South Winneshiek Community School District
Board of Education Meeting Minutes
April 9, 2018
The April 9, 2018 regular board meeting of the South Winneshiek Community School District Board of Education was called to order at 6:00 pm by board president Wendy Mihm-Herold.
Roll Call: Present: Wendy Mihm-Herold, Jenny Johnson, Patricia Schissel, Don Schroeder. Absent: Bob Busch.
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schroeder to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Discussion was held regarding consent items which include previous board minutes, financial reports, bills, open enrollment, appointments, and resignations. Resignations: Paul Rael – Bus Driver effective June 30, 2018; Carolyn Rael – Paraeducator effective June 30, 2018; Sara Schmitt- Basketball Cheer Coach. Appointments: Glenna Munuswamy – One Act Play Level I $669.80; Kurt Straube – Large Group Speech Level III $2679.20. Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Johnson to approve the consent items. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to open the public hearing on the FY18-19 Budget. Voting Aye: Johnson, Schissel, Schroeder and Mihm-Herold. Nay – None Motion carried unanimously.
President Mihm-Herold welcomed visitors.
Old Business:
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to approve the bid by Grass Masters of $3,925.00 for erosion control in Ossian. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business:
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Schissel to approve the AEA Purchasing for Food, Ware Wash and Small Wares cooperative purchasing program for school food services. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to approve L&B Electric to complete the electrical for the bus garage in Ossian at $8,851.00. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Schissel to approve the bid from Hawkeye Security for $1,164.00 to install cameras in the weight room to be completed as soon as possible. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to close the public hearing on the FY18-19 Budget. Voting Aye: Johnson, Schissel, Schroeder, Mihm-Herold. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Johnson to approve the FY18-19 Budget at 12.4537%. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to approve the FY18-19 High School Course Registration Book. Motion carried unanimously. The board also wanted to extend a special thank you to Mrs. Euans for her work partnering with NICC on the development of Career Academies in Agriculture & Animal Science, Automotive Technology, Business & Accounting, Carpentry, Cosmetology, Early Childhood Education, Health Sciences, Information Technology & Electrical and Associate of Arts (AA).
- The SW school board met in exempt session in March; after that meeting they recommended the following raises and additional days be placed on the agenda for approval in April: Moved by Schissel and seconded by Johnson to approve Administrative increases as follows: Superintendent 6%, Principal 4% and Business Manager 3%. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Johnson to approve Additional 10 vacation days and 5 personal days for the superintendent and business manager. Ayes: Schroeder, Johnson, Mihm-Herold; Nays: Schissel. Motion carried. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to move the Success Coordinator position to the SWEA Bargaining agreement when the position is filled with a certified teacher. For FY18-19 Mrs. Munuswamy will be brought in as a BA-3 $41,442.20. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schroeder to approve Superintendent Secretary and Activities Coordinator increase at 2.53%. Motion carried unanimously. Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to approve the following supplemental wages: Substitute Teachers $100; Long Term Substitute Teacher $175.34; Activity Bus Rate $11.00; Shuttle Rate $8.80; Mileage rate for Route Drivers $1.00; Sub Custodian, Summer custodian and technology help $9.85; Substitute Para, Cook, Secretary $9.70. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schroeder to approve the issuance of contracts for the FY18-19 school year as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schroeder to approve the resolution opposing reduction in backfill as follows: The South Winneshiek Community School District is opposed to any reduction in the backfill for the 2018-2019 backfill and that this opposition should be communicated to the Iowa Legislature and to Governor Reynolds. And that the South Winneshiek Community School District believes that changes to the backfill should be decided with the participation of local governmental leaders, with adequate notice, and that every effort be made to avoid local property tax increases. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Schissel to approve the Certified and Classified Employee handbooks as presented. They also requested that an Administrative handbook be developed. Motion carried unanimously.
Administrative reports were given by Mr. Halverson and Mr. Einck.
Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Johnson to go into closed session at 7:10 pm for the evaluation of the superintendent based on section 21.4(1)(i) of the open meetings law to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session. Aye: Schroeder, Johnson, Schissel, Mihm-Herold. Nay: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel to return to Open Session at 7:50 pm. Ayes: Johnson, Schissel, Schroeder, Mihm-Herold. Nay: none. Motion carried unanimously.
Moved by Johnson and seconded by Schissel requesting that the board president work with Mr. Einck on establishing the criteria for a 360 questionnaire that will provide goals and valuable feedback on the evaluation of the superintendent/principal position. The 360 questionnaires will be distributed for feedback to the EL/MS principal, superintendent secretary, business manager, TLC instructional coaches, activities coordinator and curriculum director. Motion carried unanimously.
Announcements: Next regular meeting will be May 14, 2018 at 6:00 pm in the Calmar Board Room.
Moved by Johnson, seconded by Schissel to adjourn at 8:03 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by
Kris Smit: Board Secretary
Wendy Mihm-Herold: Board President