MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
November 11, 2020
President Evans called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:33 pm in the Board Office in Garden Grove. Roll call was taken. The following were present: Jeremy Cromer, Stephanie Bear and Pat Evans. Marc Smiarowski joined via zoom. Elizabeth Dachenbach was absent. Peggy Rash, Board Secretary, Kerry Phillips, Superintendent and Becky Stripe, Principal were also in attendance. Other Guests were Mike Adkins and John Hansen, MCC and Eric Beron, DLR. Linda Horton from the New Era was also present. 14 guests joined via ZOOM.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Bear. Motion passes with all present voting aye. Dachenbach was absent.
The consent agenda, consisting of previous meeting minutes and open enrollment requests was approved with a motion from Bear, a second by Cromer and ayes from all present. Dachenbach was absent. There were no new open enrollment applications filed to report.
Laura Leeper’s resignation was accepted with a motion by Cromer and a second by Smiarowski. All present voted aye to approve. Dachenbach was absent. The Board would like to than Laura for her dedication to Mormon Trail as a 1:1 para-educator.
New contracts were approved for full-time paras Loni Gentry, Amy Blakeburn and Samantha Jackson with a motion by Cromer and a second from Bear. Part-time para Ashley Hofmann was also approved in the motion which received all ayes from those present. Dachenbach was absent. Hofmann will begin after Winter break.
With a motion by Smiarowski, a second from Cromer followed by aye votes from all present Robert Thatcher will coach both JH boys and girls’ basketball contingent on licensing, student numbers and State of Iowa guidelines. Dachenbach was absent.
A new vaporizer for the propane system will be needed at the Elementary building in Humeston.
Board member Jeremy Cromer told the board Agriland FS would install one for no more than $6000 for both product and installation. Smiarowski made the motion to accept and Bear seconded. Smiarowski, Bear and Evans voted aye while Cromer abstained. Dachenbach was absent. Cromer was ask to get the quote in writing.
John Hansen, MCC was present to talk about invoices due for the building project. Smiarowski made a motion to pay MCC $11,417.02, DLR $80,570.41, and Terracom $5600. Bear seconded followed by all aye votes from board members present. Dachenbach was absent.
Eric Beron, DLR was present to discuss the Project Design Plan. He estimated bids for the project will be let sometime around Feb 9th, 2021. Rebates for energy efficiency are being sought. The Plan, with the understanding it is to keep within budget, was approved with a motion from Bear and a second from Smiarowski. All present voted aye to approve. Dachenbach was absent.
JH boys’ basketball was next up for discussion. Seymour’s JH boys will combine with Mormon Trail’s JH team for the 2020-21 season. Seymour will provide transportation for practice and games. Motion passes with a motion by Cromer, a second from Bear followed by all aye votes from those present. Dachenbach was absent.
With a motion by Bear and a second by Smiarowski a Krispy Kreme fundraiser was approved for a group of students who have signed up to travel to Washington DC in May 2022. All present voted aye to support the group for this fundraiser. Dachenbach was absent.
Bear made a motion to let the Mormon Trail FFA Chapter use the 12Acres purchased west of the current Humeston school property for a crop plot until the land is needed for School use. Proceeds will be placed in an Enterprise Fund for future use by the FFA Chapter as approved by the Mormon Trail Board of Education. The motion was seconded by Cromer. All present voted aye to approve. Dachenbach was absent.
Lisa Wetterling was approved for early graduation with a motion by Cromer and a second by Smiarowski. All present voted aye to approve. Dachenbach was absent.
The Board updated their current District Depository Resolution adding UMB Bank. The resolution states the following banks and the dollar amounts allowed held in each bank:
Great Western Bank – $8,500,000; ISJIT – $3,000.000; UMB – $225,000. Motion by Bear, second by Cromer followed by all aye votes by those present. Dachenbach was absent.
Secretary Rash ask the Board to approve the transfer of $90,000 ($18,000 per month July – November) from the Bond Fund to the Debt Service Fund so that the first interest payment of $59,930 may be made on Dec 1, 2020. Additionally, Rash will transfer $18,000 per month into Debt Service to pay future payments per the debt schedule. The motion was made by Bear and seconded by Smiarowski. All present voted aye. Dachenbach was absent.
An application to the SBRC for “Open Enrollment Out not in Fall 2019” in the amount of $57,104 was approved with a motion by Smiarowski and a second by Cromer. All present voted aye to approve the motion. Dachenbach was absent.
Bills and financials were approved with a motion by Cromer and a second by Smiarowski. All present voted aye to approve. Dachenbach was absent.
Additional discussion centered around meeting efficiency. Specifically, “How to improve Board access to data in a timelier manner.”
Cromer motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Smiarowski seconded with all present voting in favor of adjournment. Dachenbach was absent. Evans closed the meeting at 8:35 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held December 9, 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