Mid-Prairie Community
School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
Mid-Prairie Central Office Community Room, Wellman, IA 52356
June 26, 2023– 6:15 p.m.
www.mid-prairie.k12.ia.us
Marianne Schlabach chaired the meeting in the absence of both President Jeremy Pickard and Vice President Gabrielle Frederick. Schlabach called the meeting to order.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Jeremy Pickard (arrived at the meeting at 6:40 p.m. and left the meeting at 7:35 pm.), Marianne Schlabach, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Gabrielle Frederick, Jeremy Pickard (arrived at the meeting at 6:40 p.m. and left the meeting at 7:35 p.m.), Jed Seward.
Also Present: Brian Stone, Jeff Swartzentruber, Chuck Banks, Robin Foster, Rob Hruby, Greg Jergens, Rachel Kerns, Amy Shalla, and Frank Slabaugh.
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented. Seconded by Denise Chittick. Motion carried 4-0.
Hawk Highlight – Tad Morrow of Carl A Nelson Company provided an update of the projects funded by the Revenue Bond proceeds. He shared about the Softball Light project that has been complete, the High School Track project that is on schedule, and finished with the Middle School and East Elementary additions, which are the largest of the 4 projects. He reviewed the current status of the latter and updated the Board with pictures in addition to the budgeted numbers. The budget is in very good shape with some savings and no change orders to date.
Jeremy Pickard arrived during this agenda item at 6:40p.m.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
Work Session
Administration Reports and Board Dialogue
The Board asked questions and discussed the report forms shared by each Administrator about their areas of responsibility.
Review Board Policies in Chapter 600
Superintendent Stone worked through the Chapter 600 Policies with the Board as part of the five-year rotation of Board Policy Review. As policies were reviewed, there were a dozen of these policies that were noted for change mostly due to changes in IASB language and law changes in the last legislative sessions.
Pickard left the meeting at the end of this agenda item at 7:35 p.m.
Business Meeting
Consent Items
Mary Allred moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of June 12, 2023;
Finance Report
None presented at this time;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for June 26, 2023 and prepaid bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Sheri Drahos requests Peter Drahos (Grade 4) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Belle Plaine Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Karin Sadle requests Moriah Swanson (Grade 11) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Lone Tree Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Michelle Vincent requests Gavin Vincent (Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Lone Tree Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Eric and Dana Ratliff request Abigail Ratliff Grade 1) and Jacob Ratliff (Grade 4) (G) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from North Cedar Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Zack and Jessica Woods request Cyrus Woods (Alternative Kindergarten) attend Mid-Prairie’s Home School Assistance Program from Williamsburg Community School District for the 2023-24 School Year;
Angela Jacoby requests Paicyn Jacoby (Grade 7) attend Clear Creek Amana Community School District from Mid-Prairie;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Alec Clark, District Activities Director, $98,000 per annum as of July 1, 2023;
Contract issued to Hannah Mougin, Middle School Assistant Softball Coach 2022-223, $1,289.40 per season;
Contract issued to Mikaela Lunsford, High School JV Girls Basketball Coach, $2,813 per annum;
Resignation of Ashlyn Gugel, East Elementary Paraprofessional, $14.67 per hour, effective June 15, 2023;
Fundraising Requests – No Fundraising requests presented for approval;
Madrigal Choir Trip Out of State – October 2023 trip for the Madrigal Choir to travel to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois for a Chamber Choir Festival is recommended for approval;
Denise Chittick seconded the consent items. Motion carried 4-0.
Superintendent Stone then shared briefly about the hiring of Alec Clark, the new Activities Director, and the hiring process. Clark had intended to be present this evening but was drawn away before the meeting due to a family issue.
Student Learning
Student/Parent Handbooks
Superintendent Stone drew the Board’s attention to the handbooks for each building. He noted that the handbooks have been digitized to enhance reading and searches. High School Principal Chuck Banks noted the High School Handbook. Changes were made to the following sections of the Handbook: Commencement; Excessive Absences; Early Release/Late Arrival Program; Procedure for Short Term Suspensions; Long Term Suspensions and Expulsions; Code of Conduct; Visitors; and Cell Phones. The Academic Honor Code and the Good Conduct Policy—related to Activities and a District Policy—are the most noted additions to the High School handbook for next year and was explained by Banks. The Board discussed the broadness of the language in a portion of the Good Conduct Policy and asked questions for clarification. The Board asked for the Good Conduct Policy to be reworked and brought back to the Board in July. Middle School Principal, Rob Hruby, noted changes to the Cell Phone Policy, Dress Code (same as High School), and the insertion of specific consequences for illegal substances. The Elementary Schools made a few minor changes, as well, including changes to Hearing Screening; Discipline Referrals, OSS, ISS; Teacher Requests/Classroom Placements; and East Start Time of 8:20AM. It was noted that there is a need to review the Chromebook policy for the Middle School. Home School made minor changes to their student handbook and noted those, including the review of Middle School versus High School expectations in a similar manner to the High School and Middle School buildings. The Virtual Academy has no changes to their handbook.
No action was taken on the handbooks as the Good Conduct Policy (503.4) needs to be approved before the handbooks can be accepted.
2024 IASB Legislative Priorities
Business Manager Swartzentruber drew the Board’s attention to the IASB Legislative Priorities document for the 2022-2023 Legislative Year. IASB has begun the inquiry and process for districts to determine their legislative priorities for the 2023-2024 Year. The process starts with the Board review of this document and then the process to determine the priorities to communicate to IASB for next year. It is planned that the Board will begin that process with a timeline to determine the priorities at the next meeting.
Last year’s priorities included:
8. Mental Health
10. Area Education Agencies
16. Teacher Recruitment and Licensure
20. Supplemental State Aid
23. Bond Issues
Board Policy Chapter 600 Changes on First Reading of Policies Reviewed
Superintendent Stone introduced the chapters that need to be reviewed by the Board based upon the established annual cycle. The chapter for 2023-2024 is the 600 series. IASB has also been engaged to also provide a review of our policies in comparison to current. This was just completed by IASB and will be reviewed by Stone for additional process by the Board. Based upon the work completed in the Work Session this evening, it was asked that a motion to pass on First Reading the changes to the 12 policies in Chapter 600 be made.
Denise Chittick moved to approval Policies 601, 603.2, 603.6, 603.11, 605.1, 605.2, 605.3, 605.5, 606.2 ,606.3, 606.6, 607.2, on First Reading as presented. Mary Allred second the motion. Motion carried 4-0
Finance
Superintendent Wage Review for the 2023-2024 School Year
Schlabach noted that this was tabled at the last meeting. Jake Snider voiced concerns about how this was handled from a business and systematic process. Superintendent Stone then stated to the Board that he was very clear with the Board at his May 8, 2023 evaluation that he did not ask for raise. Snider stated that he wanted to ask Superintendent Stone the question about his expectations at the last meeting, but due to his absence was unable to do so and thus the agenda item was tabled.
Jake Snider moved to keep the Superintendent wage the same as the 2022-2023 School Year per Superintendent Stone’s request, additionally it is noted that it is not based upon job performance. Denise Chittick seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Board Development and Inservice Activities
Superintendent Stone noted that he talked with Tammi Drawbaugh from IASB to see which of the 12 common topics. He will get the topics to the Board
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, July 10, 2023, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room. Agenda items to include: Fiscal Year 2022 Audit Review; TPRA Apprenticeship Memorandum of Understanding need to be updated for Fiscal Year 2023-2024; Review and approve the Good Conduct Policy, 503.4, as revised and; Second Reading of Chapter 600 Policies that have been changed; Snider asked for a review of the staff rollover that occurred in 2022-2023;
Board Highlights – Schlabach tabled the Board Highlights
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.
President, Jeremy Pickard
Secretary, Jeffrey C. Swartzentruber
Published in The News, Thursday, July 6, 2023 L-286
