MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PUBLIC HEARING
2020-21 SCHOOL CALENDAR
March 11, 2020
Vice President Marc Smiarowski called the 2020-21 school calendar public hearing of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:35 p.m. in the Garden Grove Board Office. Guests signing in were Chris Hilton, Gloria Rumley, Claudia Brown, Rachel Graham, Brandi Dyer, Staci Porterfield, Kara Hilton and Pam Woollis. Board members Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans, Superintendent Kerry Phillips, Principal Becky Stripe and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were present. Linda Horton from the Humeston New Era was also in attendance. Smiarowski motioned to close the hearing followed by a second from Bear. All present voted aye. President Evans closed the hearing at 6:48 pm
MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
President Pat Evans called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:48 p.m. in the Garden Grove Board Office. Guests signing in were Chris Hilton, Gloria Rumley, Claudia Brown, Rachel Graham, Brandi Dyer, Staci Porterfield, Kara Hilton and Pam Woollis. 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.
Graham and Dyer both spoke during the public forum to express their concerns about the 4-day school week being planned for next school year. They are both nervous about what the days will look like and if the teachers will have time to plan for the new schedule.
Bear made the motion to give FFA advisor Mona Baker the go ahead to start a Big Brother Big Sister program. The motion was seconded by Dachenbach followed by ayes from all present.
Marc Smiarowski also spoke to those present about why it would have been hard to continue as Board President. Smiarowski wanted to clarify that he has taken a new position with the company he works for and felt he wouldn’t have the time it really takes to do what the position requires. He looks forward to continue serving the District as Vice President and will still be available to everyone in the District to share ideas.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Bear. Items 3 & 4 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 open enrollment requests that met requirements, were approved with a motion by Smiarowski and a second by Dachenbach. All present voted aye to approve. There were five new open enrollment requests out of the District reported.
Stacie Porterfield and Kara Hilton discussed with the board an opportunity for students currently in grades 5-9 to tour Washington DC in the future. A student must be in grade 7-11 to qualify at the time of the trip. They suggested the trip could be an option for the M term. Cost of the tour would be around $1889 per person and paid for by the student. Bear made the motion for Porterfield and Hilton to look into this opportunity an option for M term. Dachenbach seconded followed by all ayes to approve.
There will be 9 students and 2 adults going on Senior Trip this year. Class sponsors, Brad Krutsinger and Teri Indorf will be the adults accompanying the group. Bear made a motion to allow the group to spend up to $5000 for the trip. Dachenbach seconded followed by all ayes to approve. The budget will be brought to the next board meeting for approval in April. The Senior class has worked on various fund raisers throughout high school to pay for their trip.
Cromer made a motion to accept the resignations of Bridgette Stark, FCS and Jr/Sr High guidance and Claudia Brown, TLC coach and long-time elementary teacher. Bear seconded followed by ayes from all present. The Board would like to thank both Stark and Brown for their years of service to the District. Mrs. Brown has been teaching in the District for 36 years.
There were no new contracts offered.
With a motion by Bear and a second from Dachenbach the Board approved a topical land survey proposal from DLR with projected costs between $7800 – $10,000. All present voted aye to approve.
At the recommendation of Superintendent Phillips, the Board will begin advertising for a Head Custodian/Maintenance Director position to oversee maintenance and one additional custodian in the District. This position will oversee and maintain the property at both locations, including mowing the grounds and snow removal. The 12-month position will be shared with another District if possible. Phillips estimates a savings of $30,000 annually. The motion to advertise was made by Bear and seconded by Cromer. All present voted aye to pass the motion.
With a motion by Bear and a second by Smiarowski the Board agreed to set the GO Bond term to 20yrs @ $3.60. All present voted aye to approve.
The 2020-2021 calendar was approved with a motion by Dachenbach and a second by Bear. All present voted aye to adopt calendar “A” at 1128.82 hrs.
Smiarowski read the Budget Guarantee Resolution for the 2020-21 Fiscal Year which reads as follows:
Summary: Iowa law provides for a minimum amount of growth in the regular program district cost for any school district where regular program district cost will decrease due to declining enrollment or low allowable growth or a combination of the two. In Iowa Code Sec. 257.14, the legislature has provided for a budget guarantee of 101% of the preceding year regular program district cost (without budget guarantee).
To utilize the budget guarantee, Districts must adopt a resolution and file with the Department of Management by April 15, 2020
Be it resolved, that the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District, will levy property tax for fiscal year 2020-21 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.
Motion by Bear, second by Dachenbach to accept the resolution with the following roll call vote: Bear aye; Dachenbach aye; Cromer aye; Evans aye; and Smiarowski aye. There were no nay votes. Motion passes. The amount for 2020-21 is $115,719.
The District accepted the Early Retirement application for Claudia Brown effective at the end of the current fiscal year, 2019-2020. The plan is offered to full-time certified employees meeting certain criteria only. The District will provide single premium health insurance coverage for one year. The motion passes with a motion by Bear, a second from Cromer followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans to approve. A second application submitted by Bridgette Stark was denied as the “years served in the District” criteria was not met.
Combining items #11 and #12, with a motion by Bear, a second from Dachenbach, followed by all ayes from the Board, the Board approved for Pat Evans to get a quote for fencing using steel posts and barbed wire, at the school’s cost, for the Kyner property west of the school’s current property line. Superintendent Phillips will approve the quote if it is $4999 or less. Anything more will need to be revisited by the Board for approval.
Last under action items, Smiarowski made a motion to approve the bills and financials. Bear seconded followed by ayes from all present. Motion carries.
Stripe turned her report time over to Chris Hilton who updated the Board on student assessments.
Superintendent Phillips briefly updated the Board on what was happening in the District. He is still working on Operational Sharing opportunities and calculates there are around 9 hours to make up for days missed due to weather.
With a motion by Cromer and a second by Bear the group ask to take a roll call vote to enter into closed session in reference to Iowa Code 21.5 (1) (j). All guests were thanked for coming and were ask to leave the open meeting. Roll call was answered as follows: Dachenbach aye, Bear aye, Cromer aye, Smiarowski aye and Evans aye. The Board entered closed session at 8:40 pm.
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Cromer motioned to continue as discussed. Dachenbach seconded followed by all ayes to continue.
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 9:32 pm.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held Friday, April 10, 2020 @ 6:30 pm in the District Office in Garden Grove.
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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