LEWIS CENTRAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BOARD MEETING
MONDAY, OCTOBER 18, 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: Mr. Feller, Mr. Hendrix, Mr. Livingston, Mr. Stazzoni, Mrs. Studer, Mr. Weilage and Mrs. Scheffel.
Administrators: Administrators present were Dr. Mark Schweer, Dave Black, Dale Kreher and Jeff Carper
Guest in attendance: Gary Bowen, Tyler Feller, Dennis Friend, Mike Kirchner, Jeff Krabbenhoft, Robert Main, Joe Vinchattle and Gwen Woodward
Approve Agenda: Mr. Hendrix moved, seconded by M\r. Feller, that the agenda be approved as presented. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
Public Hearing for the disposing of school property (Central Elementary)
- Mrs. Scheffel opened the Public Hearing 6:32 pm. Dr. Schweer stated that the hearing had been published according to the rules established by law. Mr. Robert Main of 22602 Pioneer Trail addressed the board requesting that Central Elementary not be torn down because it is a building with some work could be well utilized. Mr. Weilage read a letter from Debra Weilage requesting that building not be demolished because of its rich history in the district. With no further comments from the audience, Mrs. Scheffel closed the public hearing at 6:42 pm.
Commendations/Good News:
Dr. Schweer commented on the work being done at Titan Hill on the Outdoor Classroom. He also thanked Dennis Friend from the Daily Nonpareil for the great public relations piece in the paper.
Comments & Suggestions: None
Consent Agenda: Mr. Hendrix moved, seconded by Mr. Stazzoni; that the consent agenda be approved as presented. Consent Agenda included: Approval of Minutes from the October 4, 2010 meeting, Financial Statements from September 2010 and Bills recommended for payment. Administrative recommendations included: Classified Approval to Employ – Kim Salts, KR Sped Para, Trey Drake – TH Sped Para, Chris Shelley – TH Sped Para. Licensed Resignation – Matt Leonard, MS Asst. Football coach, Pay or Hour work time Increase/decrease – Jerry Kerber, HS Asst. Football, Nicole Anderson – MS Sped Para. An additional consent agenda item was added, a request to approve a student teacher from Peru State, at Kreft Elementary. Carried: 7-0
Reports
- Central Gym Study - Gary Bowen
Gary reported to the Board that the physical structure of the gym at Central Elementary is in good condition. It would cost approximately $464,000 to bring the building up to code so that it could be used as a practice gym. The cost of a new multi-purpose room at Titan Hill which would include a gym, office and storage space would be approximately $1,370,000. Mr. Weilage brought up the idea of keeping part of Central Elementary to help with space issues and storage needs.
- Certified Enrollment - Dave Black
We continue to have a positive enrollment trend! Our resident enrollment is up as well as our open enrollment. Total enrollment is 3,122 which includes a net gain of 467 open enrolled students. Dave will work with the Department of Education within the next week to clean up any problems that we are still having with the enrollment numbers.
Discussion Items
7.01 Approve Resolution to Dispose of Central Elementary Building
We are required by Iowa Code (297.22) to state our intentions as far as the action being proposed for the Central Elementary Building demolition. BVH will draw up specs for putting this out for bid. This is a resolution that shows the Boards intent to demo the building, permission is not being given to begin the demolition process. The notice of the public hearing appeared in the Nonpareil on Thursday, October 7, 2010.
7.02 Refinancing of GO Bonds
Tim Oswald from Piper Jaffray attended the meeting and proposed that we refinance our General Obligation Bonds. They are callable on April 1, 2011. There is substantial savings involved with refinancing, depending on the interest rate at the time, we could realize $490,000 in savings. If interest rates would not be favorable at the time of the refinancing we could simply set the transaction aside and have very minimal costs to pay. Piper Jaffray has included a proposed time table for the refinancing.
Tim also spent a few minutes on Local Option Sale Tax and gave several revenue scenarios as well as several possible scenarios for borrowing money. He indicated that the Board should develop a list of projects along with associated costs so that a financing strategy could be developed.
7.03 2nd Reading of Several Policies
The Graduation Requirements Policy #605.4 and the Truancy Policy #501.15 were the only policies that involved a recommended change. The following policies did not need to be changed: Policy #504.3 Injury or Illness at School, Policy #501.14 Student Absences, Policy #502.11 Student Lockers, Policy #503.3 Student Publications, Policy #504.2 Communicable Diseases – Students and Policy #502.10 Freedom of Expression.
7.04 Appoint SAIC Committee
According to Chapter 12 of the Iowa Code, the board shall appoint and charge a school improvement advisory committee (SIAC) to make recommendations to the board. Ashley Shipp has been taken off the list and Brianna Poore added. Also added from the Community Communications group is Glen Tiessen and Angie Stoufer.
7.05 Approve Plan for Ed Jobs Fund Allocation
The Education Jobs Fund program is a new Federal program that provides $10 billion in assistance to States to save or create education jobs for the 2010-2011 school year. Iowa’s allocation is $96,490,048. Lewis Central’s allocation is $514,380.00. The funds are available for obligations that occur as of August 10, 2010 through September 30, 2012. A school district may use the funds to pay the salaries of teachers and other employees who provide building-level educational and related services. In addition to teachers, employees supported with program funds may include, among others, principals, assistant principals, school administration managers (SAMs), academic coaches, in-service teacher trainers, classroom aides, counselors, librarians, secretaries, social workers,, psychologists, interpreters, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, information technology personnel, nurses, athletic coaches, security officers, custodians, maintenance workers, bus drives, and cafeteria workers. These monies do not have to be bargained with the union unless the monies are used for any of the items identified in Chapter 20 such as wages and insurance.
The Administrative Team has identified the following personnel costs that these monies could be used for:
*The additional 5th grade teacher that was hired this year to reduce class size
*The 2 deaf interpreters
*The 2 “Help desk technicians”
*Replace the 2 bus monitors that were laid off
*Balance of 2010-2011 summer school personnel costs not covered by AARA funds
*2011-2012 Summer School personnel costs (this would be our 4th summer school session)
*An early retirement plan (DE has confirmed that this is a legitimate expenditure of these monies).
7.06 Project Lead the Way Equipment (Laser Cutter)
The technology and engineering department at the High School is requesting a laser cutter/engraver. Joe Vinchattle and several of his students have put together the information that accompanies this request. Tyler Feller and Mike Kirchner, both students in Project Lead the Way presented reasons why this purchase should be approved. Two bids were secured, Mid-West Tech for $15,434.00 and Depco, LLC for $14,324.00. The High School has approximately $7,000 remaining of Perkins money that could be used for this purchase and the balance would come from General Fund dollars.
7.07 Projectors for Titan Hill (Microsoft monies)
Titan Hill’s building plan for expending Microsoft dollars, involves the purchasing of classroom projection units. Dave has secured two bids: CDW-G (Chicago, IL) 28 Epson Powerlite 83+ Projectors $15,932.00 plus shipping. GovConnection (Rockville, MD) 28 Epson Powerlite 83+ Projectors for a total of $15,251.04 with free shipping. Our total Microsoft settlement allocation is approximately $500,000.
Comments & Suggestions: None
Action Items
9.01 Approve Resolution to Dispose of Central Elementary Building
Mr. Hendrix motioned to approve the resolution calling for the demolition of the Central Elementary Building. Seconded by Mr. Feller. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.02 Refinancing of GO Bonds
Mr. Feller motioned to authorize Piper Jaffray to proceed with steps necessary to refinance the GO Bonds. Seconded by Mr. Hendrix. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.03 2nd Reading of Several Policies
Mr. Hendrix motioned to adopt the above referenced policies on 2nd reading. Seconded by Mrs. Studer. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.04 Appoint SAIC Committee
Motion by Mr. Hendrix to appoint the SIAC committee for the 2010-2011 school year. Seconded by Mr. Feller. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.05 Approve Plan for Ed Jobs Fund Allocation
Mr. Feller motioned to approve the personnel items for use of the Ed Jobs Fund allocation, however the board reserves the right to make changes to the plan in the future. Seconded by Mr. Livingston. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.06 Project Lead the Way Equipment (Laser Cutter)
Mr. Hendrix made a motion approving the purchase of the laser cutter from Depco, LLC at a cost of $14,324.00. Seconded by Mr. Stazzoni. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
9.07 Projectors for Titan Hill (Microsoft monies)
Mr. Hendrix motioned to approve the quote from GovConnection of $15,251.04 for 28 projection units for the Titan Hill Microsoft Settlement project. Seconded by Mr. Stazzoni. Discussion: None Carried: 7-0
Information/Future Items
*Regular School Board Meeting – November 1, 2010
Adjournment
With no further business before them, at 9:20 p.m. Mr. Stazzoni made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Weilage seconded, the motion which passed unanimously by voice vote.