May 15, 2023
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, May 15, 2023 at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Lanny Glosser, Ann Ohms, Janet Brinegar, CD Brinegar, Rob Veldhuizen, Melissa Gingrich, Liz Smith, Travis Smith, Amber Collett, Randy Reed, Emily Patterson, Ashleigh Sammons, Livvie Eissens, Pat Powers, Cory Black, Cindy Nichols and others not signed in.
Call to Order: President Houk called to order the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors at 6:00 pm. Roll call: Eric Klyn, present; Rena Shepherd, present; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present; Doug Brinegar, present; Mark Haselhuhn, absent and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.
Public Hearing: 2022-2023 EBF Budget Amendment Public Hearing opened at 6:00 pm. Superintendent Williamson presented to the public a summary of the proposed changes to the 2022-23 Budget. With no questions, the hearing closed at 6:03 pm.
Public Hearing: 2023-2024 School Calendar Public Hearing opened at 6:03 pm. Superintendent Williamson gave an overview of the upcoming school calendar. Elementary students will have parent teacher conferences or meet the teacher days on Tuesday, August 22nd and Wednesday, August 23rd, with the first full day of school for elementary students on Thursday, August 24th. Jr/Sr High student’s first day of school is Wednesday, August 23rd. Possible snow make up days were also listed on this year’s calendar. With no questions, the hearing closed at 6:08 pm.
Public Forum: Lanny Glosser and Liz Smith each spoke separately but in support of the EBF Wrestling program regarding the need for a girls wrestling coach, a larger wrestling room and opportunities for girls wrestling. Janet Brinegar, CD Brinegar, and Randy Reed each spoke separately to the board in support of the current FFA Instructor and would like the board to reconsider the termination of Mr. Pieter Appel. Robert Veldhuizen, Melissa Gingrich, and Cory Black, each spoke separately and addressed the board on the importance of the FFA program and the opportunities it provides our students. Livvie Eissens, Secretary of the Agri Power FFA, wanted to give the board an update on the FFA Banquet, the goat/pig show and the gold buckle judging contest that have just been completed. Each activity was a huge success.
Correspondence: none
Approve Agenda: Shepherd motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports: April Glosser, Curriculum Director, went over the curriculum updates, evidence based practices, the EBF DCAP (District Career & Academic Plan), and testing updates showing the growth in math and reading at all elementary buildings as well as with the junior high students. Jil Nelson, Principal for Eddyville Elementary gave the combined elementary principal’s board report and informed the board of upcoming end of year activities and field trips. Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services, gave updates on the district’s Service Delivery Plan, CPI training, the search for mental health interns for next year and the need for extended year services for some special education students. Other reports submitted, but not read were from the Secondary Principal, Childcare, Maintenance & Nutrition Directors, as well as the report from the last building representative meeting.
Consent Items: Vandello motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve Consent Items 8a(i-iii) the April 10, 2023, the April 17, 2023 and April 27, 2023 board minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve Consent Items 8(i-ii): Account balances as of April 30, 2023 and the bills list for May 2023. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Vandello seconded to approve 8c(i-iv) school board policies: 541-Student Fundraising; 542-Student Activity Program; 543-Student Promotion-Retention-Acceleration; and 544-Student Honor and Awards. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Shepherd seconded to approve 8c(v) the second reading of board policy 722A-Donations to Food Service Program for Application to Unpaid Meal Accounts. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 8c(iv) the first reading of board policy 111-District Vision and Mission Statement. Discussion was held on Vision Statement. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to table the first reading of board policy 111-District Vision and Mission Statement. Motion tabled unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve 8d(i-v) Contract & Agreements: Sharing Agreement between EBF & Great Prairie AEA for a librarian; Technology with TF Technology; bus mechanic with K Repair and counseling and consulting for the Explore Academy with Julie DeVries. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 8d(vi) the FY 24 Extension for the food service management company of Opaa! Emily Patterson and Ashleigh Sammons, both from Opaa! addressed the board’s previous concerns with the food service management company. Small discussion. Motion carried 4 ayes & 1 nays. Brinegar motioned and Vandello seconded to approve the open enrollments in of Hannah Reed, Kindergarten from Pekin to Fremont Elementary; Harper LaRue, Kindergarten from Ottumwa to Blakesburg Elementary; Cali Smith, Kindergarten from Ottumwa to Eddyville Elementary (has sibling at EE); Monroe Mittag, Kindergarten from Oskaloosa to Eddyville Elementary; Remington Mittag, Kindergarten from Oskaloosa to Eddyville Elementary; Nadina Lopez-Gonzales, Kindergarten from Oskaloosa to Eddyville Elementary (mother works for district); Hendrix Moore, Kindergarten from Ottumwa to Blakesburg Elementary; Emily Moody, Kindergarten from Oskaloosa to HSAP and open enrollments out of Tyson Stout, 10th Grade to North Mahaska (moved into district) and
Moriah Stout, 10th Grade to North Mahaska (moved into district). Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded the denied open enrollment of Letrell Buxton, 6th Grade from Ottumwa to Blakesburg-denied due to insufficient classroom space. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Brinegar motioned and Van Mersbergen seconded to approve the hires of: Sierra Kendall, 6th Grade Teacher at Fremont Elementary; Nathan Smith, Group Speech; Leslee Hansen, Special Education Teacher at Jr/Sr High; Kierra MacPherson, Assistant Softball; Gladys Genskow, Jr High Softball -approved as volunteer-now paid coach; and volunteer softball coach of Madysen Wade. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to accept the resignations of: Emily Hale, Social Studies at the Jr/Sr High, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year; Nicole Harland, Para Educator at the Eddyville Elementary, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year; and Desiree Law, Vocal Music at the Jr/Sr High, effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Small discussion. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Brinegar motioned and Shepherd seconded to approve 10a the 2022-2023 Budget Amendment. Motion carried unanimously. Shepherd motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 10b the 2023-24 School Calendar. Small discussion on Spring Break. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 10c the 2023 EBF Service Plan Delivery. Motion carried unanimously. Brinegar motioned and Shepherd seconded to approve 10d the list of surplus vehicles, with bids to be opened at the June 19, 2023 board meeting. Discussion held on where district would advertise. Ottumwa Courier, our Facebook page and Hawkeye Trader. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 10e the quote of $87,000 from Francis Electric for the purchase of a lighting system with COPS grant money. Discussion held on why this was the only quote and that the board requests a more detailed or clearer quote. Motion carried unanimously. Shepherd motioned and Vandello seconded to approve 10f the daycare rates effective July 1, 2023, with 35 hour contracts increasing by $5.00 a week, 25 & 10 hour contracts increasing by $2.50 a week and the drop in rate increasing by .50 cents an hour. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello motioned and Brinegar seconded to approve 10g that classified staff are eligible to have their personal day paid to them in lieu of using before the end of the school year, for this year only. Discussion held regarding the impact this would have on the budget. Superintendent Williamson stated that this would not have a negative impact on the budget. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Superintendent Williamson presented the board the updated estimate from the Iowa DOT regarding the resurfacing of highway 23 in Fremont. The DOT will be resurfacing the front parking in front of the Fremont Elementary. The board scheduled a special meeting for Monday, May 22, 2023 at 7:00 pm to decide and plan the larger summer projects. Board member, Vandello, asked the board’s feelings on paying for bus driver’s meals when they take students to activities. She would like to go back to this practice since we have a shortage of bus drivers. The district currently follows the Iowa Administrative guidelines for in state travel reimbursement and these guidelines only allow for meal reimbursement if someone departs before 6:00 am and returns by 7:00 pm. The majority of the board feels that these are guidelines that we should continue to follow. Sub committees need to determine times that they are available to meet and get meetings scheduled. Open positions are: Immediate Openings - Regular Route Driver, Child Care Associates and Substitutes for all positions and Openings for the 2023-2024 School year - 2nd Shift Custodian - Jr/Sr High, 5th Grade Teacher - Eddyville Elementary, Industrial Arts Teacher or Shop Manager - Jr/Sr High, Vocal Music Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Junior High ELA Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Social Studies Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Secondary Math Teacher - Jr/Sr High, Coaching / Supplemental Positions: Assistant Football, 9th Grade Volleyball, Jr High Cross Country, Jr High Volleyball, Assistant Cheer Coach, Jr High Boys Basketball (2), Jr High Girls Basketball (2)
Assistant Wrestling & Jr High Wrestling.
Adjourn: Brinegar motioned and Vandello motioned to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:11 pm.
Curt Houk Mary McCrea
Board President Board Secretary
