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
President
A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Spicer to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the
Board of Education held
Director Young entered the meeting at this
point.
A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Becker 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 August.
Director of Personnel Martin Gordon reviewed
the following personnel changes: Resignations
– Cody Williams and Dory Gribben; New Hires – Meagan Wittnebel, Stephanie
Buffington, Stephanie Osier, Jareese Williams, Mark Shaffer, Patricia DeWitt,
Christy Baxter, Susan Frescaz, Jami Julsen, Elizabeth Allen, Heidi Roggeman,
Danette Holcomb, Mona Pope and Janice Shafer; and New Hires/Supplemental –
Board Secretary Ramona Jeffrey informed the Board petitions
with the necessary number of signatures calling for a vote on the Instructional
Support Levy that was passed per the board resolution on Monday, August 20 had
been filed. A motion was made by
Director Spicer and seconded by Director Hoffman to rescind the resolution to
impose an instructional support levy.
The Board discussed the motion on the table. Superintendent Sersland shared the Board did
have the option to set an election date to bring the instructional support levy
to a vote, but his recommendation is that to do so at this time was not prudent
and the Board needs further discussions in board work sessions or meetings to
decide whether to pursue the instructional support levy through a vote. Board Director Young shared his agreement
that the Board needs to further discuss when to bring this to a vote. The district still needs the funds from an
instructional support levy for those programs the district targeted in the
resolution for the levy. Director Spicer
suggested with the change in board members, the Board have an informational
work session to discuss the Board’s options regarding this funding option. President
Board Secretary Ramona
Jeffrey reviewed the school board election held on
Superintendent Keith
Sersland recognized President Samuel
A motion was made by
Director Becker and seconded by Director Young to adjourn. Ayes all.
The meeting was adjourned at
The meeting of the new
board was called to order by Board Secretary Ramona Jeffrey acting as temporary
chairperson at
Darshini Jayawardena and Robert Thoms were sworn in for their new terms by Board Secretary Ramona Jeffrey. The first order of business was the election of president. Mrs. Jeffrey, serving as temporary chairperson, called for nominations. Director Becker nominated Jim Spicer as president; Director Young seconded the nomination. Ayes all. Jim Spicer was declared duly elected as president.
Board Secretary
Jeffrey called for nominations for the office of vice president. Director Young nominated
President Spicer assumed the chair.
Discussion was held regarding the dates and times for school board meetings. It was moved by Director Young and seconded by Director Hoffman that the Mason City Community School District Board of Directors hold its regular meetings on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. for business meeting items, and at 7:00 p.m. for nonaction and action agenda items in the Administration Building, 1515 South Pennsylvania Avenue; and that Committee of the Whole study sessions be held on the second Monday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the locations indicated on the Committee of the Whole meeting calendar and that the regular meetings on the third Monday of the months June, July and August be held at 5:30 p.m. and the board not adjourn for a dinner break, but meet in regular session through to adjournment. Ayes all.
Board members reviewed a list of committee assignments and indicated those areas where they are interested in serving. The following appointments were made: Finance Committee – Directors Hoffman and Young; IASB Delegate Assembly – Director Spicer, alternates Directors Hoffman and Becker; Committee of the Whole Planning Committee – Directors Becker and Thoms; NSBA Federal Relations Network – President Spicer; County Compensation Board – Directors Appelgate and Jayawaredena; District Comprehensive School Improvement Team – Directors Jayawardena and Thoms; Superintendent’s Evaluation – Director Becker; Superintendent’s Contract – President Spicer and Education Foundation – Directors Appelgate and Jayawardena.
The calendar dates were reviewed. Superintendent Keith Sersland highlighted the
October 8 Committee of the Whole meeting.
This meeting will be held at the Mason City High School Information
Center and will be a joint meeting with the District’s Facilities
Committee. Mr. Sersland also highlighted
the Iowa Association of School Boards upcoming events for October.
Director Appelgate provided the Board with a report from the Education Foundation.
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.
President Spicer will be the board’s delegate at the Iowa Association of School Boards Delegate Assembly. Directors Hoffman and Becker are alternates.
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear shared a
handout with enrollment number comparisons for the first day of the 2007-2008
school year and the first and last day of the 2006-2007 school year. The handout also provided the enrollment
numbers for the 2006-2007 certified count taken on
Assistant Superintendent Minear provided the
Board with a handout related to numbers of students using district transportation
for 2007-2008 compared to the numbers in 2006-2007. There are 2,031 students registered for
district transportation for the start of the 2007-2008 school year. Compared to the average daily transported
numbers from 2006-2007 there has been a significant increase in students using
district transportation this year. Many
buses are to full capacity and with the upcoming winter season the district may
need to add an additional route.
Administration will continue to monitor transportation needs and update
the Board as changes become necessary.
Director of Instructional Programs Kathryn
Schladweiler provided the Board with a status report on Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP) as related to the Iowa Department of Education’s goals and the
No Child Left Behind Act. Dr.
Schladweiler provided the Board with a handout explaining AYP and what it means
to miss AYP and what the penalties are for missing AYP. The handout also included the district and
building status reports for 2007 provided by the Iowa Department of
Education. District and building
administration has reviewed the status reports and are working on action plans
for implementing the annual and long-range goals from the data generated in
this report. The Iowa Department of Education has an embargo on this
information at this time and will be releasing it to the media at a future
date.
Mason City High School Principal Doug
Kennedy reviewed the 2006-2007 ACT (American College Test) results for
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear provided
the Board with a report on the Secure Our Schools Project. A grant application process was completed to
acquire additional funds to continue the district’s goal “That all students
feel safe in school.” Mr. Minear shared
this project was a joint endeavor with the Mason City Police Department which
also required the city council’s approval.
The district’s request for funds through this project is so that all
school buildings may be equipped with security measures to restrict the flow of
people into the facilities. The project
recommendations would address the additional security measures to be installed
at the four elementary buildings and
Director of Special Education Gary Van
Hemert reported to the Board on the progress being made to increase IEP
students served in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) as required by IDEA
2004. The Department of Education is
required as a part of IDEA 2004 to determine if there exists significant
disproportionality based on race or ethnicity.
Mason City Schools has been cited for significant disproportionality in
the placement of Black IEP students in restrictive educational settings. There are three actions required by Mason
City Schools due to this citing and Mr. Van Hemert reviewed what has and will
be done along with sharing the action plans for 2007-2008 to address
significant disproportionality of special education students.
Superintendent Sersland reported on the
following: (1) “Dan Delaney Night” – Mr.
Sersland shared Dan Delaney who recently retired as the Athletic and Activities
Director will be recognized for his years of service on Friday, September 21
during halftime of the varsity football game.
There will be a reception in the gym lobby following the game. (2) Teacher Quality Legislation – Mr. Sersland
informed the Board the appropriate paperwork had been completed with the
association on the distribution of the funds provided by this legislation. As required by the legislation the Teacher
Quality Committee has been formed and the first meeting is scheduled for
Thursday, September 20; this will be an organizational meeting. (3) Athletic
Trips – Mr. Sersland shared past practice has been every sport is allowed two
charter bus trips covered by the district.
If more than that were used the increase in using a charter over a district
“yellow” bus was paid for by the booster clubs.
The district will be evaluating further the need for charter services
compared to district services.
Director of Personnel Martin Gordon provided
the Board with information regarding the Employee Background Investigation
Service available through Iowa Association of School Boards. A motion was made by Director Young and
seconded by Director Appelgate to approve this recommendation. Ayes all.
Superintendent Sersland presented the proposed Action Agenda for 2007-2008. A motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the proposed Action Agenda. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Thoms and seconded by Director Becker to approve a request from the
instrumental music department of
A motion was made
by Director Young and seconded by Director Appelgate to approve a request from
the vocal music department of
A motion was made
by Director Hoffman and seconded by Director Appelate to approve the contract
from the
A motion was made
by Director Becker and seconded by Director Appelgate to approve an application
for renewal of cooperative sponsorship of an activity with
Six open enrollment
applications for the 2007-2008 school year were taken under consideration. A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Jayawardena to approve these open enrollment applications. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Young and seconded by Director Becker to adjourn. Ayes all.
The meeting was adjourned at
Susan A. Deike
Recording Secretary
James Spicer
Board President