August 19, 2024
The Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District Board of Directors met at the District Office on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 6:00 pm for a regular board meeting. Visitors in attendance: Ann Ohms 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, absent; Tom Judy, present; Tyrone Lobberecht, present and Curt Houk, present. Quorum established.
Public Forum: None
Presentation: Curt Johnston, EBF Activities Director spoke to the board on his goals to get students more involved in extracurricular activities and help EBF coaches grow professionally.
Correspondence: None
Approve Agenda: Judy moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports & Presentation: Scott Williamson, Superintendent, spoke to the board on new state legislation on student absences and what the district is now required to do regarding absences. He also told that board that EBF was approved to have parents apply online for Free and Reduced meals. Mr. Williamson is very happy about this and hopes this will increase the applications received as it is more discreet than the paper applications. April Glosser Curriculum Director; Jordan Buell, Principal of the Jr/Sr High; Jil Nelson, Eddyville Elementary Principal and Cathy Williamson, Director of Special Services presented their reports to the board. Other reports submitted but not read were from the Childcare, Maintenance and Nutrition Directors.
Consent Items: Glenn moved and Klyn seconded to approve consent items 7a to 7c: July 15, 2024 minutes, account balances as of July 31, 2024, August 2024 bills list, school board policies: Use of Information Resources – 635, Class Size-Class Grouping – 636, School Ceremonies and Observations – 637, Student Production of Materials and Services – 638 and the Second Reading of new policy: Employee Travel Compensation – 431. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Glenn seconded to approve consent item 7d-Contracts and Agreements: Shared Librarian with GPAEA, changed from .5 to 1.0 for the 2024-25 school year. Motion carried unanimously.
Personnel: Vandello moved and Klyn seconded to approve the hires of Elizabeth Countryman, Explore Academy Teacher; Jeff Harland, Jr High Football; Anthony Richards, Jr High Football (pending licensure); Laura Griffin, Para Educator at EE; Cassandra Long, Para Educator at EE; Sydnee Houser, Para Educator at EE; Kathy Hunt, Halftime Para Educator at BE; Ann Denner, Long Term Substitute for ELA at Jr/Sr High; Jeff Whitehall, Early Bird Class; Angie Koebke, Homework Help; Kristen Birchard, Homework Help; Tabatha Klopp, Annual; Dustin Snakenberg, volunteer football couch; and the resignation of Shyanne Vanderhyde, Para Educator at BE. Motion carried unanimously.
Action Items: Vandello moved and Lobberecht seconded to approve Board Resolution FY25-01 for the distribution of the remaining $216,154.35 ESSER funds. This will be paid out to staff returning from the 2023-24 school year, pro-rated on seniority. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Vandello seconded to un-table the Hamilton Produce Company contract that was tabled at the July 15, 2024, board meeting. Motion carried, item now on the floor for discussion. Judy moved and Klyn seconded to approve the Hamilton Produce Company contract. Small discussion. Motion carried unanimously. Judy moved and Vandello seconded to approve the following 2024-25 Handbooks: EBF Elementary Handbook, EBF Preschool Handbook and the EBF Jr/Sr Handbook. Discussion held regarding the need to add the new attendance policy per state legislation. Motion carried unanimously. Glenn moved and Vandello seconded to set the Public Hearing date to borrow against SAVE to September 16th. The money will be used to build six more classrooms, kitchen storage and A/C for the cafeteria and gym at the Jr/Sr High school. Motion carried unanimously. Vandello moved and Glenn seconded the approval to purchase for the Jr/Sr High new desks in four classrooms in the amount of $28,320.03 and lunch tables in the amount of $36,438.70. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion Items: Superintendent Williamson informed the board that the district would like to purchase 2 air-conditioned buses. These would be dedicated as activity buses, as the A/C units are under the bus and all bus routes have gravel roads that are driven on. There will be a need to purchase some replacement buses in the next year. The district hopes to complete the board renewal of the Instructional Support levy by the December board meeting and the Emergency Operation plan will be updated and brought to the board for approval soon as well. Next regular board meeting is Monday, September 16, 2024. Open Enrollments were viewed by the Board. Open positions are: English Teacher for Jr/Sr High (2), Regular Route Driver, Child Care Associates, Substitutes for all positions and Coaching / Supplemental Positions: Assistant Football Coach, Basketball Cheer Coach, Jr High Boys Basketball Coach (2), Jr High Girls Basketball Coach (2), Head Girls Golf Coach, Head Baseball Coach, Assistant Baseball Coach and 9th Grade Baseball.
Closed Session – per Iowa Code Section 21.5{1}(i) Superintendent Evaluation (Roll Call vote): Glenn moved and Judy seconded to go into closed session for the Superintendent Evaluation. Glenn-yes; Klyn-yes; Vandello-yes; Van Mersbergen-absent; Judy-yes; Lobberecht-yes and Houk yes. Motion carried unanimously. The board went into closed session at 7:34 pm. Closed session ended at 8:47 pm.
Adjourn: Vandello moved and Klyn seconded to adjourn board meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:47 pm
Curt Houk Mary McCrea
Board President Board Secretary
