Summary of the Minutes of the Board
of Education Meeting
The regular meeting
of the Board of Education was called to order by President Jim Spicer at
A motion was made by Director Appelgate and
seconded by Director Thoms to approve the agenda. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Appelgate and
seconded by Director Becker 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 Appelgate 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 December.
Director of Finance Jeffrey reviewed the
timelines for budget approval and certification for next year's budget.
Director of Personnel Martin Gordon reviewed
the following personnel changes: New
Hires – Leanne Rand and Melissa Hauge and New Hires/Supplemental – John Lee,
Robert Barnes, Todd Krieger, Matt Berkley and David Durbala. A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Thoms to approve the personnel changes. Ayes all.
The calendar dates were reviewed. President Spicer shared he would be attending
the Iowa Association of School Boards Legislative Conference to be held January
22 and to advise him of any issues or concerns the board may want brought
forward at the conference.
Superintendent Sersland highlighted the Iowa Association of School Boards ABLE
II: Effective Superintendent Evaluation
Practices in
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear reviewed
a list of recent accomplishments by students and staff members.
President Spicer
shared that the Board met with the search firm, G. Tryon and Associates, on
Board policies,
regulations and exhibits 506.4 – Student Circulation Records, 605.1R1 –
Selection of Instructional Materials, 605.3R1 – Reconsideration of
Instructional Materials Regulation, 605.3E1 – Instructions to the
Reconsideration Committee, 605.3E2 – Reconsideration of Instructional
Materials, 605.3E3 – Sample Letter to Individual challenging Instructional
Materials, 605.4 – Technology and Instructional Materials, 605.5 – School
Library, 605.7 – Use of Information Resources, and 605.7R1 – Use of Information
Resources Regulation were presented for second reading and approval. A motion was made by Director Appelgate and
seconded by Director Becker to approve the board policies, regulations and
exhibits as presented. Ayes all.
A public hearing
was held at 6:00 p.m. to allow taxpayers the opportunity to be heard regarding a
proposed instructional support levy, of which the revenue from the levy would
be used for the sole purpose of supporting extended learning opportunities for
students including enrichment programs and extended school day/year activities
as well as remedial programs and for on-going support of student technologies,
related software and curriculum. Taxpayers
heard in support of the instructional support levy were Cynthia Hansen, 2810 N.
Carolina Place; Brian Randall, 3260 Pinnacle Court; Donna McKay, 842 7th
St. SE;
WHEREAS, following a public hearing, the Board deems it necessary and desirable to provide additional funding for the Mason City Community School District pursuant to the Instructional Support Program; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to a duly published notice, the Board held a public hearing on the question of participation in the Instructional Support Program; and
WHEREAS, the Board wishes to take action to adopt a Resolution of Election directing an election on the question of participating in the Instructional Support Program;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board:
A motion was made by Director Young and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the following resolution:
That the Board Secretary is hereby authorized to direct the County Commissioner of Elections to submit the question of participation in the Instructional Support Program ballot question to the qualified electors of the District on March 4, 2008, on the following proposition: See attached.
Shall the Board of Directors of the
Mason City Community School District be authorized for a period of five (5)
years to levy and impose an instructional support program tax of not exceeding
four percent (4%) of the total regular
program district cost, and be authorized annually, in combination, to levy an
instructional support program property tax with the levy of property taxes for
collection commencing in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008, and to impose an
instructional support income surtax upon each individual income taxpayer
resident in the school district on December 31 for each calendar year
commencing with calendar year 2008 or, each year thereafter (the percent of
income tax not to exceed one percent determined by the Board of Directors each
year) to be used for the purposes set forth in the full ballot and to be used
for the sole purpose of:
1.
Providing
extended learning opportunities for students preschool through grade 12;
2.
Enrichment
programs and activities;
3.
Extended
school year/day including summer school and remedial programs; and
4.
Funds
would be used for the ongoing support of student technologies, related software
and curriculum?
A roll call vote
was taken resulting in ayes all.
The Board broke for
a short recess at
President Spicer
commented on the nice letter to the editor in the Globe Gazette by Doug Dobrzynski,
Dennis Muyskens, Hogan-Hansen PC, presented
and reviewed the audit report for the fiscal year ended
There were no requests to address the Board
during the Open Forum.
A motion was made by Director
Young and seconded by Director Becker to approve the following resolution:
Be
it resolved that the Mason City Community School District Board of Education
supports the following proposal as it supports our local schools and lowers the
local burden of our property taxpayers.
“Whereas
the proposal to repeal the school infrastructure local option tax (SILO) and
replace it with a state penny accomplishes the following:
o
fairly distributes the state penny equally to school districts for
all children, regardless of their street address,
o
lowers local property taxes which would otherwise be required to
build and maintain our school facilities,
o
directs the collected consumer use tax to lower the highest school
property taxes in the state,
o
further directs any additional sales tax collected beyond the
state average per pupil and additional levy rate reduction to raise the school
foundation level above 87.5 percent, again relieving local property taxes,
o
and requires a 2/3rds majority of a future legislature to change
this intended purpose,
o
preserves local control and accountability through the revenue
purpose statement.
Be
it further resolved that Senator Amanda Ragan and Representative Bill Schickel
are acting in the best interest of our school district and taxpayers by
supporting this legislation.”
Ayes all.
A motion was made
by Director Young and seconded by Director Hoffman to hold a closed session as
authorized by section 21.5(1)(a) of the open meetings law to conduct a hearing
to determine whether to suspend or expel a student. A roll call vote was taken resulting in ayes
all. The Board went into closed session
at
At
The appeal to the
Board for a hearing was withdrawn.
A motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by
Director Appelgate to adjourn. Ayes all. The meeting was adjourned at
Susan A. Deike
Recording Secretary
James Spicer
Board President