MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Public Hearing
May 13, 2020
President Evans called the Public Hearing to order at 6:35 pm for public comment “on the proposed issuance of approximately $2,200,000 school infrastructure sales, service, and use tax revenue bonds.” Answering roll call were board members Cromer, Evans, Dachenbach, Bear and Smiarowski. Superintendent Kerry Phillips and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. There were 14 visitors signing in with ZOOM. There were no public comments on the proposed issuance of approximately $2,200,000 school infrastructure sales, service, and use tax revenue bonds. Smiarowski made a motion to adjourn with Cromer seconding. All present voted aye. Evans closed the hearing at 6:45 pm.
MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
May 13, 2020
President Evans called the Regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:46 p.m. in the Garden Grove District office. Answering roll call were board members Cromer, Evans, Dachenbach, Bear and Smiarowski. Superintendent Kerry Phillips and Board Secretary Peggy Rash were also present. There were 14 visitors signing in with ZOOM. Linda Horton, Humeston New Era joined the group at 7:10 p.m. Principal Stripe joined the meeting at 7:25 p.m.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Smiarowski and a second from Dachenbach. Motion passes with all present voting aye.
The consent agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. Motion passes with all present voting aye. There were no new open enrollments in or out of the District.
The following resignations were accepted with a motion by Cromer and a second from Smiarowski. Donna Binning, Brad Krutsinger, and Mike Snyder. All present voted aye to approve the motion. The Board would like to extend their appreciation and wish these staff members good luck with their future plans.
Contracts were next up for approval. TLC Instructional Coach: Smiarowski made a motion to offer the TLC Instructional Coaching position to Pam Woollis. Motion dies with lack of a second.
District TLC Lead and Data Teacher: Dachenbach made the motion to approve Chris Hilton the Disrict TLC Lead and Data Teacher position for 2020-21. Cromer seconded followed by the following votes: Evans aye; Smiarowski aye; Dachenbach aye; Cromer aye; Bear abstains. Motion passes.
Cromer made a motion to table action on the 5th grade teaching position. Dachenbach seconded followed by the following votes: Evans aye; Smiarowski nay; Dachenbach aye; Cromer aye; Bear
aye. Motion passes.
With a motion by Bear and a second from Cromer, Deb Coffey will be offered the new Elementary Math Intervention / At Risk / MOC position. Mrs Coffey will move from Kindergarten to this new position for 2020-21. The following vote was taken: Evans aye; Dachenbach aye; Cromer aye; Bear aye; Smiarowski abstains. Motion passes.
Gloria Rumley will be offered the Kindergarten position contingent on Mrs Coffey accepting the Math Intervention / At Risk / MOC position. Motion by Dachenbach, second from Cromer followed by the following votes: Evans aye; Dachenbach aye; Cromer aye; Bear aye; Smiarowski abstains. Motion passes.
Keaton Gwinn was approved as head JV/ JH baseball coach with Varsity Assistant baseball duties contingent on state approval allowing Summer Activities for schools. Motion by Smiarowski, second from Cromer followed by all aye votes from those present.
Next up on the agenda bids were received by the Board for 2019-2020 Auditing services. With a motion by Smiarowski and a second from Bear, the audit firm of Faller Kincheloe & Co PLC was chosen to conduct the 2019-2020 audit for the District. All present voted aye. The bid from Faller Kincheloe & Co PLC was the only bid, of three sent, received for consideration.
Cromer made a motion that Claudia Brown be allowed to purchase the laptop she has been assigned and using for $500 upon her retirement after the current school year. Dachenbach seconded followed by all ayes to approve.
With a motion by Bear and a second from Cromer, followed by ayes from all present, the following Seniors were approved for graduation:
Chet Arnold
Daniel Barker
Beau Baughman
Macy Bradford
Zachary Hofmann
Keisha Howsdan
Luke Parmer
George Shanks
Briel Storm
Congratulations to the Mormon Trail Class of 2020!
Cromer motioned to table any action and refer the purchase of a pick-up for the District to the Transportation Director, Keith Indorf, once he begins on June 1. The motion was seconded by Dachenbach. All present vote aye to approve.
Remaining class funds left in the accounts by the Class of 2017 and the Class of 2018 will be moved internally within the Activity Fund account for general purpose expenses related to Activities. The action was approved with a motion by Dachenbach, a second from Smiarowski followed by ayes from all present.
A new Post-Issue Compliance Policy for Tax Exempt Obligations met approval for the first reading with a motion by Smiarowski and a second from Cromer. The first reading of 704.2A was approved with ayes from all present.
Furlough action for COVID-19 hourly employees received approval with a motion by Smiarowski, a second from Dachenbach followed by ayes from all present.
Sharing agreements with Wayne CSD for sharing 80% Mormon Trail/20% Wayne Maintenance Director, Dan Utzke and Transportation Director, Keith Indorf were approved with a motion by Cromer, a second from Smiarowski followed by all aye votes. The sharing for both of these positions will begin August 1st.
Master Social Worker Services will be purchased from Green Hills AEA for $13,322.04, including FICA and IPERS, plus benefits, including travel, to be determined at a later time. The services will include 38 days in the District. Motion by Smiarowski, second from Bear followed by all aye votes.
Smiarowski made a motion to approve use of Offering Terms/Participant Package for SAVE bonds. Cromer seconded followed by the following votes: Smiarowski aye: Cromer aye; Bear aye; Dachenbach aye; Evans aye. Motion carries
With a motion by Bear, a second from Cromer, followed by the following votes: Smiarowski aye: Cromer aye; Bear aye; Dachenbach aye; Evans aye, the following resolution was passed:
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $2,200,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE bondS
WHEREAS, the School District receives revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund (“SAVE Revenue”) pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 423F and an election duly held in accordance therewith on September 13, 2011 approving a revenue purpose statement (the “Revenue Purpose Statement”), the Board of Directors is currently entitled to spend SAVE Revenue for school infrastructure purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is in need of funds for the following school infrastructure project: to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has deemed it necessary and advisable that the District issue School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, in the approximate amount of $2,200,000 for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser. Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has complied with the provisions of Iowa Code Section 423F.4 by providing notice and holding a public hearing on the proposal to issue such Bonds:
NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:
- The Board of Directors supports the proposal to issue approximately $2,200,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser. Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement.
- Eligible electors of the school district have the right to file with the Board Secretary a petition pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.4(2)(b), on or before close of business on May 27, 2020, for an election on the proposed bond issuance. The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of those voting at the last preceding election of school officials under Iowa Code Section 277.1, whichever is greater.
- In the event a petition containing the required number of valid signatures is filed with the Secretary of the Board on or before close of business on May 27, 2020, the President shall call a meeting of the Board to consider withdrawing the proposed Bond issuance, or directing that the question of the proposed Bond issuance be submitted to the qualified electors of the School District.
If the Board determines to submit the question to the electors, the proposition to be submitted shall be as follows: Shall the Board of Directors of the Mormon Trail Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa, be authorized to issue approximately $2,200,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, in the approximate amount of $2,200,000 for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser; with any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District’s Revenue Purpose Statement?
PASSED AND APPROVED this 13th day of May, 2020.
With a motion by Smiarowski, a second from Dachenbach, followed by the following votes: Smiarowski aye: Cromer aye; Bear aye; Dachenbach aye; Evans aye, the following resolution was passed:
Board member Bear read the following resolution:
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR SALE OF NOT
TO EXCEED $5,515,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS,
SERIES 2020, APPROVING ELECTRONIC BIDDING PROCEDURES AND
APPROVING OFFICIAL STATEMENT
WHEREAS, at a special election of the qualified electors of the Mormon Trail
Community School District in the Counties of Wayne, Clarke, Decatur and Lucas, State of Iowa,
held on March 3, 2020, the voters authorized the issuance of $5,515,000 of General Obligation
School Bonds for the District for the purpose of providing funds to construct, build, furnish and
equip an elementary school addition and to improve the site; and
WHEREAS, this Board finds it advisable and necessary that bonds authorized at the
election be offered for sale for the purpose authorized at the election; and
WHEREAS, the Board deems it in the best interests of the School District and the
residents thereof to receive bids to purchase such General Obligation School Bonds by means of
both sealed and electronic internet communication; and
WHEREAS, the Board has received information from its Financial Advisor,
recommending the procedure for electronic bidding so as to provide for the integrity of the
competitive bidding process and to facilitate the delivery of bids by interested parties:
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTIES OF WAYNE,
CLARKE, DECATUR AND LUCAS, STATE OF IOWA:
Section 1. That the PARITY ® Competitive Bidding System described in the Notice of
Sale and the Electronic Bidding Procedures attached hereto are found and determined to provide
reasonable security and to maintain the integrity of the competitive bidding process, and to
facilitate the delivery of bids by interested parties in connection with the offering at public sale
of not to exceed $5,515,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2020.
Section 2. That all electronic bidding shall be submitted in substantial conformity with
Iowa Code Section 75.14 and Chapter 554D.
Section 3. That General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2020, in the aggregate amount
of not to exceed $5,515,000, to be issued as referred to in the preamble of this Resolution, to be
dated June 25, 2020, will be offered for sale pursuant to published advertisement.
Section 4. That the Secretary of the Board of this School District publish notice of the
sale of bonds at least once, the last one of which is not less than four days nor more than twenty
days before the date of the sale. Publication will be in the Humeston New Era, a legal newspaper
published wholly in the English language, published within the County in which the bonds are to
be offered for sale or an adjacent County. Notice is given pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 75 that
bids will be received and acted upon by this Board at a meeting to be held at 6:30 P.M. on May
26, 2020.
Section 5. That the preliminary Official Statement in the form presented to this meeting be and the same hereby is approved as to form and deemed final for purposes of Rule 15c2-12 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, subject to such revisions, corrections or modifications as the Superintendent and Board Secretary, upon the advice of the District’s Financial Advisor, shall determine to be appropriate, and is authorized to be distributed in connection with the offering of the Bonds for sale.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 13th day of May, 2020.
Cromer motioned to approve a resolution authorizing Piper to distribute POS (Preliminary Official Statement) to prospective bidders. Dachenbach seconded followed by the following votes: : Smiarowski aye: Cromer aye; Bear aye; Dachenbach aye; Evans aye. Motion passes.
Smiarowski motioned to approve the bills and financials. Dachenbach seconded. All present voted aye to carry the motion.
There were no administrative reports.
The Board was recognized for their volunteer services with certificates as May is School Board Appreciation Month.
Cromer motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Dachenbach seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Evans closed the meeting at 8:10 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held June 10, 2020 @ 6:30 pm in the District Office in Garden Grove.
____________________________ ___________________________
President, Board of Education Secretary, Board of Education
_________ _________
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