MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
August 14, 2017
President Smiarowski called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 7:32 p.m. in the Humeston Elementary Library. Answering roll call were board members Lundahl, Funk, Peasley and Smiarowski. Superintendent Kerry Phillips, Principals Becky Stripe and Steve Hunt, and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were present. Linda Horton, Humeston New Era was also in attendance. Guests were Band and Vocal Music teacher, Steven Neilssen; bus drivers Bill Moore, Karen Abel, Kim Brown, and Ed Coffey; Carol Moore and Gary Sinclair representing Forecast5.
First up, guest, Gary Sinclair made a presentation to the Board using data he had acquired using Forecast5 Budgeting software. It would enable the District to keep better track of the budget in the current year, as well as, in the future. Next, Band and Choir Instructor Steve Neilssen proudly displayed several of the band instruments he has purchased with DEKKO grant funds and told the Board he was expecting additional pieces to arrive soon he had purchased using Langtry grant funds. Neilssen also talked of taking the HS Choir to World’s of Fun again in the Spring and plans for fundraising to help pay expenses for the trip.
Lundahl made a motion to approve the agenda with Funk seconding. With a vote of all ayes, the motion passes.
Lundahl motioned to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, open enrollments in/out of the District that meet requirements, and use of the Humeston facility by Belva Snow for a vendor fair. There were five new open enrollment out requests. Peasley seconded the motion to approve with all present voting ayes. Motion carried.
Administrative reports were given by Principals Steve Hunt and Becky Stripe and Superintendent Kerry Phillips.
Moving on to the action items on the agenda, Lundahl made a motion to approve the monthly financial reports. Funk seconded with all voting aye.
Following a brief discussion about the gym floors, Funk motioned to hold payment to Phillip’s Floors but to approve the remainder of the August bills. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye.
Lundahl motioned to approve reimbursing Jamie Petty for mileage and finger printing fees for Para-educator classes she took this summer but offered no additional hourly pay for the certification. Funk seconded with all present voting aye.
A motion to table a decision on purchasing Forecast5 was made by Lundahl and seconded by Peasley. All present voted aye.
Band and Choir instructor Steven Neilssen received approval for his trip to Worlds of Fun this coming spring with a motion by Funk and a second by Lundahl. Followed by all ayes, motion passes.
Lundahl made a motion to approve additional pay to Becky Stripe of 5.375 days for extra hours she put in this summer. Peasley seconded followed by all ayes.
Two late filed open enrollment requests into the District were approved with a motion by Funk and a second by Peasley followed by a vote of all ayes.
With a motion by Lundahl, a second by Funk, followed by all ayes, Bridgette Stark was approved for a 5-day extension beyond her 190 day teaching contract for 2017-18.
Several new hires were approved, including:
Schedule A contracts:
Adam Hysell TAG& Jason Aldridge HS Science/ Motion by Lundahl, second by Funk to approve. all ayes
Schedule B contracts:
Adam Hysell HS Student Council & National Honor Society & Jason Aldridge Jr Class Sponsor/ Motion by Funk, second by Peasley to approve. all ayes
Volunteer Coaching contracts:
Sam Moore JV Football & Jason Newton JH Football &Missy Myers Cheerleading & Marc Smiarowski Speed and Agility/ Motion by Lundahl second by Funk to approve.
all ayes
Bus Driver Contracts:
Kim Brown, Ed Coffey, Karen Abel route drivers, Bill Moore activities driver, Ron Barker and Kerry Phillips subs/Motion by Lundahl second by Peasley to approve. all ayes. Route drivers will earn $75 per day and hourly paid time will be $12.50 per hour. Full time drivers will get IPERS and paid time off the same as other full time employees of the District.
Para-educator:
Ashley Dudney/ Motion by Lundahl second by Funk to approve. all ayes
Lundahl motioned to approve the resignations of Buck Parmer as HS Girls Basketball coach and Jenna Street, 1:1 Associate. Peasley seconded followed by all ayes. The Board would like to thank Coach Parmer for his many years of service to the Mormon Trail girl’s basketball program. Parmer coached the team to earn a spot in the Girls State Tournament in 2001.
Next on the agenda was the need for a Technology Director. Superintendent Phillips told the Board the District could pay for this position from the PPEL fund. Lundahl made the motion to let bids for a Technology Director. Funk seconded the motion. All present voted aye.
Lundahl made a motion to share Kerry Phillips as Curriculum Director with Harmony. Funk seconded the motion followed by all ayes.
Superintendent Phillips made the recommendation to the Board that the District join Rural School Advocates of Iowa at a cost of $650 per year. Lundahl made the motion to approve with Funk seconding. All present voted aye.
Lundahl made the motion to offer an Early Retirement plan. Funk seconded followed by all ayes from those present. Steve Hunt was offered and agreed to take the early retirement plan offered by the Board. With a motion by Funk and a second by Peasley, the District accepted Steve Hunts offer for early retirement. All present vote aye. Motion carries.
With a motion by Lundahl and a second by Peasley, the Board voted all ayes and agreed to accept the low bid from Karl Chevrolet for $26,505 for a new Chevy Express van. In the event a van is not available from Karl’s the bid of $29,950 from Suburban Chevrolet would be accepted. A third bid for a used van was received from Macke Motors.
Funk motioned to put the Garden Grove Van up for bid. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye. The van will be advertised in local papers and the District website.
Roof repairs at both Humeston and Garden Grove continue to be an issue. With a motion from Funk and a second from Peasley the Board agreed with a vote of all ayes to have Commercial Roof Coatings, LLC repair the Humeston roof at no cost to the District and to accept the bid of $23,890 to repair the roof at Garden Grove which comes with a 5-year warranty. The work will be done by September.
Proceeds from the junk sale during Watermelon Day totaled $699.25. Lundahl made a motion to deposit $210 back into the general fund for yearbook revenue and named Becky Stripe and Peggy Rash to pick a project for the remaining $489.25. Motion passes with Peasley seconding followed by all ayes.
Next up, 3-yr old preschool was up for discussion. Superintendent Phillips told the Board he had found funding for the program. He further went on to say there would be no charge for any student to attend. The program will be offered all day Monday – Friday. With a motion by Lundahl to approve the program at no cost, seconded by Peasley and ayes from all present, the motion passes. The $20 daily fee per child which the Board had agreed to at the June meeting will be waived.
Last, Peasley made a motion to approve the Coaching and Elementary handbooks as presented. Funk seconded with all present voting aye. Few changes were made but included the non-discriminatory statements and minor updating.
Funk motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Peasley seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held September 18,
2017 @ 7:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library. Please note this is not the regularly scheduled meeting date but due to the school board election the Board will meet the next Monday after the canvas of votes.
____________________________ ___________________________
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