Summary of the Minutes of the Board
of Education Meeting
The regular meeting
of the Board of Education was called to order by President James Spicer at
A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Appelgate to approve the agenda. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Appelgate and
seconded by Director Thoms 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 Young to approve the payment of bills. Ayes all.
Ramona Jeffrey, Director of Finance,
reviewed the receipts, disbursements, and cash balance in each of the fund accounts
for the month of October.
Mrs. Jeffrey reviewed the 509A Actuarial
Opinion of the Mason City Community School District Health Care Plan.
Mrs. Jeffrey provided a report on the funds
received through the One Cent Local Option Sales and Services Tax (LOST) since
its passage with estimated projected earnings for the 2007-2008 school year.
Director of Personnel Martin Gordon reviewed
the following personnel changes: New
Hires – Kirstin Rood, Beverly Rippentrop, Heather Niles, and Lyndsay Lingbeek; Resignations
– Danette Holcomb and Mary Hanson; and New Hires/Supplemental – Deb Albrect and
Marilyn Schachel. A motion was
made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Appelgate to approve the
personnel changes. Ayes all.
Gary LaFrenz, President, provided the Board
with the annual report from the Foundation.
Last year the Foundation awarded over $40,000 in scholarships to
Superintendent Sersland reviewed the four
calendar drafts being proposed for the 2007-2008 school year. The Board made recommendations for changes
and three drafts will be presented for conversation and input to district
staff, community representatives and the District Comprehensive School
Improvement Plan committees.
The calendar dates were reviewed.
Superintendent
Sersland shared a thank you from North Iowa Bus Company for the American
Education Week treats.
Board President Spicer reported on the Iowa
Association of School Boards district meeting and leadership conference he
attended.
The board recessed for dinner at
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
recommended policy revisions for Board Policy 506.4 – Student Circulation
Records, Board Policy Regulation 605.1R1 – Selection of Instructional
Materials, Board Policy Regulation 605.3R1 – Reconsideration of Instructional
Materials Regulation, Board Policy Exhibit 605.3E1 – Instructions to the
Reconsideration Committee, Board Policy Exhibit 605.3E2 – Reconsideration of
Instructional Materials Board Policy Exhibit 605.3E3 – Sample Letter to
Individual Challenging Instructional Materials, Board Policy 605.4 – Technology
and Instructional Materials, Board Policy 605.5 – Media Centers, Board Policy
605.7 – Use of Information Resources, and Board Policy Regulation 605.7R1 Use
of Information Resources Regulation. These
policies will be presented for second reading and approval at the December
regular meeting of the Board.
Assistant Superintendent Minear provided
an update and correction related to the district’s certified enrollment count
report which was provided at the regular board meeting in October. Following the certification of the enrollment
on October 15, the district discovered a miscalculation in the number of
students it submitted on the certification.
The district submitted this information to the Department of
Education. The Department of Education
investigated the corrected numbers and recertified the count. This was an increase of 35 students.
Superintendent Sersland reported on the
following: (1) School Resource Officers
and D.A.R.E. Program – Superintendent Sersland shared due to resources and
personnel medical issues the D.A.R.E. program provided to 5th
graders was not able to be completed for the first semester. Discussions were held with Mason City Police
Department, city and school district personnel regarding the future of this
program. Due to resource issues,
personnel issues and research indications that this program has little impact
on the choices students make relative to substance use as they move into middle
school, the district and city have decided to discontinue D.A.R.E. District administration feels substance abuse
education could be added to the district curriculum to supplement what the
D.A.R.E. program provided in that area.
The resources and personnel for the School Resource Officers are still
in place and the district and city will continue with this cooperative
program. (2) Iowa Girls’ High School
Athletic Union Strategic Plan – Superintendent Sersland shared a draft of the
2008-2013 strategic plan the union is developing.
A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Young to approve the 28E agreement between the City of
Board Policy 903.4
– Public Conduct on School Premises and Board Policy Regulation 903.4R1 –
Public Conduct on School Premises Regulation were presented for second reading
and approval. A motion was made by
Director Hoffman and Director Appelgate to approve the recommended policy and
regulation. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Young and
seconded by Director Appelgate to approve the proposed early retirement
plans. Ayes all.
Requests received for early graduation were
taken under consideration. A motion was
made by Director Young and seconded by Director Appelgate to approve the early
graduation requests subject to the successful completion of the requirements of
the State of
Application for
allowable growth programs for 2008-2009 was presented and recommended for
approval. Assistant Superintendent
Director of Special Education Gary Van
Hemert presented revisions for the District-Developed Instructional Services
Delivery System Special Education Program submitted for board approval on an
annual basis. A motion was made by
Director Becker and seconded by Director Thoms to approve the recommended
plan. Ayes all.
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear provided
the Board with a report on the School Budget Review Committee Application filed
with the Department of Education. A
motion was made by Director Young and seconded by Director Appelgate to approve
the School Budget Review Committee Application as reported. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Becker and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the proposed
list of committee members for the 2007-2008 District Comprehensive School
Improvement Committee. Superintendent
Sersland noted a few members may still be added to this committee and the Board
will be updated with these additions as they are made. Ayes all.
Superintendent
Sersland shared lists of additional community/parent based committees of the
district.
A motion was made by Director Young and
seconded by Director Becker to accept the resignation submitted by
Superintendent Keith Sersland. Ayes all.
Discussion was held to determine a plan of
action in filling the position of superintendent for the 2008-2009 school
year. The board discussed the options
available including the use of search firms in assisting with this
process. A motion was made by Director
Young and seconded by Director Becker to proceed with the search for a
superintendent by arranging interviews with search firms. Ayes all.
Superintendent
Sersland presented and reviewed a proposed calendar for the Committee of the
Whole meetings for the 2007-2008 school year.
A motion was made by Director Hoffman and seconded by Director Appelgate
to approve the proposed Committee of the Whole meeting calendar for
2007-2008. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Young and seconded by Director Becker to approve an application for
cooperative sponsorship of an activity with
Open enrollment
applications for Ivy Faktor, Andrew Bartel, Jared Bartel and Spenser L. Popinga
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 applications. Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Appelgate and seconded by Director Jayawardena to adjourn. Ayes all.
The meeting was adjourned at
Susan A. Deike
Recording Secretary
James Spicer
Board President