Highland Community Schools
Board of Directors Meeting
Monday, April 14, 2025
5:00 p.m. – High School Board Room
The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. by President Nate Robinson.
Roll call was taken with Joslin Schott, Aaron Friederich, Rachel Longbine, Karen Fink and Nate Robinson present. Dan Ruth was absent. Also in attendance were Ken Crawford, Superintendent, Jane O’Leary, Elementary Principal, Angela Hazelett, Secondary Principal and Autumn Moyer, Board Secretary.
Longbine made a motion to approve the agenda as presented. Seconded by Schott.
Motion carried 5-0
5:05 p.m. – The Board met in session for the purpose of a hearing upon the budget proposal. Said proposal to be published before the 30th of April, 2025 in The News, published at Kalona, of said county.
Taxpayers were heard for and against said proposal of which there were none.
Public hearing was closed at 5:08 pm by President Nate Robinson.
Longbine made a motion to adopt the 2025-2026 budget as published, in the amount of $6,225,000 for instructional services; $3,666,500 for support services; $415,000 for non-instructional programs; and $1,669,575 for other expenditures (facilities acquisition and construction, debt service, AEA support), with a total tax asking of $4,920,236 and a tax rate of $12.93 per $1000 of assessed valuation. Seconded by Schott.
Motion carried 5-0
5:10 p.m. – The Board met in session for the purpose of a public hearing on the 2025-26 school calendar. The president called for public comments of which there were none. The public hearing was closed at 5:14 p.m.
Longbine made a motion to approve the 2025-26 school calendar as presented. Seconded by Friederich.
Motion carried 5-0.
Consent Agenda Items:
Minutes: Approval of the March 10, 2025 regular meeting minutes
Approval of the March 24, 2025 Public Hearing minutes
Financial Reports: Approval of the March financial reports
Payment of Bills: Approval of the following April bills.
General Fund - $47,069.86
Prepaid General Fund – $77,587.95
Schoolhouse Fund - $14,788.38
Prepaid Schoolhouse Fund - $8,903.40
Activity Fund - $11,245.87
Prepaid Activity Fund - $718.86
Lunch Fund - $9,226.77
Prepaid Insurance Fund- $1,115.00
Prepaid Management Fund- $18, 198.25
Schott made a motion to approve the items on the consent agenda. Seconded by Longbine.
Motion carried 5-0
Receive Visitors: None
Mr. McDonald presented to the board on the accomplishments of the Jazz Band and the work that they have been putting in. They attended quite a few competitions including the Iowa Jazz Championships. Mr. McDonald played a recording of the Jazz Band’s performance at the Iowa Jazz Championships.
Mr. Jones requested permission from the board to take five students and 2 chaperones on a JA Trip for FBLA to Atlanta, GA that these students qualified for. The trip will take place on June 8th through June 12, 2025 at Georgia State University. The students will be competing and have many opportunities to learn business fundamentals.
Longbine made a motion to approve the FBLA trip to Atlanta, GA June 8-June 12,2025. Seconded by Friederich.
Motion carried 5-0
Longbine motioned to approve appointing Dennis Wendt to fill the vacant District # 2 board seat. Seconded by Schott.
Motion carried 5-0
Mr Crawford gave the numbers for the spring sports with boys track having 12 participants, girls track 12, boys golf 3, girls golf 8, 25 soccer participants, 13 JH boys track and 23 JH girls track participants.
Schott made a motion to approve the audit report for FY24. Seconded by Longbine.
Motion carried 5-0
Longbine made a motion to approve the Junior High Sports Coach job description. Seconded by Friederich.
Motion carried 5-0
Mr Crawford went over first readings on board policies 702 - Cash in School Buildings, 704.02 - Debt Management, 704.02-R(1)- Debt Management- Post-Issuance Compliance Regulation for Tax-Exempt Obligations, 704.03 - Investments, 704.04 - Gifts-Grants-Bequests, 704.05 - Student Activities Fund, 705.03 - Payment for Goods and Services, 705.04 - Expenditures for a Public Purpose, 705.04-R(1) - Expenditures for a Public Purpose-Use of Public Funds Regulation, 707.05 - Internal Controls, 707.05-R(1) - Internal Controls-Procedures, 709 - Insurance Program, 710.02 - Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility, 710.03 - Vending Machines. Rescind policies 707.2 - Treasurer’s Annual Report and 707.3 - Publication of Financial Reports. These policies will be brought back to the next meeting for the second reading.
Schott made a motion to approve the below listed board policies. Seconded by Longbine.
Motion carried 5-0
414.01 Classified Employee Vacations-Holidays-Personal Leave
414.02 Classified Employee Professional Purposes Leave
414.03 Classified Employee Family and Medical Leave
414.04 Classified Employee Bereavement Leave
414.05 Classified Employee Political Leave
414.06 Classified Employee Jury Duty/Court Appearances
414.07 Classified Employee Military Service Leave
414.08 Classified Employee Unpaid Leave
415 Substitutes (Rescind)
414.3E1 Classified Employee Family and Medical Leave Notice to Employees
(Rescind)
414.3E2 Employee Family and Medical Leave Request Form (Rescind)
414.3R1 Employee Family and Medical Leave Regulation (Rescind)
414.3R2 Employee Family and Medical Leave Definitions (Rescind)
Longbine made a motion to approve the personnel items. Seconded by Fink.
Motion carried 5-0
Appointments:
Dan Brandstetter - JH Baseball Coach - 7%
Mario Lopez - Assistant HS Soccer Coach - 7%
Resignations:
Tanner Kruse - Elementary Teacher
Anne Layman - Wrestling Cheer Coach
Anne Layman - Basketball Cheer Coach
Report of Board & Administration:
Nate Robinson welcomed Dennis Wendt to the board and gave kudos to the Jazz Band for their performance.
Karen Fink commented on how well the girls relays are competing in track.
Angela Hazelett -Prom and post prom went well. Mrs. Schwab is doing a lot of work with career exploration, student schedules, and decision day. The musical went well. FFA State Convention in Des Moines 4/13-4/15 and students will be taking the Seal of Biliteracy test.
Jane O’Leary – Mrs. Osman held a kindness retreat that the ESO funded and it’s planned to take place every other year for fourth and fifth grade students. Duct Tape sent a lesson plan with materials called Stick Together. Farm Safety, Bus Safety and Tornado/Fire Drills to take place prior to the end of the school year. The elementary will also host track and field day along with the last day of school kick ball game.
Autumn Moyer - The Community Foundation of Washington County reception will be Monday, 4/28 and we will get someone to attend that to receive the spring distribution. Attending the Spring IASBO Conference in Altoona 4/15-4/17.
Ken Crawford - There were several things in my TGIF last week and will be attending court on 4/15 for the bond.
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 12, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the high school board room.
Longbine made a motion to adjourn at 6:33 p.m. Seconded by Schott.
Motion carried 5-0 Reports and documents and the full text of motions, resolutions, or policies considered by the Board at this meeting are on file in the Board Secretary’s office, 648-3822, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
PRESIDENT, NATE ROBINSON
SECRETARY, AUTUMN MOYER
Published in The News, Thursday, May 1, 2025 L-235
