Public Hearing
December 13, 2021 at 6:30 p.m.
The President announced that this is the time, place and date to hold a public hearing on the proposed calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. There were no individuals present for comment. After discussion, President Dave Bartlett declared the hearing closed at 6:31 p.m.
Regular Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on December 13, 2021 at 6:31 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order by the President, Dave Bartlett. Members present: Pat Hobbs, Eric Kingland, Cindy Carter, Dave Bartlett, Gary Ludwig, Keila Buffington and Kim Severson. Pat Hobbs moved to approve the agenda Keila Buffington seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
President Bartlett welcomed those present at the meeting and thanked the new board members for their willingness to serve the Forest City Community School District.
Zach Dillavou, middle school principal, presented to the Board on the recent teacher professional development training and shared the results of a staff survey polling them on the impact the training had.
Brad Jones, elementary principal, presented to the Board on the Giving Tree, holiday activities and concerts, Reading if Fun (RIF), Breakout Edu, PBIS Awards, and Tier 2 interventions.
Sup’t Lehmann presented to the Board on the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool 2020-21, Hanson Career Center article, reflection on the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB), upcoming training available to board members, and a thank you note regarding the recent Veterans Day program. Sup’t Lehmann also thanked Pat Hobbs, Cindy Carter, and Dave Bartlett for their years of service to the Forest City Community School Board. Golden apples were presented to each retiring member as a thank you for their service.
Sup’t Lehmann reviewed the following consent agenda items: minutes of the November 8, 2021 regular meeting, open enrollments, employee contracts, employee resignations, early retirement benefit request and resignations, and donations. After discussion, Cindy Carter moved to approve all consent agenda items. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
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Employee Contracts: Sydney Hudspeth, 6th grade reading teacher and Cynthia Nelson, ELL Support.
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Employee Contract Adjustments: Elijah Ungs, elementary custodian.
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Employee Resignations: Mary Espelien, paraprofessional and Wes Parks, custodian (effective 6/30/22).
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Early retirement benefit requests with resignation at the end of the 2021-22 school year from the following teachers: Kelly Parks , Jean Pins, Amy Grunhovd, and Michelle Bunger.
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Early retirement benefit request with intent to resign at the end of the 21-23 school year from the following teachers: Lori Rollefson and Kris Johnson.
In old business, Supt. Lehmann reviewed the 2022 Legislative Priorities.
Under new business, a second reading of new policy 212.1 was read. Keila Buffington moved to approve the policy as presented. Pat Hobbs seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Gary Ludwig moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve the Abstract of Votes as approved by the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors and the County Auditor on November 9, 2021. District No. 1 went to Eric Kingland with 614 votes and Beth Clouse with 642 votes. Andrew Fedders received 377 votes with a scattering of 13 votes for a total of 1,646 votes. District No. 2 went to Troy J. Thompson with a total of 922 votes and a scattering of 3 votes for a total of 925 votes. District No. 3 went to David Reese receiving 639 votes. Rick F. Wiley received 305 votes with a scattering of 2 votes for a total of 946 votes. The District’s Revenue Purpose Statement passes with 747 yes votes and 201 no votes for a total number of votes of 949. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Pat Hobbs moved Cindy Carter seconded to approve a request in the amount of $35,842 for Limited English Proficient (LEP) for modified supplemental amount to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for excess LEP costs during the 2020-21 school year. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
After reviewing the monthly financial statements. Eric Kingland moved to approve the statements as presented. Cindy Carter seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
After reviewing the monthly bills, Keila Buffington moved to approve the following for payment as presented. Gary Ludwig seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Cindy Carter motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Pat Hobbs seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The regular meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
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Dave Bartlett, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
Organizational Meeting
December 13, 2021
After a quorum was established, the meeting of the newly elected Board was called to order by Secretary Meinders at 7:25 p.m. on December 13, 2021 in the District Office. Members present: Beth Clouse, Eric Kingland, David Reese, Troy Thompson, Gary Ludwig, Keila Buffington, and Kim Severson.
Gary Ludwig moved to approve the agenda. Keila Buffington seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Secretary Meinders administered the oath of office to the elected officers of the Forest City Community School District Board of Directors. Those elected and accepting the oath were Eric Kingland and Beth Clouse to District No. 1, Troy J. Thompson to District No. 2, and David Reese to District No. 3.
Secretary Meinders called for nominations for President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. Kim Severson nominated Gary Ludwig for President. Troy Thompson seconded the motion. Keila Buffington moved that nominations cease. Beth Clouse seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. Gary Ludwig was elected President of the Forest City Community School District Board of Directors.
President Ludwig called for nominations for Vice-President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. David Reese nominated Kelia Buffington for Vice-President. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Kim Severson moved that nominations cease. Troy Thompson seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. Keila Buffington was elected Vice-President of the Forest City Community School District Board of Directors. Secretary Meinders administered the oath of office to newly appointed Board President Gary Ludwig and Board Vice-President Keila Buffington.
Eric Kingland moved, David Reese seconded to appoint Sara Meinders as the Board Secretary. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. President Ludwig administered the oath of office to Secretary Meinders.
Troy Thompson moved, Eric Kingland seconded to approve the 2022-23 school calendar as presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The first day of school will be August 23, 2022 with the final day currently scheduled to be May 26, 2023.
A reading of renewing policies 208, 208.1E1, 209.1, 209.2, 209.3, 209.4, 209.5, 209.6. Kim Severson moved to approve the policies as presented. Keila Buffington seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve a request for $382,308 in modified supplemental amount (MSA) to the school budget review committee (SBRC) for the District’s At-Risk/Dropout program. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Keila Buffington moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve the bid submitted by Schnurr & Company, LLP for audit services for the June 30, 2022, 2023 and 2024 fiscal years. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Board members discussed committee assignments for 2021-2022. Eric Kingland moved Troy Thompson seconded to appoint the following board members to the 2021-22 school board committees. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
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Support Staff Salary & Benefits – Kim Severson and Keila Buffington
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Administrative Salary & Benefits – Gary Ludwig and Eric Kingland
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Calendar Committee – Beth Clouse and Eric Kingland
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District Advisory Board – David Reese
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Hall of Fame – Gary Ludwig and Beth Clouse
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FundRaising – Troy Thompson
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IASB Legislative Contact Person – Gary Ludwig
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Wellness Committee – Beth Clouse
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County Compensation Board – David Reese (Hancock), Troy Thompson (Winnebago), Kim Severson (Worth)
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Boman Fine Arts Center – Troy Thompson
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Employee Benefits Committee – Eric Kingland, Keila Buffington, David Reese
Board members discussed suggestions for the January board meeting to be held on January 10, 2021. Due to conflicts, the meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. instead of the regular time of 6:30 p.m.
Beth Clouse moved, Keila Buffington seconded to enter into closed session to evaluate the superintendent pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i). Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The time was 7:58 p.m. At 9:03 p.m. President Ludwig ended the closed session and returned to the regular meeting.
Kim Severson motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Troy Thompson seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
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Gary Ludwig, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
