March 18, 2024
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, March 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms, Nick Batterson, Nathan Hinton 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: Ed Glenn, present; Eric Klyn, present; Lara Vandello, present; Micah Van Mersbergen, present; Tom Judy, present; Tyrone Lobberecht, present and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.
Public Forum: None
Correspondence: None
Approve Agenda: Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports: Scott Williamson, Superintendent; Steve Noble, Jr/Sr High Principal; Jim Fineran, Fremont Elementary Principal; and Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services presented their board reports to the board. Other reports submitted but not read were from the Curriculum Director, Maintenance, Daycare, and Nutrition Director.
Consent Items: Van Mersbergen moved, and Judy seconded to approve consent items 6a to 6b: February 12, 2024 minutes, February 19, 2024 minutes, February 26, 2024 minutes, account balances as of February 29, 2024, bills list for March 2024. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen moved, and Glenn seconded to approve the board policies: 615-Career Education, 616-Teaching About Religion, 617-Religious Based Exclusion from a School Program, 618-Academic Freedom, and Second Reading 601-School Calendar. Motion carried unanimously.
Contracts & Agreements:
Van Mersbergen moved, and Vandello seconded to approve items 1-Headsets Purchase Agreement, 2- UNI Cooperative Agreement, 4-Iowa LGRP Participation Agreement, and 5-Timberline Billing Services LLC Service Agreement. Motion carried unanimously. Van Mersbergen moved, Glenn seconded to approve item 3-Second Renewal For 2024-2025 School Year with Opaa!. Motion Carried 6-1 nay from Van Mersbergen.
Personnel: Vandello moved, Lobberecht seconded to approve the following hires: Madysen Wade – Assistant Softball Coach, Taylor Caves - Volunteer Softball Coach, Bret Whitehall – Assistant Baseball Coach, and Alex Ashman – Volunteer Baseball Coach. Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved, Vandello seconded to approve the following resignations: Donovan Young – 9th grade Baseball Coach, Travis Stout – Head Boys Basketball Coach, and Tyler Ford – Junior High Boys Baseball Coach. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: No motion for Preschool Tuition Rates. Van Mersbergen moved, seconded by Judy to approve the Early Graduation request of Caleb Gooden. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Board would like to have the Capital Projects committee work with 5-7 community members as a group in the next steps of planning for the district. Legislative activity is occurring now that will have extensive impact on all school districts, especially EBF. 28E Agreements cost was discussed for boys and girls swimming. The current cost for girls swimming at Ottumwa this year exceeded $4,000 per participant. The district will also review charging an amount for sharing wrestling with Twin Cedars. Public Hearing for the school calendar will be at the April 15th monthly Board meeting. Open Enrollments were viewed by the Board. The special Board meeting March 25th will have a “Budget Hearing” to begin the meeting followed by a workshop with the Iowa Public Information Board regarding agenda planning and amendments. Open Positions are: Regular Route Driver; Child Care Associates; Vocal Music Teacher - Jr/Sr High - for 2024-25; Elementary Counselor for 2024-25, 7-12 English Language Arts Teacher - Jr/Sr High for 2024-25; Substitutes for all positions; Assistant FFA Advisor; 9th Grade Baseball Coach, Jr High Baseball Coach, Football Cheer Coach, and Basketball Cheer Coach.
Adjourn: Van Mersbergen moved and Vandello seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:35 pm
Curt Houk Scott Williamson
Board President Superintendent
