April 15, 2024
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, April 15, 2024 at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms, Marty Roberts, Melinda Anderson, Monica Roberts, Nick Batterson, Megan Simmons, Tana Olin, Melanie Collett 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 via phone call; Tom Judy, present; Tyrone Lobberecht, present and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.
Public Hearing: 2024-2025 School Budget Summary: Superintendent Williamson gave a presentation on the Budget Tax Rate to open the public hearing at 6:00 pm. With no one from public speaking, hearing closed at 6:13 pm.
Public Hearing: 2024-2025 School Calendar: President Houk opened the public hearing at 6:13 pm. Melinda Anderson and Tana Olin both spoke on the upcoming calendar for next year. With no one else speaking, hearing closed at 6:20 pm.
Public Forum: Monica Roberts, Marty Roberts and Megan Simmons spoke in public forum.
Correspondence: None
Approve Agenda: Judy moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports: April Glosser, Curriculum Director, Jil Nelson Eddyville Elementary Principal; Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services and Lori Hugen, Explore Academy presented their board reports to the board. Other reports submitted but not read were from the Jr/Sr High Principal, Maintenance, and Nutrition Director.
Board member Van Mersbergen left meeting at 6:31 pm.
Consent Items: Vandello moved and Klyn seconded to approve consent items 8a to 8c: March 18, 2024 regular board minutes, March 25, 2024 public hearing minutes and March 25, 2024 special board meeting minutes, account balances as of March 31, 2024, bills list for April 2024, board policies: 619 – Teaching Controversial Issues, 620 – Global Education, 621 – Citizenship and 622 – Individualized Instruction. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve consent item 8d: Contracts and Agreements: Operational Sharing Position – Transportation – with North Mahaska and Operational Sharing Position – Maintenance – with North Mahaska. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Glenn moved and Vandello seconded to approve the following hires: Tabatha Klopp, Vocal at Jr/Sr High, Sarah Howk, Elementary Counselor, Heather Main, Mental Health Counselor at Jr/Sr High,
Ann Roberts, Junior High ELA Teacher, Whitney McLaughlin - MH Intern for 2024-25, Kylie Batterson, 9th Grade Softball Coach, Jeff Whitehall, Head Football Coach, Ryan Jackson, Assistant Football Coach,
Jesse Riley, Assistant Football Coach, Micheal Pilcher, Jr High Football Coach, Kevin Huck, Head Cross Country Coach, Eric Lenox, Asst/Jr High Cross Country Coach, Gladys Genskow, Head Volleyball Coach, Torie Alexander, Assistant Volleyball Coach, Robin Taylor, 9th Grade Volleyball Coach, Kiera MacPherson, Jr High Volleyball Coach, Megan Lehman, Jr High Volleyball Coach, Teri Tuller, Football Cheer Sponsor, Tony Fenton, Head Girls Basketball, Mike Haywood, Assistant Girls Basketball, Ryan Jackson, 9th Grade Girls Basketball, Dimitri Boyer, Head Boys Wrestling, David Hall, Assistant Boys Wrestling, Jake Demmon, Jr High Boys Wrestling, Garret Krause, Head Girls Wrestling, and Whitley Alexander, Volunteer Volleyball Coach. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the following resignations at the end of their 2024 contract year: James Fineran, Fremont Elementary Principal, Christi Wade, EE/BE Interventionist, Amanda Frahm, 1st Grade Teacher at Fremont Elementary, Steve Noble, Jr/Sr High Principal, Nolan Krueger, Social Studies Teacher at Jr/Sr High, and Bridgett DeWitt, Behavior Interventionist at Explore Academy. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve the final report to the IPIB Board regarding case 23FC:0100. Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved and Klyn seconded to approve the Fiscal Year 2022 Audit. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Judy seconded to approve the draft list of the 2024 EBF Graduates. Motion carried unanimously. No motion was made on the approval of the 2024-2025 School Calendar. Glenn moved and Vandello seconded to accept the quote for the replacement of the junior high locker room lockers in the amount of $48,570.00. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Vandello seconded to approve the out of state travel request for FFA students to attend the Black Hawk East Livestock Judging camp in Galva, Il June 3rd to June 5th. Motion carried unanimously. Glen moved and Lobberecht seconded to set the Budget Amendment Hearing for FY2024 for Monday, May 20, 2024. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Summer list of capital projects and a committee of board members and community members will start holding meetings to discuss future capital projects. Superintendent Williamson discussed FY25 AEA dollars and the board would like to have Nathan Wood from GPAEA come and explain the impact of HF 2612 would have on the services provided to EBF. A special board meeting will be held Monday, April 22, 2024 with the next regular board meeting on Monday, May 20, 2024. Open Enrollments were viewed by the Board. Open positions are: Para Educator for Jr/Sr High for remainder of 2023-24, Jr/Sr High Principal for 2024-25, Fremont Elementary Principal for 2024-25, Social Studies Teacher for Jr/Sr High for 2024-25, EE/BE Reading Interventionist for 2024-25, Behavior Interventionist for Explore Academy for 2024-25, Regular Route Driver, Child Care Associates, Mental Health Interns for 2024-25, Substitutes for all positions, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Assistant FFA Advisor, 9th Grade Baseball Coach, Jr High Baseball Coach, Basketball Cheer Coach, Assistant Football Coach and Jr High Football Coach.
Closed Session: Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to have board go into closed session per Iowa Code 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation or where litigation is imminent where its disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation. Roll call vote: Glenn, yes; Klyn, yes; Vandello, yes; Van Mersbergen, absent; Judy, yes; Lobberecht, yes and Houk, yes. Motion carried unanimously for board to go into closed session. Board went into closed session at 7:52 pm.
Open session resumed at 8:40 pm.
Action on closed session: Judy moved and Glenn seconded to accept the settlement agreement. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjourn: Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:42 pm
Curt Houk Mary McCrea
Board President Board Secretary
