LEWIS CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2011
Un-Official Minutes
Call to Order: Board President Dorene Scheffel called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. At roll call, the following board members responded as present: Mr. Stazzoni, Mr. Feller, Mr. Livingston, and Mr. Weilage. Mrs. Studer and Mr. Hendrix were absent.
Administrators: Administrators present were Dr. Mark Schweer, Jeff Carper and Kim Jones.
Guest in attendance: Dennis Friend (Nonpareil), Shelly Robinson (LCLC) and Jim Haver.
Approve Agenda: Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the agenda be approved as presented. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0
Commendations/Good News: None
Comments & Suggestions: None
Consent Agenda: Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the consent agenda be approved as presented. The Consent Agenda included: Approval of Minutes – June 6, 2011 Regular Meeting; Financial Statements from May 2011; Bills Recommended for Payment; Personnel – Administrative Recommendations: Licensed – Approval to Employ – Bonnie Clinch – MS Head 8 grade volleyball – step 4 $,2,240.44 replace Jill Heller; Rachel Lammert – MS asst 7th grade volleyball – step 4 - $1,956.84 – replace Kim Mahlberg; Sharon Crawley – MS Head 7th grade volleyball – step 7 - $2,325.52 replace Jenny Williams; Karrie Hansen – HS 9th grade asst. volleyball – Step 4 - $2467.32 replace Kyle South; Jill Bryson – HS Alternative Ed – effective 8/1/11 new position; Danielle Kreher – KR Special Ed – effective 8/1/11 – new position; Kaitlyn White TH 3rd grade – effective 8/11/11 – replace Farah Guetter; Steve Nixon – MS Sped – effective 8/11/11 – replace Danielle Huntley. Classified Approval to Employ- Jordan Hernandez – LCLC – effective 6/1/11; Dylan Gunter – LCLC effective 6/1/11; Jacqueline Loos – LCLC effective 6/1/11; and Travis Cozad – Transportation Coordinator effective 7/5/11 replace Scott Pickering @ $15.50/hour; and Miscellaneous Contracts. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0
Reports
Jeff Carper updated the board on several items:
- Demolition work at Central Elementary is close to being completed. The contractors are working to seal up the end of the building, which is a security issue until it is completed. Grading will need to be completed once the ground dries up.
- Titan Hill contractor, MFT, got pulled off of project to do flood relief for a brief period. They have been here several days working on drainage. They were formally told that we would not approve them to complete the project one week late and that the project must be done by August 3. There is no weather extension clause in the contract.
- Elementary summer school starts next week at Kreft Primary and Titan Hill. In case Kreft would be affected by the flood, we would go to Plan B, which would consist of moving all students to Titan Hill for summer school. We are not going to move until flood occurs as we only have one lane of traffic going to Titan Hill. Materials will be identified so if it would flood, we would be able to pull it up quickly to Titan Hill.
- Status of Flood issue - a few pumps in Twin City area were not working, due to lightening, but have since been repaired. Water receeded and Kreft is good. We are kept up to date daily from Council Bluffs and Emergency Management.
- MS Roof project over the auditorium section is being worked on currently and is going well.
- Bleacher replacement project has been started. Our crew is currently removing boards from current bleachers and on July 6 the new seats will begin to be replaced
- We will be making contact with some churches or companies, to see if we could use their facilities, in case we would be displaced due to the flood.
Discussion Items
7.01 Musical Instrument Replacement Cycle Purchases
Starting back in the spring of 2007, we have made band instrument replacement purchases. As a rule these are instruments that individual students would not purchase. We also discussed the importance of a replacement cycle for these instruments in the same way as we think about keeping textbooks and curriculum materials current. As a continuation of the replacement effort, we are recommending the following instruments be purchased at this time:
High School
Bass Amp Cart McCormicks $1,445.00
King Tuba Model 234 HornWorks $4,499.00
MAPEX MERIDIAN BIRCH DRUMSET Riemans Music $815.00
Cases for Drums Schmitt Music $703.00
Cymbals Riemans Music $299.00
Cymbals Riemans Music $184.00
Cymbals Riemans Music $305.00
King Valve Trombone HornWorks $1,662.00
Yamaha Flugal Horns (2) Riemans Music $2,752.00
Sub Total $12,664.00
Middle School
Percussion replacement mallets/marching heads Reimans Music $706.00
Bari Sax Yamaha Intermediate YBS52 Riemans Music $3,999.00
Tenor Sax Yamaha 6211 Schmitt Music $2,605.00
YGS-100 Yamaha Rolling Bell Stand Riemans Music $690.00
Sub Total $8000.00
Total $20,664.00
7.02 LCLC Rates
Shelly Robinson, LCLC Director, recommended a rate increase for LCLC. This is due to LCLC now providing snacks and lunch for these students, and having to pay the Food Service Department for their services. This increase will help offset those costs. Field trips will remain at $5.00.
With LCLC having a positive balance, Dr. Schweer is recommending we hire an assistant director for Shelly.
Hiring an associate director, would mean full-time with benefits. We need to advertise within the district, and then go outside, if a suitable candidate is not found. Salary and benefits would be determined by the number of hours.
The board discussed the reasoning for raising rates, ideas for depleting the positive balance, and options for an assistant director. LCLC is registered for 150 students (staffing issues allow for them to only have 115 students), and currently have 70-80 students on the waiting list. They currently pay rent for the kitchen, pay $400 rent to LC general fund and update equipment/supplies frequently.
7.03 Textbook Replacement
Kim Jones addressed the board on replacing the Accounting 1 textbook. Our current Accounting I course offered and taught at the High School has been approved to offer as an Honors Early Start class in partnership with IWCC. We are requesting the funds to update our resources to align with IWCC’s current text and resources.
Part of this alignment is acquiring access to the MyAccounting Lab Software. This is a user-specific access code with a life span of 12 months from the time of activation. This, along with a physical copy of the textbook that it is paired with it, is what we are asking to purchase. The cost of each book is $130.00 with the total approximate cost for 18 books/access code = $2,400.00.
It is being recommended that the district purchase the initial codes and textbooks with the intention of analyzing the use of the online lab. If the teacher determines that the online lab is an essential part of the course, additional thought will need to be put into how the cost of annual subscriptions are handled.
7.04 Classified Employee Handbook
Dr. Schweer met with a representative group of classified employees to review the Classified Employee Handbook for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.
Dr. Schweer has had conversation with district legal counsel, regarding the different groups of classified employees, having different contracts, etc. There are some inconsistencies with classified contracts and these are issues that are important that need to be resolved. It has been determined that classified staff is at will employees. There is a desire to continue with what we currently have in place, and work with legal counsel to rectify the issues with contracts, etc.
Dr. Schweer briefed the board on the previously proposed changes.
After discussion on personal leave reimbursement and family illness days, the board was in agreement to pay classified staff their per diem rate for unused personal days at the end of the contract year, and allow employees to take up to five family illness days which would be taken from the employee’s sick leave accumulation.
7.05 IASB / ISFIS Membership
It is renewal time for both IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) and ISFIS (Iowa School Finance Information Services). The renewal rate for IASB is $7,993.00 and for ISFIS is $2,375.00.
We have been members of both IASB and ISFIS. Dr. Schweer stated that membership to at least one of these professional organizations is important. The reason for us joining ISFIS a couple of years ago was to have access to the financial expertise of Larry Sigel who had been at IASB. ISFIS has acquired additional financial expertise of Piper Jaffray and legal expertise with the Dallas Lynch Law Firm. Also, for an additional $600 ISFIS is offering a Policy and Negotiations Service.
The board discussed IASB’s credibility, what we would lose if we did not remain with IASB, and the benefits of staying with both IASB and ISFIS. Lewis Central has not taken full advantage of the ABLE conferences that IASB holds. We can still attend the IASB Conference, but would have to pay a non-member rate.
Board decided on going with just ISFIS for the 2011-2012 school year.
7.06 Audit Services
Dr. Schweer stated that we are required to have an audit each year and that we have worked with Nolte, Cornman & Johnson for many years. Dale has received a bid from Nolte, Cornman, & Johnson, and it is recommended that Lewis Central enter into an agreement for 3 years with Nolte, Cornman & Johnson.
7.07 GASB 54
The Governmental Accounting Standards Board has implemented their latest statement, GASB 54. This statement establishes fund balance classifications that compromise a hierarchy based primarily on the extent to which a government is bound to observe constraints imposed upon the use of the resources reported in governmental funds. The board needs to adopt a policy which identified the Board of Directors as the decision making authority with regard to committing balances. This policy should reflect how the committed balance is established, modified or rescinded. The Board of Directors should officially authorize the official or body who may assign amounts to a specific purpose.
7.08 Substitute Teachers and other Substitute Position Pay Rates
Each year we review the rate of pay for substitute teachers along with a variety of other “substitute” pay rates as identified in section of the accompanying document. The rate of pay for substitute teachers is currently $140/day and has been at that rate now for 3 years.
After discussion, it was decided that Lewis Central is in-line with other schools as far as what we are paying substitute teachers. The board agreed that the rate of pay for substitutes should remain the same.
There needs to be some consistency with our other “summer help” pay. Some summer help employees are receiving different rates of pay for the same job. It was decided that the Dr. Schweer will come back to the board with a salary schedule for these employees. These rates would take effect at the beginning of the summer season and not July 1. This group will be summer seasonal staff instead of mow crew, technology crew, etc.
Comments & Suggestions: None
Action Items
9.01 Musical Instrument Replacement Cycle Purchases
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Livingston, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the musical Instrument Purchase totaling $20,664.00. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0
9.02 LCLC Rates
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve increasing the LCLC rates by $5.00 and to hire an assistant site director. Discussion: The board discussed having the assistant site director hired by the end of summer to assist Shelly. Carried: 5-0
9.03 Textbook Replacement
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the replacement of Accounting I textbooks at a cost of $2,400.00. Discussion: We will review the costs associated with Honors Early Start classes and may need to pass along some of the costs to the parents, as the district may no longer be able to absorb the cost. Carried: 5-0
9.04 Classified Employee Handbook
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Weilage, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the changes to the Classified Employee Handbook as presented and include changes on personal day payouts and increasing family sick days to 5 days. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0
9.05 IASB/ISFIS Membership
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Livingston, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the ISFIS Membership for the 2011-2012 school year in the amount of $2,365, plus $600 for the policy portion of the membership. Discussion: The board discussed their membership to IASB and why they were not going to renew at this time. Carried: 5-0
9.06 Audit Services
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Weilage, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the selection of Nolte, Cornman & Johnson to conduct the annual audits for fiscal years ending June 30, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0
9.07 GASB 54
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Livingston, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors approve the GASB 54 policy. Discussion: Dr. Schweer informed the board that more will be forthcoming on GASB 54 Carried: 5-0
9.08 Substitute Teachers and other Substitute Position Pay Rates
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Weilage, that the Lewis Central Board of Directors keep the current rate of pay for substitute teachers and other substitute positions. Discussion: The board discussed “summer help” pay raises. The board will keep “summer help” at their current rates, and will look at increasing pay for the 2012-2013 school year starting at the beginning of next season. Carried: 5-0
Information/Future Items
*Regular School Board Meeting – July 18, 2011
Adjournment
With no further business before them, at 8:49 pm Mr. Stazzoni motioned to adjourn the meeting with Mr. Feller seconding. By voice vote, all were in favor.
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Approved – Dorene Scheffel Anna Boehm
President, Lewis Central Board of Education Acting Board Secretary, Lewis Central Board o