June 6, 2011 Board Minutes

Posted on 06/24/2011

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: Mr. Feller, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Stazzoni, Mrs. Studer and Mrs. Scheffel. Mr. Hendrix and Mr. Weilage were absent.

Administrators: Administrators present were Dr. Mark Schweer, Dave Black, Jeff Carper, Barb Grell, Mike Hale, Dale Kreher, Chuck Story and Laurie Thies

Guest in attendance: NatalieJean Ahrens, Gary Fiscus, Laurie Kammrad, Chris Mitchell, Joanna Stenlund and Angie Stouffer

Approve Agenda: Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the agenda be approved as presented. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

Commendations/Good News:

Comments & Suggestions: None

Consent Agenda: Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that consent agenda be approved as presented. Discussion: Consent Agenda included: Approval of Minutes from the May 16, 2011 meeting. Administrative Recommendations included: Licensed – Approval to Employ: Dana Dose – HS Math, Tom Hutchinson – HS Math. Classified Approval to Employ: Carmen Doughman – Sign Language Interpreter. Licensed – Resignations: Jenny Williams – MS Asst. Volleyball, Farah Guetter – TH elementary teacher, Andi Werger – HS math. Classified Resignations: Chad Bellows – KR para, Ron Basch – KR custodian, Edna Kelly – FS worker, Sheri Schnitker – TH para, Paula Erickson – KR part time para, Rebecca Grzeskowiak – KR para, Trey Drake – TH para, Cheryl nelson – TH para and Scott Pickering – Trans. Coordinator. Miscellaneous Contracts: Drive Tek Carried: 5-0

Reports

• Jeff Carper updated the Board on flood preparations as we look to the possibility of flooding conditions at Kreft.
• Four members of the SAIC Committee, NatalieJean Ahrens, Laurie Kammrad, Johanna Stenlund and Angie Stouffer were at the meeting to share with the Board highlights of the committee’s work over the last couple of months. Their presentation covered the following areas: Organization/Purpose of this group, Bullying and Harassment, Accreditation Site Visit Highlights and District Responses, State and Federal Reports on Student Achievement, Identify issues/areas of concern, Review ITBS/ITED results from this year, Goal results based upon growth, Status results based upon proficiency, Prioritize issues/areas of concern and indentifying key areas of recommendation to the Board.

Discussion Items
7.01 Approve Handbooks for 2011-2012
As part of the packet, you should have received a copy of the proposed handbooks for next year. You will

note that Kreft and Titan Hill have a joint handbook. The building principals have provided for you an overview of the major changes being proposed. With board approval, the handbooks become an extension of board policy.

7.02 Approve Student Fees for 2011-2012
We need board action to approve the student fee schedule for next year. The contract with Drive Tek (vendor that provides Drivers Education for us) expires in August. The new contract calls for an increase of $5 from $355 to $360. The only other change being recommended is increasing the cost of the Yearbook (which is optional) from $45 to $50.

Should Dance Team fees be included in the fee schedule? Mr. Story indicated that individual activity fees are not included in the fee schedule. They are looking to cut the costs of the Dance Team so that more students can participate. Has there been any discussion about moving to an electronic year book?

7.03 Set Board Meeting Dates for 2011-2012
We need to set board meeting dates for the 2011-2012 school year so that the dates can appear on the District Calendar.

The meeting dates are as follows:
July 18, 2011
August 1 & 15
September 12 & 19
October 3 & 17
November 7 & 21
December 5 & 19
January 9 & 23
February 6 & 20
March 5 & 19
April 2 & 16
May 7 & 21
June 4 & 18

7.04 Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement
You have been provided with the changes to the Master Contract for teachers per the collective bargaining agreement. The Association has ratified the agreement. The base salary will increase by $300 to $28,360.

With the increase to the base, insurance adjustments, and IPERS increase, the total package increase is a 3.34% total package. The projected cost of the settlement is an increase of $505,603.

7.05 Additional Staffing Requests
We have requests for 2 additional teaching positions for next year:

• 1.0 FTE Special Education Teacher at Kreft
• .50 FTE Science at the High School

Both Mrs. Grell and Mr. Story were present at the meeting, and presented several options and the pros and cons of each of those options.

7.06 SAI Mentoring and Induction Program
According to Iowa Code, we are required to have a mentoring and induction plan for beginning administrators regardless of whether we have a beginning administrator in any given year. The SIA Mentoring and Induction Program does meet the requirements of Chapter 284A.5. Next year we will have a beginning administrator (Mark Frtich).

7.07 Technology Purchases
First item:
We need to renew the licensing for Compass Learning Odyssey. This provides supplemental skills development for reading, math and science for grades K-8, credit recovery options for grades 9 -12, and

ACT prep options for grades 9 – 12 (that we have not yet tapped). Basic support for entire district = $12,530

Assessment Support (alignment with NWEA = $1,500). Total cost = $14,030

Second item:
The upgrade for PowerSchool to version 7 (to be released this summer) will require a significant server upgrade. We have secured pricing from four vendors :

Riverside Technologies (Omaha) $12,815.10 (favored because of local support availability)
GovConnection (New Hampshire) $15,075.92
Hp Direct (California) $16,486.02
CDW-G (Chicago) $12,815.10

Third item:
Added instructional lab space at the Middle School will be required of the added classes and restructuring of the technology exploratories. This also includes renewal of the ten HS Journalism computers and the renewal of one lab at Titan Hill. (Monitors are not included and will be bid separately. We will develop specs based upon furniture requirements.)

Pricing for 72 desktop computers:

Riverside Technologies (Omaha) $31,807.44 (favored because of local support availability)
GovConnection (New Hampshire) $42,120.00
CDW-G (Chicago) $31,807.44

Fourth item:
We have 60 teacher laptops that are four years old and require replacement according to our cycle.

We requested quotes for 60 laptops with the following specs:

Pricing for 60 laptop computers:

Riverside Technologies (Omaha) $44,082.00 (favored because of local support availability)
GovConnection (New Hampshire) $51,300.00
CDW-G (Chicago) $44,082.00

Fifth item:
We requested quotes for 120 licenses for Microsoft Office Professional Plus and 2 licenses for Windows

Server Enterprise 2008 R2 along with the required media.

Pricing:
GovConnection (New Hampshire) $6,934.33 (no media included)
Academic SuperStore (through the Iowa Education Consortium) $6,930.06 (includes media)

7.08 Wireless Upgrade
We need to replace our present wireless infrastructure throughout the district (7 years old) to increase capacity to handle the 1:1 laptop initiative and eliminate the local switching issues that presently exist in our system. Five bidders responded to the RFP for Cisco wireless equipment with an option for installation. Four of the bids were for the specified equipment with each bid reflecting trade in of our present 62 access points and controller.

7.09 Approve the Classified Employee Handbook
Dr. Schweer met with a representative group of classified employees on May 18 to review the Classified Employee Handbook. We have done this on an every other year basis. The new handbook would be in place for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. Please note that it is the Board who approves the handbook. Here is a summary of the major changes being proposed:

• Section Two (Employee Status) Statement #7
• Section Five (Employee Hours) Statement J
• Section Six (Wages and Salary Structure) Comp Time will be eliminated
• Section Six Bus Driver Bonus will be eliminated
• Section Twelve (Family Illness) Adding “grandchildren” to the immediate family list

Other items which came up in the review:

Could they get paid for unused personal leave days? Currently, full time employees get 2 personal leave days per year at full pay. Teachers receive $100 for each unused personal leave day.

Could the number of family illness days be increased from 2 to 5 days? (Section 12) Along with the increase would be language that these days would be deducted from their sick leave. Teachers currently have 5 “Family Illness Leave” days and the days if taken are deducted from their sick leave days.

Could there be an opportunity for employees to contribute either sick leave or vacation leave to a sick leave bank? There was some discussion regarding contracted employees versus at will employees , we need more clarification before decisions are made.

7.10 Classified Wages for 2011-2012
Dale has worked up 2 scenarios. Keep in mind this information also contains the information for the Coordinators. The coordinators include the 2 technicians (Dennis South and Ed Combs), Dean Harrifeld (Food Service), and Richard Vogelzang (Campus Security).

3.4% total package would result in classified employees receiving a 23 cent an hour increase.

3.02% total package would result in an 18 cent an hour increase.

Last year classified employees received a 3.01% total package increase (35 cents an hour). The reason for the lower hourly increase even though the overall package is relatively the same is because of the increase in IPERS for next year. Shelly Robinson’s recommendation for LCLC employees is also included. Concerns were raised about the need for an assistant LCLC Director. Dr. Schweer will invite Shelly to a future board meeting.

7.11 Administrator Salaries for 2011-2012
Last year I mentioned that we have had a document in place for Administrators. We hadn’t updated this document for many, many years. I met with several administrators to review the document. I think the Board should approve this document and in subsequent years approve the document when changes are recommended.

Dale has worked up 3 scenarios for your consideration regarding administrator salaries for next year.

• • 3.34% total package
• • 3.00%
• • 2.50%

7.12 Set Lunch Prices for 2011-2012
Dean Harrifield is recommending a 5 cent increase in breakfast and lunch prices for next year (milk will remain the same).

Comments & Suggestions: None

Action Items
9.01 Approve Handbooks for 2011-2012
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the handbooks as presented for the 2011-2012 school year. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.02 Approve Student Fees for 2011-2012
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the student fee schedule for the 2011-2012 school year as presented. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.03 Set Board Meeting Dates for 2011-2012
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the board meeting dates for the 2011-2012 per discussion. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.04 Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, that the Lewis Central Board of Education ratify the collective bargaining agreement for 2011-2012. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.05 Additional Staffing Requests
Mr. Livingston moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, that the Lewis Central Board of Education increase the .5 FTE High School Science to .7 FTE and hire an additional Special Education teacher for Kreft Elementary. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0 

9.06 SAI Mentoring and Induction Program
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the SAI Mentoring and Induction Program for the 2011-2012 school year. Discussion: None  Carried: 5-0

9.07 Technology Purchases
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the technology purchases totaling $109,664.60. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.08 Wireless Upgrade
Mr. Stazzoni moved, seconded by Mr. Feller, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve the purchase of Cisco equipment specified in the RFP from CambianData (Omaha) for a total of $79,681.27. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.09 Approve the Classified Employee Handbook
This item was tabled

9.10 Classified Wages for 2011-2012
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mrs. Studer, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve a 3.4% total package increase for classified employees. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

9.11 Administrator Salaries for 2011-2012
Mrs. Studer moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve a 3.34 total package increase for administrators and an additional $1500 increase for Kim Jones. Discussion: None  Carried: 5-0

9.12 Set Lunch Prices for 2011-2012
Mr. Feller moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni, that the Lewis Central Board of Education approve breakfast and lunch prices for 2011-2012 as recommended. Discussion: None Carried: 5-0

Information/Future Items*Regular School Board Meeting – June 27, 2011

Adjournment
With no further business before them, at 9:45 pm Mrs. Studer motioned to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Mr. Feller. 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