Summary of the Minutes of the Board
of Education Meeting
The regular meeting
of the Board of Education was called to order by President Samuel
A motion was made by Director Spicer and
seconded by Director Becker to approve the agenda. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of
the Board of Education held
A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Spicer to approve the payment of bills. Ayes all.
Director of Finance, Ramona Jeffrey,
reviewed the receipts, disbursements, and cash balance in each of the fund accounts
for the month of July.
Director of Personnel Martin
Gordon reviewed the following personnel changes: New Hires – Ann Fisher, Emily Romig, Ranae
O’Neill, Kristine Does, Meagan Wittnebel, Stephanie Buffington,
Superintendent Keith Sersland thanked the
Board for their attendance at the new teacher orientation welcome activities
and the all staff meeting.
Superintendent Sersland highlighted the
following: the “New Mohawk” activities
scheduled for new middle and high school students on August 20; the early
childhood and preschool classes will start on August 27; the Iowa Association of School Boards ABLE
meeting scheduled for August 28 through the Mason City High School ICN; the
Roosevelt Elementary dedication scheduled at 6:00 p.m. on September 6 with the
open house to follow; and the September 10 all county school boards legislative
forum at Roosevelt Middle School.
President
There were no requests to address the Board
during the Open Forum.
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear reviewed
a list of recent accomplishments by students and staff members.
Superintendent Sersland reviewed the student directory information that may be released to the public regarding any individual student of the school district as needed:
Name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous school or institution attended by the student, photograph and likeness and other similar information.
Any
student over the age of eighteen or any parent not wanting this information
released to the public must make objection in writing by September 15 to the
principal. The objection needs to be
renewed annually.
Director Mark Young entered the meeting at
this point.
Superintendent Sersland reported on the
following: (1) Storm Sewer Easement – Mr.
Sersland shared the district received a request from Holy Family regarding a
storm sewer easement related to the parking lot project completed next to the Washington Early Childhood Center. This easement allows for Holy Family to tie
into the storm sewer at the early childhood center site. (2) September 10
Director of Instructional Programs Kathryn
Schladweiler reported on the additions and revisions made to the plan draft
presented at the July meeting. The
changes include the addition of the achievement data absent from the plan which
the district has now received. This plan
will be submitted by and certified to the Department of Education by September
15. A motion was made by Director Becker
and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the five-year comprehensive school
improvement plan presented. Ayes all.
A public hearing was held to allow taxpayers the opportunity to be heard regarding an Instructional
Support Levy. Taxpayers heard regarding
the instructional support levy were Jack McCourt,
Board members
responded to the objection of an instructional support levy by Mr. McCourt and
Mr. Montgomery.
President Hunt
shared that the
Director Young
followed up the question regarding the expenditures for starting early
childhood/preschool programs. The early
childhood programs at
Directors Hoffman
and Spicer responded to concerns regarding energy usage in the
Superintendent
Sersland shared the district no longer receives state funds through Phase III
which was nearly one million dollars in the mid 90’s and was a tremendous
resource for providing summer school, Saturday School, training for advanced
placement teachers and other extended learning opportunities for students. These programs are still in place although
this funding has now been directed to the on-going teacher quality pay
incentive to raise teacher pay in the State of
Following the
discussion and public hearing, Director Spicer made the following motion
seconded by Director Hoffman:
WHEREAS, pursuant to the provision of
the Iowa Code Sections 257.18-257.21 an instructional support program is
available to all
WHEREAS, the Mason City Community
School District Board of Directors believes it is in the best interest of the
school district to pursue participation in the instruction support program,
and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the
Board of Directors of the
I, James Spicer,
move the Board of Directors of the Mason City Community School District in
Cerro Gordo County, State of Iowa, authorize for a period of five (5) years
commencing with the 2008-2009 budget year, to levy and impose an instructional
support tax in an amount (after taking into consideration instructional support
state aid) not to exceed four percent (4%) of the total of regular program
district cost for the budget year and monies received under section 257.14 as a
budget adjustment for the budget year be authorized annually as determined by
the Board to levy a combination of an instructional support property tax upon
all the taxable property within the school district, commencing with the levy
for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 and to impose an
instruction support income surtax upon the state individual income tax of each
individual income taxpayer resident in the school district on December 31 for
each calendar year commencing with calendar year 2008 on each year thereafter
[the percent of income surtax not to exceed one percent (1%)] to be determined
by the Board for each fiscal year, to be used for insuring on-going enrichment
and remedial learning opportunities for grades preschool through grade twelve
as well as to support student technologies, software and curriculum.
A roll call vote
was taken resulting in ayes all.
Board policies 104 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment
Policy, 104.R1 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment Investigation Procedures, 104.E1 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment
Complaint Form, 104.E2 Anti-Bullying/Harassment Witness Disclosure Form, 403.5 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy, 403.5R1
– Anti-Bullying/Harassment Investigation Procedures, 403.531 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment
Complaint Form, 403.5E2 Anti-Bullying/Harassment Witness Disclosure Form,
502.10 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment Policy, 502.10R1 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment
Investigation Procedures, 502.10E1 – Anti-Bullying/Harassment Complaint Form
and 502.10E2 Anti-Bullying/Harassment Witness Disclosure Form were presented
for second reading. A motion was made by
Director Becker and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the policies as
presented. Ayes all.
Board Policy Section 600 – Education Program
was presented for second reading. A
motion was made by Director Spicer and seconded by Director Becker to approve
the policies included in section 600 as presented. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Hoffman and seconded by Director Young to approve the following
board goals for 2007-2008:
1. The Board will focus on their role in terms
of the District’s new five-year Comprehensive School Improvement Plan
(CSIP). In addition, the Board will
identify those areas in the new CSIP that will require additional professional
development for the Board of Education.
2. The Board will evaluate/review information
and data related to: new or revised
curriculum, universal preschool for four-year-olds, teacher quality,
professional development, extended learning opportunities for all students,
planning related to future district needs in terms of school leadership and
facilities planning.
3. The Board will plan for and then review the
data from Life Track Services and the administration in terms of implementing a
five-year graduation follow-up study that will be ongoing. A report will be given to the Board in August
or September of 2008 regarding the Class of 2003.
4. The Board in partnership with all
stakeholders will continue to provide leadership in the following areas:
·
long-range
financial planning,
·
student
enrollment trends, grouping of children and school boundaries,
·
energy
conservation,
·
legislative
advocacy at the state and federal level; and
·
activities
and athletics at all levels.
5.
The
Board is committed to being more visible at school activities and events as
well as day to day operations in each of the buildings.
Ayes all.
Staff handbooks for the 2007-2008 school year were presented
for board approval. Superintendent
Sersland shared that the policies approved at this meeting would be added to
the handbooks. A motion was made by
Director Spicer and seconded by Director Becker to approve the staff handbooks
as presented. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Hoffman and seconded by Director Young to appoint Connie Stille as
the level one child abuse investigator for the 2007-2008 school year. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Young and
seconded by Director Spicer to approve a contract from
Applications for Shayla
Bielefeld, Dominique Bohl, Chylee Douglas, Chelsea Ellingson, Cody Allen
Johnson, Holly Portis, William Portis, Wyatt Portis, Jessica Sanchez and
Caitlin Stephens for the 2007-2008 school year were taken under
consideration. A motion was made by
Director Becker and seconded by Director Young to approve these open enrollment
applications. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Becker and seconded by Director Young to adjourn. Ayes all.
The meeting was adjourned at
Susan A. Deike
Recording Secretary
Samuel
Board President