MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR MEETING
March 13, 2017
President Smiarowski called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 7:31 p.m. in the Humeston Elementary Library. Answering roll call were board members Evans, Lundahl, Funk, Peasley and Smiarowski. Principals Hunt and Stripe and Superintendent Lorna Paxson were present. Board Secretary Peggy Rash was also present. 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 one open enrollment application into the District request for school year 2017-18 and four open enrollment request out of the District for 2016-17 that met filing requirements. Evans seconded. Motion carries with all ayes. After reviewing the month’s financial reports, Lundahl made a motion to approve. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye. Following a brief discussion, Lundahl motioned to approve the February bills for payment. Funk seconded with all present voting aye. Lundahl made a motion to accept the resignation of assistant softball coach, Cassie Moore. Evans seconded the motion. Everyone present voted aye in favor of the motion. Lundahl made a motion to approve Bailey Neinas as a part-time para-educator at $7.25/hr. Funk seconded. All present voted aye. Item #5 review and update, as necessary, Board policy code series XXX was tabled pending recommendations by Superintendent Paxson. Item #6 which included the selection of the audit team who will conduct the yearly audit for fiscal year 2016-17 was tabled. Motion by Lundahl with Evans seconding. All members present voted aye to revisit this again in April. Evans made a motion 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 2017-18 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.” Peasley seconded. Evans, Funk, Peasley, Lundahl and Smiarowski answered a roll call vote with ayes. There was no one against the resolution. 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 15. Lundahl made a motion to approve the 2017-18 Proposed Budget as presented by Superintendent Paxson. Evans seconded with everyone voting aye in favor of the motion. April 10th, 7:15 pm in the Humeston Elementary Library was set as the time and place for a public hearing for the 2017-18 proposed budget. Motion by Lundahl. Second by Peasley with all present voting aye in favor. Funk made a motion to approve the SWCC Educational Services Contracts for 2017-18. Peasley seconded with all present voting aye. Group medical and dental and voluntary vision rates for 2017-18 were next up for discussion. New medical rates will increase 2.7% over 2016 rates, while dental and voluntary vision rates will remain the same as last year. Lundahl motioned to accept the rate package with Peasley seconding. All present voted aye in agreement. The District partners with ISEBA, Iowa Schools Employee Benefits Association, Reynolds & Reynolds Inc., Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, IASB and ISEA to give the District real value in a tough industry and marketplace. Currently, certified full time staff receives a $1000 deductible single medical insurance policy at a cost to the District of $615.45 per month per employee. That rate will increase to $631.67 July 1st 2017. No action was taken on #12 classified staff wages, but Superintendent Paxson gave the Board some food for thought concerning the costs to the District associated with raising hourly wages. The District currently pays $7.25 per hour for new classified hourly employees and subs. Brad Funk made a motion to contribute $1320, which is equivalent to two year’s payments, into a Tax Sheltered Annuity 403b account for Mike Snyder. Snyder will be given 30days from date of notice to find an approved provider of his choice and to file the required paperwork with the Business Manager. Peasley seconded the motion with all present voting aye. Snyder was to receive $55 per month in a TSA per his original contract hire date but paperwork did not get filed Administrative reports were given by Principals Becky Stripe and Steve Hunt and Superintendent Paxson. Lundahl motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Funk seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 9:45 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held April 10th 2017 @ 7:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library preceded by the Proposed Budget Hearing at 7:15 pm.
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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