie Ritz for her K-8 Reading endorsement. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Brinegar motioned and Klyn seconded to approve the hiring of Desiree Law, Spring Play/Musical Director, Joyce Eveland, Math at Jr/Sr High, second semester, Morgan Brown, Behavior Interventionist and Michelle Plate, Preschool Para Educator at Fremont Elementary; and the resignations of Sydney Guiter, Preschool Para Educator, Jason McAlister, 2nd Shift Custodian at Jr/Sr High, and Megan Hole, Kitchen Manager at Eddyville Elementary. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Brinegar motioned and Klyn seconded the flexibility fund transfer of $150,000 from Home School Assistance Program and $40,000.00 from Professional Development Supplement for the general fund purpose of salaries and benefits. Small discussion on if after the transfer from professional development if there would be enough remaining for future professional development. Roll Call Vote: Klyn, yea; Shepherd, yea; Vandello, yea; Van Mersbergen, yea; Brinegar, yea; Haselhuhn, absent and Houk, yea. Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Klyn seconded the At-Risk Allowable Growth request of $288,311.00. Roll Call Vote: Klyn, yea; Shepherd, yea; Vandello, yea; Van Mersbergen, yea; Brinegar, yea; Haselhuhn, absent and Houk, yea. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve the purchase and installation of an ADA compliant lift for the Jr/Sr High School Stage in the amount of $50,000.00. Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Vandello approved the EBF Lau Plan 2022-2023. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve the out of state travel for Agri Power FFA to attend some meat judging and horse judging competitions in Illinois and Indiana. Mrs. Reed-Appel, FFA Advisor, gave a brief overview of these contests. She might not have students attending all of the approved contests, but wanted to get all of them approved so that students could choose what events they wanted to attend. Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the closure and transfer from dormant activity accounts to the Activity Management account of $30.22 from EBF Special Olympics and $4.62 from Archery Club. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve the purchase of a 12 passenger van up to $45,000. Discussion was held on the requirements for purchasing, for driving and what the district will use this vehicle for. Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the 2022-2023 Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission Natural Gas Program Participant Agreement. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Superintendent Williamson gave an update on the last Capital Projects meeting and stated that Patrick Davis, from Denovo, will be bringing back to the committee plans of what was discussed. Once the committee has decided on a plan, the committee will meet with community members and staff members to show these ideas and get feedback. Superintendent Williamson hopes that by the summer of 2024. the district will be starting the construction of one of the projects that the committee has recommended. Open positions are: 2nd Shift Custodian - Jr/Sr High, Special Education Teacher - Strat II - Jr/Sr High, Regular Route Driver, Child Care Associate, Substitutes for all positions, Coaching / Supplemental Positions: Junior High Student Council, Girls Head Golf Coach, Jr High Track Coach (2)
9th Grade Softball Coach, Jr High Baseball Coach, and Jr High Softball Coach (2). Superintendent Williamson also shared with the board the start of the draft calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The board requested that a survey be sent out to staff after the completion of Spring Break to get their opinion of having Spring Break next year and how they felt the Monday professional days went.
Adjourn: Brinegar motioned and Klyn seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
Curt Houk Mary McCrea
Board President Board Secretary
