MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
April 14, 2020
President Pat Evans called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:35 p.m. in the Garden Grove Board Office. Due to COVID-19, there were 12 Guests signing in via a zoom link. Answering roll call were board members Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans. Superintendent Kerry Phillips, Principal Becky Stripe and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. Linda Horton from the Humeston New Era was also in attendance.
John Hansen with Midwest Construction Consultants and Chase Clark, Technology Director, each spoke to the Board during the Public Forum.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. Items 3 & 10 will be moved to the top of the action items. All present voted aye to approve.
The consent agenda which included the previous meeting minutes along with one open enrollment request out of the District that met requirements, were approved with a motion by Dachenbach and a second by Cromer. All present voted aye to approve.
First up under action items, John Hansen, Construction Manager for Midwest Construction Consultants was introduced to the Board. With a motion by Smiarowski and a second from Dachenbach, Hansen will be contracted to provide Basic Services (fixed fee of $264,825 plus other expenses), as well as, full-time On-Site Supervision ($9800 per month plus other expenses) for the new addition project for a K-12 building in Humeston. Midwest Construction will work with DLR, Architects for the project and be employed by the Mormon Trail CSD Board. All present voted aye to approve. The project will have a one-year warranty.
Second under action items, Chase Clark, Technology Director explained an opportunity for a Category 2 E-Rate internal connection project for the District. Services will be provided by 20/20 Technologies. The project will have a one-year warranty. Both Garden Grove and Humeston will receive services utilizing this funding. With a motion by Dachenbach, a second from Bear, followed by ayes from all present the motion passes to approve.
Bear made a motion to accept the resignation of June Nolte-Davis as K-12 Librarian for the District. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from all present. The Board would like to thank Davis for her years of service to the District and wish her well in her retirement.
There were no new contracts offered. A decision on coaching contracts was tabled with a motion by Cromer and a second from Smiarowski. All present voted aye to table until the next meeting.
Director Bear read the following pre-levy resolution:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $5,515,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS, AND LEVYING A TAX FOR THE PAYMENT THEREOF
WHEREAS, the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, is a public school corporation, organized and existing under the Constitution and laws of the State of Iowa, and is not affected by any special legislation; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the School District in accordance with Iowa Code chapter 296 received a petition, which was signed by qualified electors numbering at least 25% the voters voting at the last regular school election, asking that an election be called, and at a meeting called by the President of the Board of Directors, within ten days after receipt of the petition, called an election and submitted on March 3, 2020, the following proposition:
Shall the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, 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 construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site?
and gave notice of the election and of the proposition; and
WHEREAS, the election was conducted on the date and the proposition was legally submitted, approved and no contest was made; and
WHEREAS, none of the Bonds authorized at the election have been issued, and it is now necessary to issue not to exceed $5,515,000 General Obligation School Bonds, and to levy a tax for the payment;
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE Mormon Trail Community School District, IN THE COUNTIES OF Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. Authorization of the Issuance of School Bonds. School Bonds in the amount of not to exceed $5,515,000 (the “Bonds”) shall be issued pursuant to the provisions of Iowa Code chapter 296 for the purposes approved at the election of March 3, 2020. Additional action shall be taken by the Board of Directors to provide for the issuance of the Bonds upon the sale of the Bonds.
Section 2. Levy of Annual Tax for the Fiscal Year 2021 Commencing July 1, 2020. For the purpose of providing funds to pay the principal and interest of the Bonds due and payable in the Fiscal Year 2021 commencing July 1, 2020 (the “Fiscal Year 2021”), there is levied upon all the taxable property in the School District, $387,380 for the Fiscal Year 2021.
Section 3. Levy of Annual Tax for Subsequent Fiscal Years. Based upon the terms of sale of the Bonds to be issued, this Board will take final action upon the sale of the Bonds to issue the Bonds by resolution, provide for the assessment of an annual levy upon all the taxable property in the School District sufficient to pay the interest and principal of the Bonds within a period not exceeding twenty (20) years, and will file the resolution with the County Auditor of each County in which the School District is located. The filing provides that the Auditor annually levy for collection from the taxable property of the School District until funds are realized to pay the bonds in full.
This schedule will be amended when the Board of Directors takes additional action upon the sale of the Bonds to provide for the issuance of the Bonds subsequent to the sale of the Bonds.
A certified copy of this Resolution shall be filed with the County Auditors of the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, who are instructed in and for each of the years, to levy, assess and collect the tax in the same manner as other taxes of the School District and, when collected, these taxes shall be used only for the purpose of paying principal and interest on the Bonds.
Principal and interest coming due at any time when the proceeds of the tax on hand are insufficient to pay the amount due shall be promptly paid when due from current funds of the District available for that purpose and reimbursement must be made.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 14th day of April, 2020.
Motion by Cromer, Second by Dachenbach to approve the pre-levy resolution as read. All present voted as follows: Cromer aye; Dachenbach aye; Smiarowski aye; Bear aye; and Evans aye. Motion
passes.
Motion by Bear, second by Smiarowski followed by all aye votes to approve the Financial Services Agreement with Piper Sandler.
Motion by Bear, second by Cromer to approve the Dissemination Agreement with Piper Sandler. All present vote aye to approve.
Motion by Bear, second by Dachenbach, followed by all aye votes from Cromer, Dachenbach, Bear, Evans and Smiarowski to execute Engagement Letter with Piper Sandler. Motion passes.
The Engagement Agreements with Ahler’s and Cooney were passed with a motion by Bear, a second from Cromer followed by aye votes from Cromer, Dachenbach, Bear, Evans and Smiarowski.
Director Bear read the following resolution:
RESOLUTION FIXING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,200,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE bondS
WHEREAS, the School District receives revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund (“SAVE Revenue”) pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 423F and an election duly held in accordance therewith on September 13, 2011 approving a revenue purpose statement (the “Revenue Purpose Statement”), the Board of Directors is currently entitled to spend SAVE Revenue for school infrastructure purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is in need of funds for the following school infrastructure project: to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has deemed it necessary and advisable that the District issue School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, in the approximate amount of $2,200,000 for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser. Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement; and
WHEREAS, before said Bonds may be issued, it is necessary to comply with the provisions of Iowa Code Section 423F.4, and to publish a notice of the time and place of the public hearing on the proposal to issue such Bonds; and
WHEREAS, notice of the time and place of a public hearing must be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the District:
NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:
- A public hearing will be held in the Garden Grove Board Office, 502 East Main Street, Garden Grove, Iowa, on May 13, 2020, at 6:30 P.M., on the proposal to issue approximately $2,200,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser. Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement.
- The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish notice of this public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the School District. Such publication will be made not less than ten nor more than twenty days ahead of the hearing date, and be in substantially the following form:
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,200,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE BONDS
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District, in the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, will hold a public hearing upon its proposed issuance of approximately $2,200,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser. Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement.
The hearing will be held in the Garden Grove Board Office, 502 East Main Street, Garden Grove, Iowa, on May 13, 2020, at 6:30 P.M.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 14th day of April, 2020.
Motion by Cromer, Second by Dachenbach to approve the resolution to set the date for a Hearing, as read. All present voted as follows: Cromer aye; Dachenbach aye; Smiarowski aye; Bear aye; and Evans aye. Motion passes.
With a motion from Cromer, a second from Bear followed by ayes from all present, a second load of rock was approved for the softball/baseball fields.
The March 3rd Special election results were certified with a motion by Dachenbach, a second from Cromer and ayes from all board members present. There were 411 votes for the first question, 228 votes against the question with a total of 639 votes cast in the District for the question asking voters, in summary, to authorize to levy annually over $2.70 but not to exceed $4.05 per $1000.
For the second question, in summary, asking voters to allow the District to Contract indebtedness & issue General Obligation Bonds not exceeding $5,515,000 there were 412 votes for the question, 227 votes against the question with a total of 639 votes cast.
Bear made the motion to use ISEBA for the District’s health, dental and vision plans for 20-21. Comer seconded followed by ayes from all present.
Coaches pay was tabled until next meeting with a motion by Cromer, a second from Smiarowski followed by ayes from all present.
Bills and Financials were approved with a motion by Dachenbach and a second from Bear. All present voted aye to approve.
Superintendent Phillips spoke to the Board about hiring a transportation director and custodians/ maintenance positions.
Principal Stripe reported to the Board about what teachers and students are doing to manage the closure of schools by the State due to COVID-19. She also reported the kitchen staff is putting in a lot of time two days a week to supply food to District families.
Secretary Rash fielded questions from the Board about the FY19 Audit report and the 20-2021 Preliminary Budget. She also talked about the 19-2020 budget amendment.
Cromer motioned to adjourn the meeting. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans to approve the adjournment.
Evans closed the meeting at 9:35 pm.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held Wednesday, May 13, 2020 @ 6:30 pm in the District Office in Garden Grove.
____________________________ ___________________________
President, Board of Education Secretary, Board of Education
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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