MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Public Hearing for Instructional Support Levy
October 14, 2020
In the absence of President Evans, Vice President Marc Smiarowski called the Public Hearing for the Instructional Support Levy to order at 6:34 pm in the Mormon Trail Board Office in Garden Grove. Roll call was taken. The following were present: Marc Smiarowski, Elizabeth Dachenbach and Jeremy Cromer. Pat Evans was absent but joined via telephone at 6:45 pm. Stephanie Bear was absent but joined the group in person at 6:44 pm. Peggy Rash, Board Secretary, Kerry Phillips, Superintendent and Becky Strip, Principal were also in attendance. Linda Horton from the New Era was also present. 9 guests joined via ZOOM. Smiarowski read the resolution for the ISL which was passed by the Board last meeting. Guests were given the opportunity to comment. No comments were heard. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 6:49 pm.
REGULAR BOARD MEETING
October 14, 2020
Vice President Marc Smiarowski called the regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:49 pm in the Board Office in Garden Grove. Roll call was taken. The following were present: Marc Smiarowski, Elizabeth Dachenbach Jeremy Cromer, and Stephanie Bear. Pat Evans was absent but joined via telephone. Peggy Rash, Board Secretary, Kerry Phillips, Superintendent and Becky Strip, Principal were also in attendance. Linda Horton from the New Era was also present. 9 guests joined via ZOOM.
The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. Motion passes with all present voting aye.
The consent agenda, consisting of previous meeting minutes and open enrollment requests was approved with a motion from Bear, a second by Dachenbach and ayes from all present. There were three new open enrollment applications filed to report. All were out of the District. One additional application was received but the family is expected to enroll at Mormon Trail.
There were no resignations to report.
There were no new contracts to issue.
Bids for investing 6 million dollars in bond funds for 6 months were reviewed. Bids were received from Federal Home Loan Bank through Piper Sandler Companies: .07; Great Western Bank: .2; and no competitive fixed rate was received from PMA Network. The GWB offer of .2% annual rate was accepted. The $6 M will be put into a Money Market account for 6 months with GWB. Secretary Rash was directed to contact GWB and invest the funds. Motion by Cromer. Second from Bear. All aye votes from all present.
The Instructional Support Levy was approved with a motion by Dachenbach and a second from Cromer. All present voted aye to pass.
The following is an explanation of the ISL as passed in the resolution on September 16, 2020:
NSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has approved a five (5) year finance plan, which anticipates the level of funding that will be possible to continue the current level of services and to fund the ongoing programs of the School District; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.27; and
WHEREAS, the authorization for the Instructional Support Program will expire on June 30, 2021; and
WHEREAS, this resolution sets forth the proposal of the Board of Directors, including the method that will be used to fund the program; and
1. The Board of Directors wishes to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.27, for a period of five (5) years, commencing the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
2. The additional funding for the Instructional Support Program for a budget year shall be determined annually, and shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Iowa Code section 257.14 as a budget adjustment for the budget year.
3. Moneys received by the District for the Instructional Support Program may be used for General Fund purposes.
4. The Instructional Support Program shall be funded by instructional support state aid and a combination instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022 and instructional support income surtax imposed annually, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each budget year to be imposed upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31, 2021, and each year thereafter.
John Hansen, Midwest Construction Consultants (MCC) submitted an invoice for payment of consulting fees $10,236.83. Cromer made the motion to approve. Evans seconded followed by all aye votes to pass the motion. Hansen’s report to the board, in part, explained some excavation issues that may need addressed but suggested waiting on the full report from TERRACON. Hansen is also optimistic that bidding for the new addition project is on track to take place in February 2021.
Activity Fund balances were next up for discussion. With a motion by Bear, the Bridges funds of $210.35 will be moved into the general Activity Fund Account. The class of 2023 will also receive the balance left from the class of 2019 in the amount of $1558.82. Dachenbach seconded followed by ayes from all present. Due to COVID-19 the class of 2023 is short of funds that should have come in for summer concessions. Also, for COVID-19 reasons the class of 2019 was left with a larger than normal balance in their account.
Bills and financials were approved with a motion from Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. Cromer, Evans, Smiarowski and Dachenbach voted aye to approve the motion. Bear abstained.
Cromer motioned that the meeting be adjourned. Dachenbach seconded with all voting in favor of adjournment. Smiarowski closed the meeting at 7:48 p.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held November 11, 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