Mormon Trail

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 9^th, 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.

____________________________ ___________________________

              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

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.

____________________________ ___________________________

              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

MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

September 16, 2020

President Evans called the Regular meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:36 p.m. in the Humeston Commons. Answering roll call in person were board members Cromer, Evans, Bear and Dachenbach. Director Smiarowski was present via ZOOM. Superintendent Kerry Phillips, Elementary / High School Principal Becky Stripe, Board Secretary Peggy Rash, John Hansen, MCC, Stacie Porterfield, Kara Hilton, Tami Arnold, Chris Hilton, Pam Woollis, Gloria Rumley, Mona Baker and Linda Horton with the Humeston New Era were also in attendance. Ten additional guests joined the meeting 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 Smiarowski, a second by Cromer and ayes from all present. There were no new open enrollments into or out of the District to report.

There were no resignations to report.

A new contract was approved for new Special Education teacher, Tara Wilson. The motion was made by Dachenbach and seconded by Cromer. Motion passes with aye votes from all present.

Jessica Stark and Pam Davis were hired as para-educators with a motion by Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. All present voted aye to approve. Stark will be full-time and Davis will be 2 days per week.

Tammy Arnold, representing the Booster Club was present to ask the Board to approve moving Boom Night from Thursday to Wednesday night, Sept 30th. Dachenbach made the motion followed by a second from Cromer. All present voted aye to approve. There is an away volleyball game Thursday night.

Mona Baker was up next to ask the Board to approve the 2020-21 FFA calendar and fundraisers. Motion by Bear, second by Cromer followed by all aye votes to approve.

A team from the DLR Group presented the Schematic Design to the Board followed by a financial projection by John Hansen. Hansen suggested the District needs to look into and seek bids to invest $6.5 million dollars from the bond proceeds in a short-term investment. Hansen, from Midwest Construction Consultants (MCC) also submitted two invoices for payment, including Midwest Construction Consultant: consulting fees $10,042.28 and Civil Design Advantage LLC: Topical survey for property south of the current school $5750. Cromer made the motion to approve the Schematic Design and payment of the two invoices. Dachenbach seconded followed by all aye votes to pass the motion.

With a motion by Cromer, a second by Dachenbach, and ayes from all present transportation employees received the following pay increases. Daily routes will increase from $77.25 per day to $87.00 per day. Extracurricular trips will be paid an hourly rate of $14.00, up from $12.88 per hour. Subs receive the same rates as full-time drivers and hourly employees receive their regular hourly pay for driving assignments.

The Instructional Support Levy Public Hearing was rescheduled for Oct 14^th at 6:30 pm. The following resolution was approved with a motion by Stephanie Bear and a second from Jeremy Cromer. All Board members voted aye to approve.

President of the Board, Evans called up for consideration the Resolution to Consider Continued Participation in the Instructional Support Program which requires that a public hearing be held on this proposal.

Director _____Bear_____________________ introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption.  Director _____Cromer___________ seconded the motion to adopt.  The roll was called and the vote was:

AYES: Evans, Cromer, Smiarowski, Dachenbach, and Bear

NAYS:  __________none___________________

The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows:

RESOLUTION

TO CONSIDER CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL 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

WHEREAS, notice of the time and place of a public hearing must be published:

NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:

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.

5. The Secretary is authorized and directed to give notice of a public hearing to be held in the Board Office, Mormon Trail Community School District, Garden Grove, Iowa on October 14, 2020, 6:30 o’clock P.M.

6. Following the public hearing the Board intends to take action on the question whether to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Program.

The Board approved items to be purchased with grant funds from the County Rural Offices of Social Services (CROSS) Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Region Grant The grant funds necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19. Expenditures must have been incurred between 3/1/2020 and 12/30/2020. Superintendent Phillips applied for and the District was approved for a CROSS MHDS Grant in the amount of $8428.33. With a motion from Bear and a second from Dachenbach the Board voted all ayes to approve the purchase of 3 standing thermometers ($5985), face shields ($98.99), wash bags ($103.92), storage containers ($490.42) and cloth masks ($1750).

Bills and financials were approved with a motion from Cromer and a second from Smiarowski. 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.  Evans closed the meeting at 8:20 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held October 16, 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

MORMON TRAIL COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

SPECIAL BOARD MEETING

August 31, 2020    

Board President Evans called the special meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors to order at 6:11 pm via a ZOOM electronic meeting. Answering roll call via ZOOM were board members Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans. Board Secretary Peggy Rash, Principal Stripe and Superintendent Phillips were also present via ZOOM. 53 guests in total signed on via ZOOM.

No one spoke during the Public Forum.

The agenda was approved with a motion by Cromer and a second from Dachenbach. Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans voted aye to approve.

The only action item was District action in response to Covid situation. Superintendent Phillips reported the District has an active case in the JH/HS building. Public Health has recommended full mask use at the Jr High/High School. Phillips also reported he had purchased 1200 masks over the weekend for use in the District. Principal Stripe, Nurse Hoyt and Superintendent Phillips addressed students at an assembly Aug 31^st.

After much discussion, Cromer made a motion to mandate the use of masks when social distancing is not possible. School-wide, PK-12, students and staff will be required to wear approved face masks, shields or face coverings in all common areas of the facilities where social distancing is not possible. Masks may only be removed with permission and guidance of teachers. Dachenbach seconded the motion followed by the following vote. Elizabeth Dachenbach-aye; Stephanie Bear-aye; Marc Smiarowski-nay; Jeremy Cromer-aye; and Pat Evans-aye. Motion passes.

Mr Phillips will contact the District’s legal counsel in regard to information about a possible mask

mandate on school grounds/buses/athletic facilities.

Smiarowski motioned to adjourn the meeting. Cromer seconded followed by ayes from Dachenbach, Bear, Cromer, Smiarowski and Evans.

President Evans closed the meeting at 7:21 p.m.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Mormon Trail Board of Directors will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2020 @ 6:30 pm in the Elementary Commons in Humeston and/or via ZOOM.

____________________________ ___________________________

              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