MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
March 12, 2018
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. Guests signing in were Claudia Brown, Kim Hayes, Chris Hilton, Jan Lundahl, David Lundahl, Jordyn Wilson, Reece Myers, Mona Baker, Brad Krutsinger, Peyton Gwinn, Cortnee Francisco, Cort Spencer, Ann Casey, and Brian Crawford.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second by Peasley. All present voted aye.
The consent agenda, which included the previous meeting’s minutes and bills and financials, were first up. Cromer made the motion to approve and Funk seconded. Motion passes with all present voting aye.
At 7:15, Gary Sinclair, consultant for Forecast 5, presented a proposed budget summary to the Board via telephone. The proposed 2018-19 budget must be certified and sent to the state by April 16th.
Superintendent Kerry Phillips gave a report to the Board. He reported that new school buses have been ordered. That shared transportation director, Willard Armstrong, Moravia said the District could use one of their buses for summer activities until the new buses arrived. The student group touring Shenandoah and Hamburg has been rescheduled for April 13th. Also, the Community supper has been rescheduled for April 20th. Phillips told the Board that Midwest Construction Consultants had been in the District assessing the option of placing card-key entry ways in both buildings.
Brian Crawford, Senior Business Consultant representing Unesco, a Program Management Firm that assists public entities in the optimization, revitalization, renovation, and new construction of K-12 educational institutions was up next to speak to the Board. His firm would do a preliminary study of our District facilities at no cost to the District.
Ann Casey was present to tell the Board about a personal idea she has for involving kids from preschool through high school, teaching living skills.
Elementary/Secondary Principal Becky Stripe gave her report to the Board speaking about assessments, conferences, the upcoming preschool sign-up and progress with a program from our insurance company, EMC, called Safe Schools. Stripe feels it will be a very worthy addition to the District’s initiative to make our schools a safer place. She also reminded the Board of some important dates coming up as the school year winds down. April 3rd – Spring program, the school play on April 13-14, and Prom on April 28th.
First, under action items is discussion about continuing the sharing agreements with Moravia CSD for shared transportation and maintenance directors in 2018-19. At the recommendation of Superintendent Phillips to continue the agreements, Evans made a motion to continue the sharing of both transportation director and maintenance director with Moravia CSD. Cromer seconded with all voting aye
Funk made a motion to approve Trish Ver Ellen as SINA teacher and Jean Wilson as par educator for the remainder of the school year. The motion was followed with a second by Evans and all aye votes from the Board.
Meeting all requirements, two open enrollment out of the District applications for 2018-19 were approved with a motion by Cromer and a second by Peasley. All present voted aye to approve.
Seniors Reece Myers, Peyton Gwinn, Cortnee Francisco and Cort Spencer, along with the Senior class sponsors, Mona Baker and Brad Krutsinger, presented their budget and itinerary plans for Senior Trip to the Board. The Seniors will leave Thursday, May 10th for the Lake of the Ozarks and return Sunday, May 13th. The class has many fun and educational activities planned. Krutsinger ask to use the school’s credit card and also to use school vans instead of a school bus this year. He feels that the group would save money by taking school vans because of the small number of students going on the trip this year. The trip was approved with a motion by Peasley to allow the use of the school’s credit card and the use of vans. Cromer seconded and all present vote aye.
With a motion by Funk and a second by Evans the Board voted unanimously to terminate the Durham Services Contract on May 31, 2018. Mormon Trail has leased buses from Durham for many years and will no longer need to do so after purchasing buses for the District.
Evans made a motion to approve a public hearing for the proposed budget amendment for 2017-18 at 7:15 pm on April 9th. The motion was seconded by Peasley followed by all aye votes from the Board.
Cromer made a motion to approve a public hearing for the proposed 2018-19 budget at 7:00 pm on April 9th. The motion was seconded by Peasley followed by all aye votes from the Board.
Cromer motioned to adopt the following resolution: “Be it resolved, that the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District, will levy property tax for fiscal year 2018-19 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.” Funk seconded. Evans, Funk, Peasley, Cromer and Smiarowski answered with ayes.
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 it with the Department of Management by April 16, 2018.
Last under action items, Funk made a motion to approve a one-year contract for the audit team of Faller, Kincheloe & Co, PLC to conduct the District’s yearly audit for fiscal year 2017-18. Cromer made the second with all ayes from the Board. Motion carries. One other proposal was received from Community CPA, Des Moines.
Other items discussed in brief, were a 3.95% increase in health care insurance for 2018-19, staff interest in a health care related Cafeteria Plan for the District, The possible uses of a new State allowed Flex Fund by the District, Safe School Training, Entryway keyless entry progress, and the TLC program.
Cromer motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Funk seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 9:06 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held April 9, 2018 @ 7:00 pm in the Elementary Library. Budget hearing @ 7 pm; budget amendment hearing @ 7:15 pm followed by the Regular meeting.
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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