MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
June 12, 2017
President Smiarowski called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 7:33 p.m. in the Humeston Elementary Library. Answering roll call were board members Evans, Lundahl, Funk, Peasley and Smiarowski. Superintendent Lorna Paxson, Principal Becky Stripe and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. Linda Horton was also in attendance. Guests were Angela Johnson, Mike McKeown representing Arthur J Gallagher & Co, Jessica Hysell, David Laing and Janelle Freidman representing EMC/ Jester Insurance Co. First up, Angela Johnson, who lives in Derby and owns Lucky George Farm with her husband, Jason, spoke to the Board about gaining their support for community gardens throughout the District. Johnson’s vision extends to all of the small towns that make up the Mormon Trail CSD. She has access to the seeds to get started and hopes that help to implement the plan would involve the school and community volunteers. Johnson feels that growing (and consuming) fresh produce would be a benefit to everyone who wished to be a part of this project, however they choose to participate. Next, Mike McKeown representing Arthur J Gallagher & Co/IPSIP, Jessica Hysell, David Laing and Janelle Freidman representing EMC/ Jester Insurance Co. each spoke briefly to the Board about what their companies could offer the District in the way of insurance coverage and the cost this coming year. Lundahl made a motion to approve the agenda. Funk seconded the motion to approve with all present voting aye. Motion carried. Funk moved to approve the consent agenda which included the previous meeting’s minutes and open enrollments in/out of the District. There was one new open enrollment out request that met requirements. Lundahl seconded. Motion carries with all ayes. Administrative reports were given by Principal Becky Stripe and Superintendent Lorna Paxson. Stripe reported that she felt her first year as Mormon Trail’s Elementary Principal had been very successful. The Elementary wrapped up the year with some fun activities, one of the favorites being a Safety Day. Swimming pool safety, bike safety, CPR and 9-1-1, social media safety, and strangers were some of the topics the kids learned about. Teachers have been pitching in and painting classrooms at the Elementary. Summer school and ESY are also going strong during the month of June as is the free summer breakfast and lunch program. First on her items to report, Paxson reported that secondary teacher Brad Krutsinger has been recognized by the Secretary of State for organizing the local Iowa Straw Poll. She also shared a letter from the Mayor of Seymour who thanked the students and staff from Mormon Trail who went over to help clean up after the tornado in March. Paxson reported that progress was continuing on the Garden Grove renovation connecting the CTE building to the main school. The project should be completed by the start of the next school year. Also, the gym floors at both buildings will be done late July. Last, she told the Board that teachers had gone through the stuff that had been pulled out of the storage room in Humeston and had taken the things they could use in their classrooms. The items that will be kept will be moved back and then the public will be allowed to come in at a designated time, sometime the first part of July, and buy whatever is left. Item #1 District Insurance for 2017-18 was tabled until the next week to give Board members time to compare coverage and to ask additional questions. Funk made the motion to table; Evans seconded; followed by all present voting aye. Evans made the motion to amend the Baseball coaching contracts approved in May for co-coaches, Jason Newton and Cale Moore. The motion was to combine the salaries for head coach and assistant coach and pay each one-half of the total amount. Funk seconded with all voting aye. Newton and Moore will each earn $2050 for the summer baseball season. In May the Board had voted to split only the head coach salary of $2900. After reviewing the month’s financial reports, Evans made a motion to approve. Lundahl seconded with all present voting aye. Following a brief discussion, Lundahl motioned to approve the May bills for payment. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye. Funk made the motion to approve payment of hourly payroll and June bills through June 30th. Lundahl seconded and everyone voted aye. The fiscal year for the District ends June 30, 2017. Lundahl motioned to pay certified employees any unused personal and vacation days on June 30. Funk seconded with all voting aye. Unused personal and vacation days do not accumulate from year to year and are paid at $25 per day at fiscal year-end. Funk made a motion to approve the resignations of Angela Banks, Special Education; Delavan Mastin, part-time elementary custodian; Mike Snyder, k-6 PE and 7-12 Athletic Director; Dan Utzke, full-time elementary custodian; and April Parmer, secondary secretary. Peasley seconded followed by all ayes. Motion carries. The Board would like to thank each one for their contribution to the students of the District and wished them well. Lundahl motioned to hire Linda Bottjen as part-time summer custodian. Evans seconded the motion. All voted aye. Motion carries. Funk made a motion to change the language in Board Policy 710.4 Meal Charges. The negative balances allowed before a student is not allowed to charge meals will be $20 per family at both the Jr/Sr High and Elementary. Teachers/Adults will not be allowed to charge any more than $7. Evans seconded with all voting aye. The remainder of the Policy will remain as passed during the May meeting. The Policy is required by the State Nutrition Program and must be in place by July 1, 2017. Lundahl made a motion to accept the low dairy bid submitted by AE Dairy. Hiland Dairy Foods also submitted a bid for the District’s dairy needs in 2017-18. Peasley seconded the motion with all voting aye. Lundahl moved to approve the quote submitted by Kohl Wholesale for two new dishwashers and installation at Humeston and Garden Grove. Funk seconded followed by all ayes Next up for discussion were the sharing agreements for Juvenile Court Officer, Brian Carson with Central Decatur and Curriculum Coordinator, Lorna Paxson with Diagonal. A motion to table discussion on Carson’s contract was made by Peasley and seconded by Lundahl. A motion to table discussion on Paxson’s contract was made by Lundahl and seconded by Funk. Both motions received unanimous votes of aye. The Board will revisit the discussion the following week during a special meeting of the Board. Lundahl made a motion to keep meal prices the same for 2017-18. Peasley seconded with all voting aye. With a motion by Evans and a second by Lundahl the Board voted to offer 3-year old preschool 5 days per week at a cost of $20 per day per child. All present voted aye. Funk made a motion to approve the class sponsor list for 2017-18. Peasley seconded with all voting aye. With a motion by Lundahl and a second by Peasley, the Board voted unanimously to renew the contract for the District’s software provider, Grant Wood AEA at a cost of $5750 for one year. All present were in agreement and voted aye. After looking at repair costs for this last year, the Board gave the go ahead for Superintendent Paxson to look into purchasing a new van for the District. Funk motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Lundahl seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 10:08 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held July 10th 2017 @ 7:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library.
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President, Board of Education Secretary, Board of Education
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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