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 Becker and seconded by Director Jayawardena to
approve the agenda. Ayes
all.
A
motion was made by Director Jayawardena and seconded by Director Becker to
approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Education held March
17, 2008, the special session of the Board of Education held March 31, 2008,
the special session of the Board of Education held April 4, 2008, the special
session of the Board of Education held April 5, 2008, the special session of
the Board of Education held April 8, 2008, the special session of the Board of
Education held April 9, 2008, and the special session of the Board of Education
held April 20, 2008. Ayes
all.
A
motion was made by Director Hoffman and seconded by Director Becker to approve
the payment of bills. Ayes
all.
Director
Michele Appelgate entered the meeting at this point.
Director
of Finance Ramona Jeffrey reviewed the receipts, disbursements, and cash
balance in each of the fund accounts for the month of March.
Director
Mark Young entered the meeting at this point.
Director
of Personnel Martin Gordon reviewed the following personnel changes: New Hires – Sherry Butenhoff;
Resignations – Rachael Wessman and Rose Ring; and New
Hires/Supplemental – Curt Klaahsen. A
motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Hoffman to approve the
personnel changes. Ayes
all.
Superintendent
Sersland reviewed the calendar dates highlighting the Iowa Association of
School Boards School Law Conference, the Board of Education recognition
reception and plans for
Director
Appelgate shared information from the Education Foundation of Mason City Public
Schools board meeting.
President
Spicer reported on the recently completed superintendent search. An e-mail from the search firm expressed
their thanks to the Board for their efforts to adhere to schedules and the
task. Board members extended their thanks to the participants of the interview
committees and the staff involved in the scheduling, tasks and process of
completing the superintendent search.
Director
Becker reported on the National School Boards Association (NSBA) annual
conference he attended. Information
regarding guest speakers and break-out sessions were shared. The break-out sessions can be accessed on the
NSBA website. Director Becker shared
information of particular interest to him from the break-out session on
technology in the schools and the need for funding it and recommended board
members may want to check it out on the NSBA website.
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.
As a
follow-up to the article in the Des Moines Register on how students from
Director
of Instructional Programs Kathy Schladweiler, Literacy Coordinator Barb Wells
and John Adams Middle School Principal T. J. Jumper provided a detailed report
of the summer school programs planned for
Literacy
Coordinator Barb Wells provided an overview of the plans for the elementary
summer programming. A three-session summer reading camp for current 1st,
2nd and 3rd grade students who are struggling with
reading is scheduled for June 9-13, July 7-11 and July 28-August 1 for 175
students. Camp will meet daily during
these sessions with lunch and transportation provided. The curriculum is based on the reading
program, Reading A to Z. A
physical education component is being added to the curriculum for this
program. The majority of this program is
funded by Title 1 with the remainder funded by district funds.
John
Adams Middle School Principal T. J. Jumper provided the Board with an overview
of the middle school academic summer programming plans. “Choose Your Adventure” is a new summer
program opportunity for current fifth graders identified as in need of
assistance in the transition process from elementary to middle school. Dates for this camp coincide with the dates
of the elementary camp. The camp will be
held at
A
summer camp focused on reading and math will be held for current middle school
students. The camp will be held at both
middle schools the first two weeks of August and will concentrate on reviewing
major concepts learned the previous year.
Student enrollment in previous years has been between 30-40 students per
building. This camp is provided through
district funding and the individual building parent-teacher organizations.
With
the expanded graduation requirements it does not take long for some students to
get into a credit recovery problem. In
order to address these problems the high school will offer credit recovery
summer courses at
Director
Hoffman inquired why the limitations on the number of students and/or number of
times for the camp. Superintendent
Sersland shared the biggest factor in the determination of what the district
can offer is funding. With the loss of
funds from the state such as Phase money, the district does not have the
capability budget wise to offer as many summer learning opportunities as it
would like.
Director
of Finance Ramona Jeffrey presented a contract with Gallagher Benefit Services
to provide actuarial services to the district in order to comply with
Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement #45. A motion was made by Director Becker and
seconded by Director Hoffman. Ayes all.
A motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Appelgate
to award the bid for the roof replacement projects at
Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear and Director of Special Education
Gary Van Hemert presented information regarding the application process,
timelines and budget related to the statewide voluntary preschool program for
four-year-olds for the 2008-2009 school year. A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Young to approve the four-year-old preschool program for
2008-2009. Ayes all.
Applications for renewal of cooperative sponsorship of an activity with
Charles City Community School District for boys’ swimming and tennis and with
Newman Catholic High School for boys’ tennis, soccer and swimming for the
2008-2009 school year and applications for whole grade or cooperative sharing
agreements with Forest City Community School District for girls’ swimming and
diving, with Hampton-Dumont Community School District for girls’ swimming and
diving and with Newman Catholic High School for girls’ tennis, soccer and
swimming and diving for the 2008-2009 school year were presented. A motion was made by Director Appelgate and
seconded by Director Young to approve these agreements. Ayes all.
Superintendent Keith Sersland reviewed the wage and benefit package for
the 2008-2009 contract ratified by the
Director
Appelgate left the meeting at this point.
A
motion was made by Director Young and seconded by Director Becker to establish
student fees for the 2008-2009 school year at the same
rate as the 2007-2008 school year of $25 per elementary student, $50 per middle
school student, and $60 per high school student with a family limit of
$140. Ayes all.
Director Appelgate reentered the meeting at this
point.
Superintendent Sersland recommended
a 4% salary package increase for current district administrators (excluding the
superintendent), supervisors, food service managers, administrative assistants
and other school personnel not under bargaining units for the 2008-2009 school year. Mr. Sersland
recommended two year contracts for administrators. A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Becker to approve the recommended contracts. Ayes all.
A
motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Appelgate to
approve a contract from
A motion was made by Director Hoffman and
seconded by Director Becker to approve a contract from
A
motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Jayawardena to
approve a contract from
A
motion was made by Director Becker and seconded by Director Young to approve
open enrollment applications for M. Blake Spotts, Josi Lynn Swanson and Cree VanHorn
for the 2008-2009 school year. 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