Mormon Trail

MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

REGULAR MEETING

January 22, 2020    

President Evans called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 7:22 p.m. in the Humeston Elementary Commons. Answering roll call were board members Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans. Smiarowski was absent. Superintendent Kerry Phillips, and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. Linda Horton from the Humeston New Era was also in attendance. Guests signing in were Christian Hilton, Claudia Brown, Kara Hilton and Robin Hilton. Eric and Austin were also there from DLR.

There were no guests who wanted to speak to the Board.

The agenda was approved with a motion by Bear followed by a second from Dachenbach. Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans voted aye to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

The consent agenda which included the previous meeting minutes from Dec 9^th and January 13th along with open enrollment requests that meet requirements, was approved with a motion by Bear and a second by Cromer. Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans voted aye to approve. Smiarowski was absent. There were no new open enrollments requests into or out of the District reported.

Cromer made a motion to accept the resignation of Cale Moore as baseball coach. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent. The Board would like to thank Moore for his years of service to the District.

The following Special Education Para educators were approved:

Caitlyn Clark – motion by Cromer, second from Dachenbach followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans. Smiarowski was absent.

Natasha Mitchell – motion by Dachenbach, second from Bear followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans. Smiarowski was absent.

The District will apply for an Education Standards Exemption for fy 2020-2021. Bear made the motion followed by a second from Dachenbach to apply for a Spanish I II III & IV waiver for 2020-2021. Motions passes with ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent. The District is allowed to apply for a waiver if attempting to find a suitable instructor doesn’t succeed. This is a good opportunity for smaller school districts to be able to offer higher level courses with smaller student enrollment. This alternative enables the student to enroll in online classes the district would not otherwise be able to provide instructors for. This option has been provided by Iowa Learning Online classes. It was noted by Superintendent Phillips this will be the last year the program is offered.

The District will offer an Early Retirement incentive effective at the end of the current fiscal year 2019-2020. The plan is for full-time certified employees only. The District will provide single premium health insurance coverage for one year. The motion passes with a motion by Bear, a second from  Dachenbach followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

A Dual Control Waiver for Great Western Bank was approved with a motion by Bear and a second from Dachenbach followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

Bear made the motion followed by a second from Cromer to approve Advantage Administrators as administrators for the District’s Section 125 Plan. Ayes were heard from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent. Motion passes. Section 125 Plans allow the District to process certain employee medical payments as pre-tax which decreases the amount of taxes owed. IPERS also requires an approved administrator in order for that portion of the employee’s wages to be IPERS covered.  

Superintendent Phillips ask the Board to retract the action taken in December for the At Risk/Drop Out Prevention application. The amount approved in December was $4759 with a $1586 local match. Phillips ask that the amount be dropped to $0 as the District will not receive additional funding due to carryover left in the program’s balance. The motion was made by Dachenbach, and seconded by Cromer to accept Phillips recommendation. Motion passes with ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

MFA’s bid of $.03/gallon below the posted pump price less applicable taxes for ethanol fuel was accepted with a motion by Bear, a second from Dachenbach followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear and Evans to approve. Cromer abstained. Smiarowski was absent. Motion passes. MFA will supply the District’s ethanol fuel for the period January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2020. A second bid from Agriland FS for $1.745 per gallon plus applicable taxes (.293 cents per gallon) was also considered.

Cromer motioned to hire Mike Snyder as the Driver’s Education instructor for the Spring of 2020 at a salary of $165 per student finishing the course. Costs will remain the same as last year. $250/resident students. Also, for in District students, $165 with reduced waiver and no cost to students with free waiver. $300/all out of District students. Bear seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

Last under action items, Cromer made a motion to approve the bills and financials. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent. Motion carries. 

Superintendent Phillips briefly updated the Board on what was happening in the District. He reported that several staff and students have enjoyed visiting WACO CSD to observe their 4-day school week.

.

Cromer motioned to adjourn the meeting. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer and Evans to approve. Smiarowski was absent.

Evans closed the meeting at 8:34 pm.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held Wednesday, February 12, 2020 @ 7:00 pm in the District Office in Garden Grove.

____________________________ ___________________________

              President, Board of Education               Secretary, Board of Education

_________  _________ 

Date               Date

These minutes are written as recorded by the board secretary and subject to approval at the next regular board meeting.   Peggy Rash, Board Secretary/Treasurer

Special Meeting

Mormon Trail CSD

January 13, 2020

The Mormon Trail CSD Board of Directors met in special session Monday, January 13, 2020 in the Board Office at Garden Grove.

In the absence of President Evans, acting President, Marc Smiarowski called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Roll call was taken with the following recorded: Evans-absent; Bear-absent; Cromer-present; Dachenbach-present; Smiarowski-present. One guest, Lavern Tueth was present. Secretary Rash and Superintendent Phillips were also in attendance.

The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer, a second from Dachenbach, followed by ayes from Cromer, Dachenbach and Smiarowski. Bear and Evans were absent.

There were no resignations to report.

There were no new contracts to issue.

The District’s MSA (Modified Supplemental Amount) Application in the amount of $4759 with a local match of $1586 for the At Risk/Dropout Budget for 2020-2021 was approved with a motion from Dachenbach and a second from Cromer. Ayes were heard from Cromer, Dachenbach and Smiarowski. Bear and Evans were absent.

Lavern Tueth presented acting president, Marc Smiarowski with petitions collected from eligible District voters for a special public measure proposition to be submitted at a school election.

With a motion by Cromer and a second by Dachenbach all banking permissions currently held by previous president Smiarowski will be transferred to newly elected president Patrick Evans effective immediately. Ayes were heard from Cromer, Dachenbach and Smiarowski. Bear and Evans were absent.

A resolution ordering a special election on March 3,2020 for the issuance of $5,515,000 General Obligation Bonds was read by Marc Smiarowski.

Dachenbach motioned to accept the signed petitions as presented to acting President Smiarowski by Mormon Trail citizen, Lavern Tueth and verified by Board Secretary Rash. The motion was seconded by Cromer. The following votes were heard: Cromer, yes; Dachenbach, yes; and Smiarowski yes. Bear and Evans were absent.

The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows:

RESOLUTION ORDERING A SPECIAL ELECTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF $5,515,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS

WHEREAS, there has been filed with the President of this Board a Petition of eligible electors of this School District asking that an election be called to submit the question of contracting indebtedness and issuing bonds of the School District in an amount not to exceed $5,515,000 to provide funds to provide funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site; and

WHEREAS, this Board has examined the Petition and finds that it is signed by eligible electors of the School District numbering at least 25% of those voting at the last election of school officials and that the purposes set forth in the petition cannot be accomplished within the limit of one and one-quarter percent of the assessed value of the taxable property in the School District; and

WHEREAS, the proposal for the issuance of Bonds or any other proposal incorporating any portion of it has not or will not have been submitted to the qualified electors of the School District for a period of at least six months prior to the date of election being called in these Proceedings;

WHEREAS, this Board has also determined it is necessary to submit at the special school election the proposition of authorizing the Board of Directors to levy annually a tax exceeding Two Dollars and Seventy Cents ($2.70) per Thousand Dollars ($1,000), but not exceeding Four Dollars and Five Cents ($4.05) per Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed value of the taxable property to pay the principal of and interest on bonded indebtedness; the Board acknowledges that approval of this proposition does not limit the source of payment of the Bonds and interest but only restricts the amount of Bonds which may be issued:

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTIES OF WAYNE, CLARK, DECATUR AND LUCAS, STATE OF IOWA:

1. 1.That an election is called of the qualified electors of the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clark, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.  The following Proposition is approved, and the Secretary is authorized and directed to submit and file the Proposition for the Ballot with the Wayne County Commissioner of Elections at least 46 days prior to the election. 

PROPOSITION ___

Shall the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clark, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $5,515,000 to provide funds to provide funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site?

1. 2.Because it is necessary to approve a tax levy for the payment of principal and interest on the above Proposition, the following question also will be submitted to the qualified electors at the special election held on Tuesday, March 3, 2020:

PROPOSITION ___

Shall the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clark, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, be authorized to levy annually a tax exceeding Two Dollars and Seventy Cents ($2.70) per Thousand Dollars ($1,000), but not exceeding Four Dollars and Five Cents ($4.05) per Thousand Dollars ($1,000) of the assessed value of the taxable property within said school corporation to pay the principal of and interest on bonded indebtedness of said school corporation, it being understood that the approval of this proposition shall not limit the source of payment of the bonds and interest, but shall only operate to restrict the amount of bonds which may be issued?

[END OF BALLOT LANGUAGE]

1. 3.That the notice of the election and ballot form used at the election shall be prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Iowa Code and Iowa Administrative Rules.
2. 4.That the Election Board for the Voting Precinct or precincts be appointed by the County Commissioner of Elections for each County conducting an election, not less than 15 days before the election.
3. 5.The Commissioner of Elections for each County conducting an election is requested and directed to make publication of the Notice of Election at least once, not less than four days nor more than twenty days prior to the election, in a newspaper that meets the requirements of Section 49.53(2), Code of Iowa.
4. 6.Wayne County, Iowa is the Controlling County for this election.
5. 7.That the County Commissioner of Elections for each County conducting an election shall prepare all ballots and election registers and other supplies necessary for the proper and legal conduct of this election and the Secretary of the Board is directed to cooperate with these Commisioners of Elections in the preparation of the necessary proceedings.
6. 8.That the Secretary is directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution in the Office of the County Commissioner of Elections of the Controlling County to constitute the “written notice” to the County Commissioner of Elections of the election date, required to be given by the governing body under the provisions of Chapter 47, Code of Iowa .

PASSED AND APPROVED this 13th day of January, 2020.

There were no additional discussions. Acting President Smiarowski closed the meeting at 7:42 pm with a motion from Cromer, a second from Dachenbach followed by ayes from Cromer, Dachenbach and Smiarowski. Bear and Evans were absent.

_________________________ ________________________

President Board Secretary

__________ _________

Date Date

These minutes were written as recorded by the Board Secretary and subject to approval at the next regular Board meeting.