Public Hearing
The President announced that this is the time, place and date to hold a public hearing on the proposed calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. There were no individuals present for comment. After discussion, President Gary Ludwig declared the hearing closed at 6:31 p.m.
Regular Meeting and Annual Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting and annual meeting on December 12, 2022 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 Gary Ludwig. Members present: Gary Ludwig, Troy Thompson, Keila Buffington, and Kim Severson. Absent: David Reese, Beth Clouse, and Eric Kingland. Keila Buffington attended the meeting electronically as it was inconvenient to do so otherwise.
Troy Thompson moved to approve the agenda. Kim Severson seconded the motion Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried.
Administrative Reports:
● High School Ass’t Principal, Chad Moore, introduced the idea of implementing a Forest City CSD Athletic Hall of Fame.
● Middle School Principal, Zach Dillavou, presented on the mentor/mentee program for beginning teachers.
● Sec’y Meinders shared the financials for the month of November 2022.
● Sup’t Lehmann reviewed thank you notes, vulnerability assessment review, weather announcements, and the Iowa Association of School Board (IASB) convention review.
The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the November 14, 2022 regular meeting, open enrollments, employee contracts, contract adjustments, employee resignations, donations, sick leave bank requests, teacher quality professional development payment, annual treasurer’s report, financial statements, and bills for payment. After discussion, Troy Thompson moved to approve all consent agenda items. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
● Employee Contracts: Sarah Leichsenring, Middle School Principal beginning 7/1/23; Patti Strukel and Mike Johnson, Co-Head and Co-Assistant Softball Coaches.
● Employee Contract Adjustments: Angel Clarey, Paraprofessional Certification Wage Increase.
● Employee Resignations: Breanne Johnson, Paraprofessional; Kathy Hanna, Paraprofessional at the end of the 22-23 school year.
There was no old business discussed.
Kim Severson moved, Troy Thompson seconded to adjourn the regular meeting. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried. The time was 7:20 p.m.
Organizational Meeting
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a organizational meeting on December 12, 2022 at 7:21 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order by Secretary Sara Meinders. Members present: Gary Ludwig, Troy Thompson, Keila Buffington, and Kim Severson. Absent: David Reese, Beth Clouse, and Eric Kingland. Keila Buffington attended the meeting electronically as it was inconvenient to do so otherwise.
Keila Buffington moved to approve the agenda. Troy Thompson seconded the motion Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried.
Secretary Meinders called for nominations for President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. Troy Thompson nominated Gary Ludwig for President. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Keila Buffington moved that nominations cease. Troy Thompson seconded the motion. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried. Troy Thompson moved, seconded by Keila Buffington that Gary Ludwig be appointed as Board President. Ayes: four. 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. President Ludwig nominated Keila Buffington for Vice-President. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Troy Thompson moved that nominations cease. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried. Gary Ludwig motioned, seconded by Troy Thompson to appoint Keila Buffington as Board Vice-President. Ayes: four. 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.
Kim Severson moved, Troy Thompson seconded to appoint Sara Meinders as Board Secretary and Treasurer. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried. President Ludwig administered the oath of office to appointed Board Secretary and Treasurer Sara Meinders.
In old business, Troy Thompson moved, Keila Buffington seconded to table the decision regarding redistricting following the census. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried.
Troy Thompson moved, Keila Buffington seconded to set the date and time for the regular board meetings to be held on the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Ayes: four. Nays: none. Carried. David Reese and Beth Clouse entered the meeting at 7:35 p.m.
Board members discussed committee assignments for 2023. Troy Thompson moved, Kim Severson seconded to appoint the following board members to the 2023 school board committees. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
● Support Staff Salary & Benefits – Kim Severson and David Reese
● Administrative Salary & Benefits – Gary Ludwig and Eric Kingland
● Calendar Committee – Kim Severson and Eric Kingland
● District Advisory Board – David Reese and Beth Clouse
● Hall of Fame – Gary Ludwig and Beth Clouse
● Fundraising – Troy Thompson
● IASB Legislative Contact Person – Troy Thompson
● Wellness Committee – Beth Clouse
● County Compensation Board – David Reese (Hancock), Troy Thompson (Winnebago), Kim Severson (Worth)
● Boman Fine Arts Center – Troy Thompson
Under new business, scheduled review and proposed changes to policies 403.5, 403.5R1, 403.5E1, 403.6, 403.6E1, 403.6FC, 404, 404R1, 404R2; IASB Quarterly Updates 2nd reading: 605.3R1, 605.3E4; 2nd reading - 606.3R1FC, 606.3R2FC, 606.3R3FC, 606.3E1FC, 606.3E2FC. Troy Thompson moved to approve the policies as presented. Keila Buffington seconded the motion. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded for the approval of the 28E agreements with Waldorf Acquisition LLC for the Tennis Court Association, Shared Athletic Facilities and Forest City Performing Arts Center (Boman Fine Arts Center). Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Keila Buffington moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve a sharing agreement with Garner-Hayfield-Ventura Community School for with business manager, Sara Meinders. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Troy Thompson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve the 2022-23 school calendar as presented. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried. The first day of school will be August 23, 2023 with the final day currently scheduled to be May 24, 2024. Up to five (5) E-Learning days will be used with the remainder of snow days added to the end of the school year if needed.
Troy Thompson moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve Winnebago County Telecom Association (WCTA) as the district’s internet provider and Erate Category 1 funding. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Troy Thompson moved, Keila Buffington seconded to approve Aercor as the provider for access points and battery back-ups for purchase with Erate Category 2 funding for infrastructure. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Troy Thompson seconded to approve changes to the following job descriptions: Media Director, newly named to Media and Reading Specialist; Print Center Technician; and Communications Director. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
Troy Thompson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve $391,184 for modified supplemental amount which requires a local match of $130,395 for a total of $521,579 in funding for the 2023-24 At Risk and Dropout Prevention program. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Troy Thompson seconded to accept the proposal for the district to consider adding an athletic hall of fame recognition program. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried.
January meeting topics were discussed.
Troy Thompson motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Kim Severson seconded the motion. Ayes: six. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
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Gary Ludwig, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
