Regular Meeting

                                                                                                  July 14, 2025

The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on July 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: Cody Henniger, Troy Thompson, Beth Clouse, Kim Severson, and Andrew Fedders. Absent: Rick Wiley and Cody Hennigar. Andrew Fedders moved to approve the agenda, Beth Clouse seconded the motion. Ayes: five.  Nays: none.  Carried.

Administrative Reports:

• Board President Thompson shared an update on the school’s involvement in the upcoming RAGBRAII event on July 23rd.
• Sec’y Meinders presented monthly financial reports and a summary of the office calendar for June and July, House File 706 implementation, insurance renewal and the upcoming audit schedule.
• Sup’t Lehmann shared discussion of a potential cut for federal Title funding, summer projects, RAGBRAII, and geothermal issues.

The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the June 9, 2025 regular meeting, open enrollment outs and ins, employee contracts, employee contract adjustments, employee resignations, donations, financial statements, and invoices for payment.  After discussion, Kim Severson moved to approve all consent agenda items. David Reese seconded the motion.  Ayes: five.  Nays: none.  Carried.

• Employee Contracts: Jamie Troe, paraprofessional; Courtney Piehl, paraprofessional; Julie Johnson, paraprofessional; Dan Meyer, interact Club Sponsor; Aaron Aukes, 7th Grade Football Sponsor;
• Employee Contract Adjustments: Farrah Olson, new teacher contract;
• Donations: Linda Miller (Bobby Boy Classics), $2,000 to Athletics; North Iowa Sno Jammers, $750.00 to Negative Lunch Accounts.

There was no old business. In new business, Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve the review of the following board policies: 103, 103R1,  406.4, 409.1, 412.1, 501.5, 503.3, 503.3R1, 505.8, 505.8R1, 506.1, 506.1R1, 506.1E1-E8, 506.2, 506.2R1, 506.2E1, 506.4, 507.4, 600, 601.1, 605.4, 606.1, 606.6, 607.2, 703.1, 707.5, 710.1, 710.2, 711.2R1, 711.3, 711.4, 711.5, 804.1, 804.2, 104, 104E1-E3, 211, 402.2 402.3 405.2 411.2, 501.3, 501.9, 501.9R1, 505.5, 507.1, 603.1, 603.5, and new policies 503.9 and 503.9R1FC.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve a contract with Central Rivers AEA for transfer of state funding. Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Sec’y Meinders presented Certificate of Deposits (CD) for withdrawal and renewal from MBT Bank.  Renew Activity Fund CD $54,399 for 8 Months at 4.20% APR;  Renew Nutrition Fund CD $106,694 for 8 Months at 4.20% APR and cashing in two certificates ($1,006,941 from the General Fund and $426,776 from the Capital Projects Fund).  Beth Clouse moved, David Reese seconded to approve the CD renewals and withdrawals as presented. Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve the sale of a 2009 Thomas school bus to I-25 Auctions for $1,920.00.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Kim Severson moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve an updated sharing agreement with Garner-Hayfield-Ventura CSD  for media services for the 2025-26 school year.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Beth Clouse moved, David Reese seconded to approve an updated sharing agreement with North Iowa CSD and Garner-Hayfield-Ventura CSD for work experience coordinator for the 2025-26 school year.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Andy Fedders moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve the elementary, middle school and high school handbooks for the 2025-26 school year as presented.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Beth Clouse moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve the 2025-26 Employee Handbook and Business Procedures Manual as presented.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Kim Severson moved, David Reese seconded to designate Ahlers and Cooney, P.C. as the District’s legal counsel again for the 2025-26 school year. Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

David Reese moved, Kim Severson moved to approve MBT Bank of Forest City for District deposits with a daily limit of $16,000,000.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Sup’t Lehmann explained a change order request for the high school site improvement project and the high school choir room/locker room renovations project .  An additional $11,107.00 is requested for unforeseen conditions and contractor requests on the site improvement project increasing the total cost of the project to $1,102,786.63. An additional $12,864.90 is requested on the choir/locker room renovations projects for errors, contractor corrections, and unforeseen conditions increasing the total cost of the project to $1,010,864.90 .   Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Beth Clouse, Kim Severson moved to approve the Summit/Tribune as the official publication for the District.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried.

Suggestions for the August 11, 2025 board meeting were discussed.  David Reese moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to enter into closed session to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate according to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j). The time was 7:20 p.m.  At 7:27 pm, President Thompson concluded the closed session and returned to open session. 

David Reese moved, Kim Severson seconded to adjourn the meeting.  Ayes: five. Nays: none. Carried. The time was 7:27 p.m.

 

 _______________________                                       _____________________________             

Troy Thompson, President                                             Sara Meinders, Board Secretary

Regular Meeting
                                                                                                      August 11, 2025

The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met at the Elementary School Building at 5:15 p.m. for a tour highlighting recent construction projects. They then transitioned to the High School and Middle School Buildings. The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on August 12, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
 
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order by the President Troy Thompson. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Troy Thompson, Rick Wiley, and Andrew Fedders. Absent: Kim Severson.  Beth Clouse moved to approve the agenda with the addition of agenda item 6.e “Winnebago County Hazard Mitigation Plan”. Andrew Fedders seconded the motion Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Carried. 

Administrative Reports:
●    Elementary Principal Brad Jones, Middle School Principal Sarah Leichsenring and High School Principal Ken Baker provided the board with updates that have been completed in their buildings over the summer. Each administrator acknowledged the hard work by our custodial staff and is thankful for the facility improvements. Mr Jones shared information about a new feature on the playground that was student made whisper dishes constructed during the recent May term.  Ms. Leichsenring shared the schedules for the new staff in the middle school along with plans for 5th grade orientation.  Mr. Baker acknowledged it’s nice to see staff back in the buildings and that planning for the 25-26 school year has been well organized despite multiple construction projects.  
●    Activities Director Chad Moore shared how the transition to a new school calendar hosted by Bound is progressing along with updates on the Athletics Hall of Fame inductee program.
●    Sec’y Meinders presented the monthly financial reports.
●    Sup’t Lehmann provided information on facilities, reviewed the beginning of the year schedules, and the IASB Convention in November.

The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the July 14, 2025 regular meeting, open enrollments, employee contracts and resignations, sick leave bank request, 2025-26 John V. Hanson Center Maintenance Agreement with NIACC, 2025-26 North Iowa Community Action Organization (NICAO) Memorandum of Understanding, financial statements, and bills for payment.  After discussion, Rick Wiley moved to approve all consent agenda items. Andrew Fedders seconded the motion.  Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Carried. 
●    Open Enrollment (Out): Easton Gassman, Bennett Aguirre, Elliott Tank, Alayna Baker, Jack Keningar, William Calkins, Alex Calkins Jr, and Leo Gonzalez.
●    Open Enrollment (In): Alexander Baltes
●    Employee Contracts: Danielle McCormick, Paraprofessional
●    Employee Resignations: Sam Knutson, Maintenance

In old business, Cody Hennigar moved, Rick Wiley seconded to approve a change order to the high school vocal room and choir room remodeling project for $26,935.00 to install audio panel equipment. Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Carried.

In new business, board policies were reviewed: 606.1, 606.2, 606.3, 606.3R1FC, 606.3E1FC, 606.3E2FC, 606.4, 606.5, 606.6, 607.1, 607.2, and 607.2R1.  New Policies (2nd Readings): 503.9, 503.9R1FC Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices were also reviewed.  Beth Clouse moved to approve the policies as presented, David Reese seconded. Ayes: six.  Nays: none. Carried.  

David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded to set a Public Hearing on the Sale of Real Property for September 8, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office Board Meeting Room.  Ayes: six.  Nays: none. Carried.  

Sup’t Lehmann presented the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) recommended legislative priorities for 2025-26. David Reese moved, Rick Wiley seconded to set the 2025-26 Legislative Priorities as Board as Governance/Home Rule, Teacher Preparation, School Choice/Public Education, School Bond Issues, and Mental Health. Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Carried.

Sup’t Lehmann presented the Board with activity ticket prices for 2025-26 which increase the price of admittance to the high school fall play and spring musical to $10 per person.  David Reese moved, seconded by Rick Wiley to approve ticket prices for 2025-26.  Ayes: six.  Nays: none. Carried.  

Andy Buffington, Communications Director and Emergency Management Coordinator for Winnebago County presented to the board a survey on what activities should be a priority for figure mitigation planning.  After discussion, survey answers were shared with Mr. Buffington.

September 8, 2025 meeting topics were discussed. 

David Reese motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Andy Fedders seconded the motion.  Ayes: six.  Nays: none.  Carried.  The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.  

 

 _______________________                            _____________________________                 

Troy Thompson, President                                 Sara Meinders, Board Secretary