MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
December 11, 2017
President Smiarowski called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 7:05 p.m. in the Humeston Elementary Library. Answering roll call were board members Evans, Cromer, Peasley, Funk and Smiarowski. Superintendent Kerry Phillips, Elementary / High School Principal Becky Stripe and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. Linda Horton from the Humeston New Era was also in attendance. Guests were Brian Carson, District liaison and Mike Livermore, FBG Cleaning Service.
Evans made a motion to approve the agenda with the following changes: move action items #3 and #4 up the agenda to be addressed after approval of the consent agenda and before administrative reports. Peasley made the second followed by all aye votes.
The consent agenda, which included the previous meeting’s minutes and bills and financials, were first up. Evans asked Secretary Rash to correct a spelling error he had found in the minutes. With Rash agreeing to make the correction, Funk seconded the motion. Motion passes with all present voting aye.
Item #4, school security policies, was next. Brian Carson, District Liaison, discussed the need to develop an emergency response plan for the District. Carson explained how a three-prong plan consisting of evaluating classrooms, buildings and the District overall would be a good place to begin. A committee made up of teachers, administrators, community members, law and fire officials would be needed to bring the plan together. The process would take time and needs to be approached as a long-term, on-going plan. Evans motioned to develop an emergency response plan for the District. Cromer seconded followed by all ayes.
Mike Livermore was present to address Item #3, FBG. Evans made a motion to hire FBG to provide janitorial and building maintenance services for both the Humeston and Garden Grove buildings. Cromer seconded followed by all aye votes. The contracts’ terms begin January 2, 2018 and include a 30 day opt out with a written cancellation notice by either party. The cost to the District is $7874 per month.
Administrative reports were given by Principal Becky Stripe and Superintendent Phillips. Stripe reported we have passed midterms and are coming up on semester testing soon. Midwest Heritage Bank in Chariton has donated socks and winter gear to the Elementary. Superintendent Phillips told the Board the new Dodge Caravan is here and ready to use. Also, the draft for the survey concerning open enrollment is ready and will be available to the public soon.
There were no new contracts offered.
Ashley Dudney has resigned her position as para-educator. Motion by Funk, second by Evans to accept. All present voted aye in agreement.
The Board was told by Phillips that the company he had contacted to offer driver’s education services was not able to provide them this year. This is something that will be looked at again for next year. Cromer made a motion to hire Mike Snyder to teach driver’s education this summer. Funk seconded followed by all ayes.
Evans made a motion to have Administrators Phillips and Stripe come up with procedures for checking out and using school vehicles. Peasley seconded followed by all ayes.
Peasley motioned at the recommendation of Superintendent Phillips to have shared transportation director, Willard Armstrong from Moravia be in charge of finding substitute drivers and scheduling maintenance for the District’s buses. Funk seconded followed by all ayes. Phillips hopes that both Mormon Trail and Moravia would be able to utilize drivers from both districts if the need arises.
A bid for snow removal came in way too high. Cromer motioned to reject the bid and have Superintendent Phillips renegotiate and see if something more reasonable could be worked out. Funk seconded followed by all ayes. The District is unable to find someone who will do snow removal at either site.
Evans made a motion to accept a bid of pump price less .035 cents per gallon less all applicable taxes for diesel purchased between January 2018 – December 2018 from MFA Oil. Peasley seconded with Evans, Peasley, Funk and Smiarowski voting aye. Cromer abstained. A second bid was received by Agriland FS.
Evans made a motion to accept a bid of pump price less .035 cents per gallon less all applicable taxes for ethanol purchased between January 2018 – December 2018 from MFA Oil. Peasley seconded with Evans, Peasley, Funk and Smiarowski voting aye. Cromer abstained. A second bid was received by Agriland FS.
Funk made a motion to accept the high bids received for the Ford Freestar and Ford E150 Econoline vans. Cromer seconded followed by all ayes. Leon Smiarowski bid $1700 for the Freestar and Joel Petty bid $450 for the E150.
Funk motioned to approve one open enrollment out of the District for 2017-18. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye.
Funk made a motion to approve Advantage Administrators as administrators for the District’s Section 125 plan. Evans seconded followed by all ayes. The 125 plan allows certain pre-tax benefits to participants.
Evans made a motion to file a Spanish I II III & IV waiver for 2018-2019. With a second by Cromer those present voted aye to the motion. 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.
The 2018-2019 At-Risk Drop Out Prevention Application in the amount of $60,988.00 was approved in a motion by Funk and a second by Peasley. Followed by all aye votes the motion passes.
A random non-DOT drug testing policy was tabled in a motion by Peasley and a second by Funk to address this at a later time. All ayes follow.
Cromer motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Funk seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 10:24 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held January 8,
2018 @ 7:00 p.m. in the Elementary Library.
____________________________ ___________________________
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