LEWIS CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2010
Un-Official Minutes
Call to Order: Board President Dorene Scheffel called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 pm. At roll call, the following board members responded as present: Amie Studer, Ron Stazzoni, Dan Feller, Daryl Weilage, Dorene Scheffel, Bob Hendrix, Rob Livingston.
Administrators: Administrators present were Dr. Mark Schweer, Dave Black, Jeff Carper, Sean Dunphy, Dale Kreher, Kim Jones, and Mike Hale
Guest in attendance: Dennis Friend, Denny Hill, Dr. Dan Kinney, Brandon Michaelsen, Terry Michaelsen, Nick Hempl, Ty Hempl and Brenda Hampton
Approve Agenda: Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the Agenda be approved as presented. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
Commendations/Good News: None
Comments & Suggestions: None
Consent Agenda: Mr. Hendrix moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Consent Agenda be approved as presented.
Discussion: The Consent Agenda included: Approval of minutes from the Emergency Board Meeting on January 13, 2009 and the regular Board Meeting on January 18, 2009. Administrative recommendations included: Classified approval to employ, Kella Rageth – KR special ed. Para educator. Classified resignations, Rodney McClain – Bus driver, Bobby Long – Bus driver. Carried: 7-0
Reports
Denny Hill from Strategic Resources West, Inc. was hired by the Board to provide Lewis Central with a Facilities Master Plan to help us estimate future enrollment as well as planning for future building needs. Areas looked at included an Economic and Demographic overview of Pottawattamie County, Historical enrollment analysis and projections, Facility capacity analysis and finally Facility adequacy. A summary of his findings include:
- Residential development and related population growth indicate the potential for modest enrollment growth, primarily in the northeast and eastern portions of the District and higher density housing in the west. If recent trends prevail, Pottawattamie County and Lewis Central will likely experience continued growth, with Lewis Central gaining a larger than average share of the population.
- Over the next five or six years, enrollment growth is expected to experience modest gains, perhaps approximating 2,780 resident students by fall 2015. Another 540 to 740 students could be attributed to open enrollment. Enrollment potential will be directly dependent upon the local economy’s recovery and vitality as well as the effects of housing construction and net demographic changes.
- The next section of the report is a capacity analysis of Lewis Central Community School’s educational facilities. Strategic Resources West suggested capacities are as follows: Kreft – 530, Titan Hill – 950, Middle School – 750 and High School – 1070. While physical spaces play an integral part in the ability of a structure to provide adequate capacity for the intended number of students, outdoor amenities and safe access also contribute to a facility’s student capacity. The District’s school sites are generally adequate in size comparison with other school districts.
- In the area of facility capacity, the capacity of our buildings is expected to be adequate over the next few years with the exception of the primary and intermediate schools. However, reorganization of Titan Hill may alleviate most if not all of the anticipated shortage.
Discussion Items
7.01 Football Field Rental Agreement with IWCC
We have been approached by IWCC with a request to rent our football field for their upcoming season. We want to be good neighbors, but there are some real reservations about having an additional 10-12 games played on our field. Wear and tear on a football field takes a toll in a normal year. If we were to have a rainy weekend and the field is torn up that first or second weekend of the season, we can’t imagine the criticism we would take. Another issue could be scheduling. . Perhaps minor but if we were to enter into this agreement, there is one more entity that Mike Hale would need to be mindful of when scheduling usage of the field. One that readily comes to mind is the marching band. The AD from IWCC (Brenda Hampton) and Dr. Dan Kinney, President of Iowa Western were at the meeting. Mike Hale was also in attendance as well. IWCC has offered to purchase new goal posts that can be used for both high school and college games. Much discussion was generated over the possibility of potential damages to our field and how these matters could be taken care of. It was suggested that we share the cost of repairing the field if there is a problem.
7.02 2nd Reading of Policies
Per the discussion during the 1st reading of these policies on January 18, 2010, the only policies that need to be changes are #301.2, Superintendent of Schools- Contract, #303.3, Administrative Contracts and #203.1, Formulation of policy. All changes have been made.
7.03 Approve Kern Foundation Grant
The Project Lead The Way (PLTW) middle school program, Gateway To Technology (GTT), is a project based,
activities-oriented program designed to challenge and engage the natural curiosity and imagination of middle school students. The program is divided into five independent units: Design and Modeling, Magic of Electrons, Science of Technology, Automation of Robotics, Flight and Space. Of these five units, Design and Modeling, along with Automation and Robotics, are required units. Instructors choose which other units to include in their curriculums. There will be a sixth unit available in the fall of 2010, Energy and the Environment. This fall the high school and middle school teachers wrote and submitted a grant proposal to the Kern Family Foundation for a $25,000 grant to be used for support in the implementation of the GTT program at the middle school. We received word this month that our district was awarded the grant of $25,000 with $20,000 coming for the 2010-11 school year and the remaining $5,000 in the 2011-12 school year. Items that are covered by the grant include summer training of the instructor, a lap-top for the teacher, software licensing fees, required equipment and supplies for teaching the program and counselor conference registration fees. The computers being used for PLTW need to be replaced and the old computers will work great for GTT. We will be able to use existing space for the program and should only have to purchase a few tables.
7.04 Set Administrator Salaries for 2010-2011 School Year
In light of the projected amount of budget cuts needed for next year ($619,000), the Administrative Team including the Superintendent, the Business Manager, and the Director of Operations are voluntarily requesting a salary freeze for the 2010-2011 school year. Based upon the 2009/2010 salary increase, this will result in a savings of $37,000.
Comments & Suggestions: None
Action Items
9.01 Football Field Rental Agreement with IWCC
Mr. Hendrix moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Lewis Central District provide Iowa Western Community College the opportunity to use Lewis Central Community School District’s football field for the 2010/11 school year. This will include IWCC agreeing to pay LCCSD a usage fee of $10,000 and also agreeing to provide 60% of the costs associated with repairs necessary to return the field to a playable condition. We also need to be named as additional insured on IWCC insurance policy and give the Administration permission to make necessary decisions regarding this agreement. Discussion: Mike Hale offered to check details of agreements with other school districts who allow colleges to use their fields. Dan also pointed out how well IWCC worked with us when our ball fields were flooded. Carried: 6-1 with Mr. Stazzoni casting the opposing vote.
9.02 2nd Reading of Policies
Mr. Hendrix moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, to adopt the above referenced policies on 2nd reading. Discussion: None
Carried: 7-0
9.03 Approve Kern Foundation Grant
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, to approve the Kern Foundation Grant. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.04 Set Administrator Salaries for 2010-2011 School Year
Mr. Weilage moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, to approve the salary freeze for the Administrative Team for the 2010-2011 school year. Discussion: Mr. Weilage and Mrs. Scheffel reserve the right to revisit this issue at a later date if budget conditions change. Carried: 7-0
Information/Future Items
*Regular School Board Meeting – February 15, 2010
Adjournment
With no further business before them, at 9:10 pm Mr. Hendrix motioned to adjourn the meeting with Mr. Weilage seconding. By voice vote, all were in favor.
Approved – Dorene Scheffel Dale Kreher
President, Lewis Central Board of Education Board Secretary, Lewis Central Board of Education