The South Winneshiek Community School District Board of Education held its regularly scheduled board meeting on January 11, 2021 in the band room in the Elementary Middle school in Ossian. The meeting was called to order by board president Wendy Mihm-Herold at 5:30 pm.
After the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, roll call took place; present: Corey Meyer, Patricia Schissel, Ron Hemesath, Wendy Mihm-Herold. Present by phone: Don Schroeder. Absent: none.
Moved by Meyer and seconded by Hemesath to approve an amendment to the agenda to add new business G: Resolution to set a date of February 8, 2021 to hold a public hearing to approve the use of SAVE funds for the Stadium Improvement Project; and to add new business H: Approve purchase of technology. Motion carried unanimously.
Review and discussion about previous board minutes, bills, appointments, resignations, open enrollments and donations took place. Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Meyer to approve the consent items as presented: Resignations: Kari Harrington – paraeducator; Appointments: Heidi Meyer – Volunteer Wrestling Female Chaperone; Rita Reilly – Paraeducator $11.00; Kurt Straube – One Act Play Step III $1,371.60. Motion carried unanimously.
President Mihm-Herold welcomed visitors. Bob and Alyssa Bullerman addressed the board.
Old Business: None
New Business:
- Moved by Hemesath and seconded by Schissel to accept the resignation of Corey Meyer from the school board. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Meyer had given his notice of resignation on December 14, 2020 due to his wife’s promotion with Hacker & Nelson Co., P.C. Hacker & Nelson are the current auditors for the school district.
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Hemesath to appoint Craig Neuzil to fill the vacancy left by Corey Meyer as director at large on the South Winneshiek CSD School Board. Motion carried unanimously. Neuzil will be up for election in November.
- Moved by Schroeder and seconded by Schissel to approve a resolution to continue paid COVID-19 related leaves to June 30, 2021. Motion carried unanimously.
- The Resolution reads: The Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District authorizes and directs the district to allow staff members to carry forward any unused days of paid FFCRA leave as of December 31, 2020 and use any unused FFCRA leave days as paid COVID-19 related leave subject to the following terms and conditions:
- Staff members will not be eligible for more than 10 days of combined paid FFCRA leave and paid COVID-19 related leave under this plan.
- Staff members will be allowed to use paid COVID-19 related leave for the following reasons:
- if they are subject to a federal, state or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
- if they have been advised by a health care provided to self-quarantine due to concern related to COVID-19;
- if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis; or
- if they are caring for an individual subject to a federal, state or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 or have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
- If a staff member is approved to use paid COVID-19 related leave, the staff member’s other leave balances will not be impacted.
- These terms and conditions are subject to change if there is any subsequent state or federal legislation that impacts COVID-19 related leave.
- These terms and conditions will expire on June 30, 2021.
- The Resolution reads: The Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District authorizes and directs the district to allow staff members to carry forward any unused days of paid FFCRA leave as of December 31, 2020 and use any unused FFCRA leave days as paid COVID-19 related leave subject to the following terms and conditions:
The board further directs the district to identify and track expenses related to the leave extension, including the costs of substitutes and overtime of other workers associated with any FFCRA and/or COVID-19 related leave granted, and report those costs to the school board.
- Moved by Hemesath and seconded by Neuzil to approve the recommendation for the elementary and middle school to transition to full-time face to face learning beginning the week of February 1, 2021. The high school will continue with the hybrid schedule. HS students are provided the options of full-time face to face learning, full-time remote learning and the hybrid schedule. There will be no change at the HS. Motion carried unanimously.
- Moved by Neuzil and seconded by Schissel to require students to purchase their own NICC textbooks for college courses beginning the 21-22 school year. Current books for college courses that the district owns will be made available for students to purchase for the 21-22 school year. Free and Reduced meal students should contact Mrs. Euans or the Superintendent’s office before making a book purchase. Motion carried. Mihm-Herold abstained from the vote.
- Mr. Einck recommended renewing the South Winneshiek CSD Revenue Purpose Statement, reiterating that this is a formality set in Iowa Code and that by renewing the Revenue Purpose Statement this does not affect any taxes, just states how those funds can be used:
RESOLUTION APPROVING REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT, ORDERING AN ELECTION ON A REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT TO AUTHORIZE EXPENDITURES FROM REVENUE RECEIVED FROM THE SECURE AN ADVANCED VISION FOR EDUCATION (SAVE) FUND, AND ORDERING THE PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF ELECTION
WHEREAS, the South Winneshiek Community School District (School District), located in Winneshiek County, receives revenue (SAVE Revenue) from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund (SAVE) pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 423F, as amended, and SAVE and the distribution of SAVE Revenue has been extended by Iowa House File 546 (Act) through January 1, 2051; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Act, the School District’s existing revenue purpose statement governing the use of SAVE Revenue will expire on January 1, 2031; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (Board) of the School District finds it in the best interests of the School District to adopt a new revenue purpose statement describing the use of the SAVE Revenue to take effect upon voter approval, and the new revenue purpose statement for the School District is set forth on Exhibit A (Revenue Purpose Statement); and
WHEREAS, the District is required to submit this resolution to the County Commissioner of Elections requesting the County Commissioner of Elections to call an election on March 2, 2021, and Winneshiek County, Iowa is the controlling county (Controlling County) for the election, pursuant to Iowa Code section 47.2; and
WHEREAS, the County Commissioner of Elections is required to publish a notice of election in substantially the form as set forth on Exhibit B (Notice of Election) in a newspaper of general circulation in the School District and the School District is required to post the Notice of Election on the School District’s website; and
WHEREAS, the proposed form of the ballot proposition (Proposition) to be used at the election to adopt the Revenue Purpose Statement is set forth on Exhibit C;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District:
Section 1. The Board of the School District wishes to authorize spending of the SAVE Revenue for the purposes set forth in the Revenue Purpose Statement on Exhibit A and hereby approves the Revenue Purpose Statement.
Section 2. The Board hereby calls an election of the qualified electors of the School District on March 2, 2021 at a special school election.
Section 3. The Board of the School District hereby approves the Notice of Election and the Proposition and the Board Secretary is authorized and directed to submit and file the Proposition with the County Commissioner of Elections in accordance with the requirements of the Iowa Code and the Iowa Administrative Rules.
Section 4. The County Commissioner of Elections is requested and directed to publish the Notice of Election at least once, not less than four days nor more than twenty days prior to March 2, 2021, in a newspaper that meets the requirements of the Iowa Code and the Iowa Administrative Rules.
Section 5. The Board Secretary is hereby authorized and directed to post the Notice of Election on the School District’s website, as required by the Act, at least once and not less than four days nor more than twenty days prior to March 2, 2021.
Section 6. The County Commissioner of Elections is requested and directed to prepare all ballots and election registers and other supplies necessary for the proper and legal conduct of this election and the Board Secretary is directed to cooperate with the County Commissioner of Elections in the preparation of the necessary proceedings.
Section 7. The Board Secretary is directed to file a certified copy of this Resolution in the Office of the County Commissioner of Elections of the Controlling County to constitute the written notice to the County Commissioner of Elections of the election date, required to be given by the governing body under the provisions of the Iowa Code, including Iowa Code chapter 47.
Section 8. All resolutions or orders of the Board or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed, to the extent of such conflict.
Section 9. This resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon its adoption and approval, as provided by law.
Moved by Schissel and seconded by Schroeder to approve the resolution as presented calling for a special election on March 2, 2021 to renew the South Winneshiek CSD revenue purpose statement. Motion carried unanimously. The full resolution with Exhibits A, B and C can be found on the South Winneshiek CSD website.
- Moved by Neuzil and seconded by Hemesath to approve a resolution to set a public hearing date of February 8, 2021 to approve the use of SAVE funds for the Stadium Improvement Project. Motion carried unanimously
WHEREAS, the Board deems it necessary and desirable to use revenue from the secure an advanced vision for education (SAVE) to pay for the costs of an athletic facility infrastructure project consisting of the construction for improvements to the South Winneshiek Community School District Stadium including the following: demolition of existing stadium structures, new home side grandstands, and supporting building infrastructure; and
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District, in the County of Winneshiek, State of Iowa, as follows:
The Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District in the County of Winneshiek, State of Iowa, proposes to use revenue from the secure an advanced vision for education (SAVE) to pay for the costs of an athletic facility infrastructure project consisting of the construction for improvements to the South Winneshiek Community School District Stadium including the following: demolition of existing stadium structures, new home side grandstands, and supporting building infrastructure.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District, in the County of Winneshiek, State of Iowa, as follows:
The Board of Directors of the South Winneshiek Community School District in the County of Winneshiek, State of Iowa, shall hold a public hearing to consider its resolution to propose to use revenue from the secure an advanced vision for education (SAVE) to pay for the costs of an athletic facility infrastructure project consisting of the construction for improvements to the South Winneshiek Community School District Stadium including the following: demolition of existing stadium structures, new home side grandstands, and supporting building infrastructure. After the public hearing, the Board will adopt a resolution to use revenue from the secure an advanced vision for education (SAVE) to pay for the costs of an athletic facility infrastructure project consisting of the construction for improvements to the South Winneshiek Community School District Stadium including the following: demolition of existing stadium structures, new home side grandstands, and supporting building infrastructure.
- Moved by Hemesath and seconded by Schissel to approve the purchase of five 13” MacBook Airs from Apple $6560; 10 iPad cases from Apple $349.50; Klipsch Bluetooth speaker from Walmart $296; projector, projector screen and speakers from BH Photo video $2824.40 and two touch screen latitude Chromebooks from Dell for $3217.70. Motion carried unanimously.
Administrative reports were provided by Mr. Halverson and Mr. Einck.
Announcements: Next regular meeting will be February 8, 2021 in the boardroom in Calmar at 5:30 pm.
Moved by Neuzil and seconded by Schissel to adjourn at 6:41 pm. Motion carried unanimously.
The work session to review board policies 300, 800 and 900 series did not take place.
Respectfully submitted,
Kris Smith Wendy Mihm-Herold
Board Secretary Board President