January 15, 2024
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, January 15, 2024 at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms, Caryn Smith, Abby Jager, Nevaya Vandello, Regina Hoy, Travis Johnson, and others not signed in.
Call to Order: Vice President Glenn called to order the meeting of the EBF Board of Directors at 6:00 pm. Roll call: Eric Klyn, present; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present via phone call; Tom Judy, absent; Tyrone Lobberecht, present, Curt Houk, absent and Ed Glenn present. Quorum established.
Public Hearing: Vice President Glenn 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: Abby Jager & Nevaya Vandello spoke on college classes available to high school students and Regina Hoy & Travis Johnson spoke on Archery.
Presentation: Joe Milledge (KIIC) & Frank Hansen (MCG) spoke to the board regarding a video board for the gymnasium.
Board Member Judy arrived at 6:11 pm.
Correspondence: Thank you card from the family of Bill Houk
Approve Agenda: Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports: Scott Williamson, Superintendent presented his board report to the board. Other reports submitted but not read, were from the Curriculum Director, the Jr/ Sr High Principal, the elementary principals, the Director of Special Services and the Maintenance and Nutrition Director.
Consent Items: Vandello moved and Klyn seconded to approve 8a and 8b: December 18, 2023 Minutes, Account Balances as of December 31, 2023, and Bills for January 2024. Motion carried unanimously. Klyn moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve 8c: School Board Policies: Curriculum Evaluation-607; Pilot-Experimental-Innovative Projects-608; Basic Instruction Program – 609 and Summer School Instruction -610. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Klyn seconded to approve 9 Contract & Agreement –Video Board Advertising Rights. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve 9 Contract & Agreement – 2024 GASB #75 OPEB Service Agreement. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Lobberecht moved and Klyn seconded to approve the hiring of Bruce Vance - 2nd Shift Custodian at EBF Jr/Sr High; Jamie Votrobeck - Behavior Interventionist; Gladys Genskow - JH Softball Coach; Jake Cook - Head Boys Golf Coach; Polly Davis – Supervisor of MH Intern and Sydney Bowlin, volunteer girls wrestling coach. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Judy seconded to accept the resignation of Jennifer Mort Para Educator at the Jr/Sr High. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to accept the recommendation to amend the original action from the October 16, 2023 board meeting of a non-paid head archery coach being vetted by the EBF Administration to the action of vetting archery coach not occurring until the 2024-2025 archery season and if this amendment fails, the previous action item from the October 16th board meeting is nullified. Discussion held. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Vandello seconded to accept the Information Resolutions for IPIP Case Number 23FC:0100 with the following stipulations:
- The Board acknowledges that there was sufficient evidence of a violation of Iowa Code chapter 21 when the Board voted to revise the Board’s agenda at the time of the Board meeting when no emergency existed. This addition to the agenda failed to provide the required 24-hour notice to the public regarding the topics of deliberation and action to be taken by the Board. The Board will include this acknowledgement in the minutes of an open meeting.
- The Board will conduct Open Meetings and Public Records training at an open meeting with notice to the public. This training will be conducted by the Iowa Association of School Boards or the Iowa Public Information Board. This will be scheduled by the Board.
- The Board will review its policies and procedures for setting agendas and conducting open meetings and make any necessary changes to ensure the Board has steps in place to address what constitutes an emergency for revising an agenda without notice and puts procedures in place to address any issues that do not meet that standard but that need to be addressed at a meeting, such as safety protocols, planning, etc.
- Amendment of Action of vetting coach will not occur until the 2024-2025 archery season, if the amendment fails at the January 15, 2024 board meeting, the previous action item from the October 16th board meeting is nullified.
- The Board will approve this agreement at an open meeting and provide a copy of this Informal Resolution with its meeting minutes.
Motion carried unanimously. Lobberecht moved and Judy seconded to approve the recommendation for the Flexibility Funds Transfer from Home School Assistance Program of $300,000.00 and from Professional Development of $35,000.00 to the General Fund for salaries and benefits. Roll Call Vote: Klyn-yes; Vandello-yes; Van Mersbergen-yes; Judy-yes; Lobberecht-yes; Houk-absent and Glenn-yes. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the following board committees: Capital Projects / Transportation Committee – Curt Houk, Ed Glenn, Eric Klyn & alternative: Tyrone Lobberecht; Negotiations – Lara Vandello & Micah Van Mersbergen; Quarterly Building Representative Meeting – Tom Judy; Certified Salary Schedule & Supplemental Salary Schedule – Micah Van Mersbergen, Tyrone Lobberecht & Ed Glenn; Additional Ag Teacher – Tom Judy, Eric Klyn & Ed Glenn and Wellness – Lara Vandello. Motion carried unanimously. Lobberecht moved and Vandello seconded to approve the recommendation of the amended Indian Hills Courses available to students. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Capital projects – roof repairs are completed at the Jr/Sr High and Eddyville Elementary buildings. Bids for the FCS Room renovation and Blakesburg Kitchen will be opened on Feb 7th with the winning bids awarded at a special board meeting scheduled for Monday, February 12th. Open Enrollment in from Blair Barnett, 7th Grade from Oskaloosa to HSAP and open enrollment out from Monica Salinas 3rd Grade to Ottumwa. School calendar for the 2024-2025 school year was discussed and noted that legislators are looking at revising current law that has August 23 as the earliest start day of the school to a day after the end of the State Fair, such as the Monday or Tuesday after the conclusion of the Iowa State Fair. Next regular board meeting will be Monday, February 19th. AEA/IASB/SAI Day on the Hill is scheduled for February 12th. Open positions are: Para Educator – Jr/Sr High; Regular Route Driver; Child Care Associates; Vocal Music Teacher - Jr/Sr High - for 2024-25; 7-12 English Language Arts Teacher - Jr/Sr High for 2024-25; 1st Grade Classroom Teacher – Blakesburg Elementary for 2024-25; Substitutes for all positions; Assistant FFA Advisor; Head Girls Golf Coach; Assistant Baseball Coach; Assistant Softball Coach; 9th Grade Softball Coach and Junior High Softball Coach.
Closed Session: Per Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(1)(i) “To evaluate the professional competency individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session.” Judy moved and Vandello seconded to move into closed session. Roll Call Vote: Klyn-yes; Vandello-yes; Van Mersbergen-yes; Judy-yes; Lobberecht-yes; Houk-absent and Glenn-yes. Board went into closes session at 7:32 pm.
Board Reconvened Board Meeting at 7:45 pm.
Action from Closed Session: Lobberecht moved and Klyn seconded to approve the Resignation, Settlement Agreement and Release between Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD and Amanda Smith, Mental Health Counselor. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn: Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:46 pm.
Ed Glenn Mary McCrea
Board Vice President Board Secretary
