Board Minutes - 2025.04.14
Board Minutes - 2025.04.14Public Hearings
April 14, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for public hearings on the 2024-2025 Budget Amendment, the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget, and the Choir and Locker Room Project on April 14, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order by President Troy Thompson. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Troy Thompson, Rick Wiley, Andrew Fedders, and Kim Severson. Beth Clouse moved to approve the agenda, David Reese seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
President Thompson declared the public hearing for the 2024-25 budget amendment to begin. Secretary Meinders reported that no written comments had been received on either topic. No oral comments were received.
President Thompson declared the public hearing for the 2025-26 budget to begin. Secretary Meinders reported that no written comments had been received on either topic. No oral comments were received.
President Thompson declared the public hearing for the Choir and Locker Room Project to begin. Secretary Meinders reported that no written comments had been received on either topic. No oral comments were received.
Rick Wiley motioned to adjourn the public hearings. Andrew Fedders seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
_________________________ ____________________________
Troy Thompson, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
Regular Meeting
April 14, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on April 14 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order by President Troy Thompson. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Troy Thompson, Rick Wiley, Andrew Fedders, and Kim Severson. Beth Clouse moved to approve the agenda with the movement of items 6.b., 6.l., 6.n., and 6.o, to follow the administrative reports out of respect to administrators present. Cody Hennigar seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
President Troy Thompson updated the board on his attendance to the legislative forum held on March 17th in Forest City and the importance of attending along with an update to House File 1 which relates to the eligibility of students enrolled in nonpublic schools to compete in extracurricular contests provided by public schools.
Administrative Reports:
- Elementary Principal, Brad Jones, presented on PBIS celebrations, Hi-5 Friday’s and collaboration with Waldorf University, bike safety presentation, ISASP testing, 3rd and 4th grade learning pods, library project, and office project.
- Middle School Principal, Sarah Leichsenring, presented on ISASP testing, summer school, upcoming Mini “Relay For Life” event, highly qualified instructional materials and the Open SciEd curriculum.
- Director of Teaching and Learning, Zach Dillavou, followed up with conversations regarding OpenSciEd curriculum and testing success.
- Sec’y Meinders presented monthly financial reports and a summary of the office calendar for March and April.
- Sup’t Lehmann provided an update of the MS/HS Site Improvement work, end of the year schedule, and operational sharing.
After a presentation by Elementary Principal, Brad Jones followed by discussion, Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of an updated departmentalization in the elementary building with pods for the 4rd and 4th grade classrooms. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Beth Clouse moved, Rick Wiley seconded the approval of a curriculum purchase in the amount of $60,402.72 from Activate Learning for Open SciEd curriculum for the middle school and high school science department. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The district was awarded the Open SciEd grant to fund this purchase.
David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded the approval of remodeling the elementary offices for a total cost of $38,495 awarding contracts to Innovative for furniture costs of $30,271 and EPIC for carpeting at a cost of $8,224. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Andrew Fedders moved, Rick Wiley seconded the approval of remodeling the Elementary Media Center for a total cost of $132,127. Summary of costs are for furniture, carpet, glass and shipping from EPIC at $102,274, painting of the ceiling at $9,710, filling in Bookworm Hollow for $20,143. Ayes: six. Nays: David Reese. Carried.
The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the March 3, 2025 regular meeting, minutes of the March 31, 2025 public hearing, open enrollments, employee contracts and contract adjustments, employee resignations, donations, and invoices for payment. After discussion, Kim Severson moved to approve all consent agenda items. Rick Wiley seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
- Open Enrollment Out: May Erde to Lake Mills, Riddick Rasmussen and Blade Stinlage to Mason City, Hayden Echelberger to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, Gatley Gonsalez and Hayden Sorensen to Clear Lake, and Addison Squier to West Hancock.
- Open Enrollment In: Rylie Tuttle from Lake Mills
- Employee Contracts for 2024-25: Randy Broesder Bus Route; Teacher Quality Professional Development payments
- Employee Contracts for 2025-26: Kristin Schmidt, Middle School Sp. Ed. Teacher and Letter of Agreement; Mary Espelien, Middle School Paraprofessional; Dan Meyer, Josh Sparrgrove, Tammy Lambert and Keith Walker - May Term Leaders (4); Dan Meyer, Battle of the Classes Coordinator
- Employee Contract Adjustments: LuluValadez, Adjustment of daily hours; Jordan Anderson, Paraeducator incentive
- Employee Resignations at the end of the 2024-25 School Year: Tiegan Huntley, Middle School Paraprofessional; Annika Andrews, 6-12 Vocal Music Teacher, HS Music Supplemental, and Assistant Speech Coach; Evie Nehmann, Middle School Paraprofessional; Jason Blaser, Middle School Girls Basketball Coach; Jason Crail, Assistant Middle School Football Coach; Liz Taylor, Assistant Speech Coach; Kenna Baez, Wrestling Cheer Coach; Sydney Hudspeth, Middle School History Club; Tom Montgomery, Middle School Football Coach; Triston Brandsoy, Part Time HS Paraprofessional
- Donations: Memorial donation-Chris Higgins, wrestling program; Memorial donation-Eli Olson, elementary library; Craig & Mary Jo Friederich, FFA
In old business, the board reviewed the 2025 legislative priorities.
In new business, David Reese moved, Cody Hennigar seconded to approve the review of the following board policies: 604.7, 604.8, 604.10, 604.11, 102, 102.1R1, 102E1, 102E2, 102E3, 102E4, 102E5, 104E2, 104E3, 206.3, 302.1, 303.2, 401.1, 401.5, 402.2, 501.8, 506.1, 603.4, 605.1R1, 708, 710.1R1, 710.1E1, 710.1E2, 804.2, 804.6, 901. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of renewing the agreement for 2025-26 with Iowa Local Government Risk Pool commission for participation in the Education Energy Group Pool at a cost of $97,938.19 for the fiscal year. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Rick Wiley moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of renewing the agreement for 2025-26 with Timberline Billing Services for medicaid reimbursements at a fee of 6% of the net Medicaid reimbursement. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Secretary Meinders presented the proposed budget for 2025-2026. Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve the 2025-2026 Annual Budget as published and presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: None. Carried. The 2025-2026 budget is set at $27,909,308 in total requirements with a proposed property tax rate of 11.12934 per $1,000 taxable valuation, an increase of 0.29803 from the current year, a 2.75% increase. Total dollars levied to equal $5,789,935, an increase of $271,880 from the current dollars levied, a 4.93% increase.
Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of a budget adjustment (guarantee) resolution which allows the district to have 101% of the previous year’s budget as one-time money. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Secretary Meinders presented an amendment to the 2024-2025 budget, increasing instructional costs by $405,817 for a total of $11,128,869 due to increase in Teacher Salary Supplement for teacher minimum salaries, non instructional costs by $35,000 to $829,808 due to an increase in predicted net pension and total OPEB liability, and other expenditures by $1,840,727 to $3,962,647 due to construction projects potentially completing sooner than anticipated in the current fiscal year. Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve the budget amendment as published and presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Rick Wiley moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of renewing a certificate deposit with MBT Bank from the Self Insurance fund for approximately $107,585 for 24 months at 3.75% and cashing in a Certificate of Deposit from the Capital Projects fund for approximately $537,926 to fund upcoming construction projects. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Rick Wiley moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval of Northern Cedar Service Company to complete a roof replacement project on the sections 6A and 6B of the middle school roof for a total cost of $73,828 which was the lesser of two bids. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, David Reese seconded the approval of Northern Cedar Service Company to complete a roof replacement project on the maintenance building for a total cost of $75,685 which was the lesser of two bids. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Rick Wiley moved, Beth Clouse seconded the approval of renewing the district’s equipment breakdown insurance program with Speciality Underwriters for a cost of $119,851 per year for the next three years. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Cody Hennigar seconded the approval of a new lease agreement with Tiny Adventures LLC to lease space from our elementary building to run a before and after school program in the gymnasium space. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve the plans, specification forms, and form of contract for the high school choir room and locker room project. Ayes: five. Nays: Beth Clouse and Rick Wiley. Carried.
David Reese moved, Andrew Fedders seconded the approval to the contractor as Henkel Construction Company for the high school choir room and locker room renovations for a contract sum of $998,000 with Alternate 1: seating being removed and not to be included. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
May 12, 2025 meeting topics were discussed. David Reese motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Rick Wiley seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
_______________________ _____________________________
Troy Thompson, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary