Minutes - 03.11.2024

ALGONA COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Regular Meeting

March 11, 2024

 

The Board of Directors of the Algona Community School District, in the County of Kossuth, State of Iowa, met in regular session in the Boardroom, Performing Arts Center, 600 S. Hale Street, Algona, Iowa at 7:00pm. on the above date. 

 

Present:              Rodney Davis, Tom Nugent, Brent Owen, Jay Limbaugh, Todd Louwagie 

Absent:               Andrea Vinci, Lany Mitchell

Others Present: Superintendent Joe Carter, Secretary Lisa Chapman, Janie Eischen, James Rotert, Rudy Wieck, Grace Herbst-Ulmer, Megan Rasmussen, Betsy Becker, Cassidy Bierstedt, Logan Lenz, Brian Wilson

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The hearing opened at 7:00pm. 

 Board member Louwagie inquired about professional development days which were changed to

Mondays. Board member Owen asked about the 4-day school week. Algona CSD is not creating a calendar for 2024-2025 as a 4-day school week. The calendar is traditional with a spring break March 17-21, 2025.

 The public hearing closed at 7:03pm.

 

COMMUNICATIONS TO THE BOARD: Cassidy Bierstedt and Logan Lenz qualified for state in FFA Creed and Ag Broadcasting. Cassidy performed the FFA Creed and Logan recited his Ag Broadcasting segment.

 

All motions are unanimously approved unless noted.

 

Approve Agenda: Owen moved to approve the agenda. Seconded by Limbaugh. Motion carried.

 

Consent Items:  Nugent moved to approve the consent items and Louwagie seconded. Motion carried.

 

Superintendent Report: Superintendent Carter’s report reviewed the preliminary budget for 2024-2025. The first budget hearing will be held March 25, 2024, at 5:00pm and the second budget hearing will be held April 8th, 2024, at 7:00pm. Carter explained what a certified budget is. Key variables were reviewed. The sources of the spending authority were explained. The components that comprise the general fund were discussed. Management and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) levies were also discussed. Expenditures were reviewed. Enrollment changes were discussed. Tax rates were discussed. 

 

Administrative Report: MS Principal James Rotert, Assistant MS Principal Rudy Wieck, Grace Herbst-Ulmer and Megan Rasmussen presented to the board regarding Middle School RISE time and a social and emotional learning (SEL) update. RISE programs are for math and English language arts interventions. The Middle School began the structure three (3) years ago. RISE time is driven by the leadership team. Collaboration has helped with consistency. The focus of the program is data driven.

Wieck, Rotert, Rasmussen and Herbst-Ulmer exited at 7:54pm.

 

OLD BUSINESS

Board Policies-2nd Reading:  Nugent moved to approve the second reading of the following policies: 501.13 Students of Legal Age, 501.14 Open Enrolment Transfers-Procedures as a Sending District, 501.15 Open Enrollment Transfers-Procedures as a Receiving District, 501.16 Homeless Children & Youth and 803.1 Disposition of Obsolete Equipment. Seconded by Louwagie. Motion carried.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Board Policies 1st Reading: The first reading of board policies was held for the following policies: 502.02 Care of School Property/Vandalism, 502.03 Student Expression and Student Publications Code & 502.03R Regulation for 502.03, 502.04 Student Complaints and Grievances and 502.05 Lockers. The second reading will be held in April.                                                

 

Policies for Federal Procurement: Following the FY22 audit as well as being awarded the School Safety Grant requirements are that the district have the listed policies: 705.01R1 Purchasing-Bidding- Suspension & Debarment of Status, 705.01R2 Purchasing-Bidding-Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts, 707.05 Internal Controls and 707.05R1 Internal Controls-Procedures. Carter reviewed the policies with the board. Limbaugh moved to adopt these policies and review and approve as the first and second readings to comply with the adoption requirements. Seconded by Louwagie. Motion carried.

 

Extension to Fixed Price Agreement-Taher:  Louwagie moved to approve the First Extension to the Fixed Price Agreement with Taher, Inc. Nugent moved to second the agreement. Motion carried.

 

Cooperative Student Teaching Agreements: Limbaugh moved to approve the cooperative student teaching agreements for Morningside University and University of Northern Iowa. Seconded by Owen.  Motion carried.

 

Local Group Risk Pool for Natural Gas Agreement (LGRP): Louwagie moved to approve the LGRP agreement for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Seconded by Limbaugh. Motion carried.

 

Non-Certified Early Retirement Applications: Owen moved to approve the timely filed eligible noncertified early retirement applications from Theresa Kuecker, Bobby Gridley and Marilyn Berte. Seconded by Limbaugh. Motion carried.

 

Academic Calendar: Louwagie moved to approve the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar as presented in the Public Hearing. The board approves only the beginning day of August 21 and ending day of May 21 and the hourly basis of the calendar. Seconded by Owen. Motion carried.

 

FY2023 Audit: The district received the 2022-2023 audit. It was noted there were no weaknesses in internal control over major programs, no instances of non-compliance and no internal control deficiencies. Two items needing attention included making sure that the amended budget is increased enough to support the actual expenditures and making budget adjustments due to enrollment data. Owen moved to approve the FY23 Audit and was seconded by Nugent. Motion carried.

 

Fundraisers: Limbaugh moved to approve a fundraiser from Greg Wellman & Liz Bradley for track (additional uniforms, warmups, throwing supplies and a jump ramp) as well as a fundraiser from Todd VanOtterloo for softball (Middle School uniforms & a pitching machine). Seconded by Louwagie. Motion carried.

 

Open Enrollment: Six (6) open enrollment applications were received. Owen moved to approve the open enrollment applications and Louwagie seconded. Motion carried.

 

Resignations:  Limbaugh moved to approve the following resignations: Allison Jones-MS Teacher Associate, Tami Fish-Garrigan Teacher Associate, Ashley Rohlf-Lucia Wallace Special Education Teacher, Susanne Reding-Food Service, Genevieve Blumer-Transportation and Keith Frideres-Transportation. Seconded by Nugent. Motion carried.

 

Contracts:  Nugent moved to approve the following contracts pending completion of any and all certifications not already obtained: Angie Garman-Middle School Special Education Teacher, Ben Kern-Boys Golf Volunteer, Ben Gatton-MS Boys Track Volunteer, Molli Leiting-Homeschool Assistance Coordinator, Trevor Arnold-Girls Golf Volunteer and Megan Tuttle-2nd HS Secretary.  Seconded by Louwagie. Motion carried.

 

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Board President                                                                                Board Secretary