Regular Meeting
December 11, 2023
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on December 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established the meeting was called to order President Gary Ludwig. Members present: David Reese, Eric Kingland, Beth Clouse, Gary Ludwig, Troy Thompson, Keila Buffington, and Kim Severson. Troy Thompson moved to approve the agenda. Keila Buffington seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Administrative Reports:
- High School Asst Principal/Activities Director, Chad Moore, presented on the archery program, upcoming challenges to the baseball/softball schedule, ongoing negotiations with officials and work to recruit officials.
- Middle School Principal, Sarah Leichsenring, presented on how the different needs of students are addressed and chronic absenteeism.
- Director of Teaching and Learning, Zach Dillavou, presented on e-learning days, social emotional posters and postcards, attendance initiatives, mentor and mentee training, calendar options, paraeducator training, high impact training strategies, and Jan/Feb book study.
- Sec’y Meinders presented to the board information in regards to legislative changes to the upcoming budget process, upcoming deadlines, and a summary of the monthly financial statements.
- Sup’t Lehmann provided information about Local Government Risk Pool, Community Colleges of Iowa information, and legislative conversations.
The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the November 13, 2023 regular meeting, financial statements, payment of bills, and the following:
- Open Enrollment (Out): Peyton Peterson and Brittlyn Opkis
- Employee Contracts: Zach Raulie, Archery Sponsor; Sub Bus Driver Jeff Clemens, Elijah Ungs, Patrick Wirth, and Ken Dorweiler; and Bus Route Driver, David Schneider
- Employee Contract Adjustments: Carolyn Strait, Tora Buffington, and Linda Rice for an adjustment in daily hours; and Rhonda Eser, increase in hourly wage per completion of Para II certification.
- Employee Resignation: Sarah Kirschbaum, paraprofessional
- Employee Retirements at the end of the School Year: Paraprofessional; Marcia Kluver and Director of Student Services, Mike Van Oort
- Donations: WCDA, $48,485 for Bus Camera Systems; Winnebago Purchasing, $200 for delinquent lunch accounts
- Early Graduation Requests: Jordin Manns and Rylea Groves
After discussion, Troy Thompson moved to approve all consent agenda items, Kim Severson seconded the motion. Ayes: six. Nays: none. David Reese abstained. Carried.
In old business, Keila Buffington motioned for board policies 501.1, 501.2, 501.3, 501.4, 501.5, 501.6, 501.7, 501.8, 501.9, and 501.9E1 be removed from the table and approved along with the approval of the second of new policy 503.8 (Student Threats) and revised policies 503.8, 503.1, 503.1R1, and 503.2 be approved. Beth Clouse seconded. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
In new business, a first reading of Board Policy 503.4R1FC (Good Conduct Rule Procedures) was read. Kim Severson moved to accept the first reading. Troy Thompson seconded. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approved 2023-24 handbook changes for the Elementary, Middle School and High School be approved as presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Troy Thompson moved, Kim Severson seconded to the Canvas of Election Results as approved by the County of Winnebago Board of Supervisors on November 21, 2023 as presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Sup’t Lehmann shared his appreciation to Gary Ludwig, Keila Buffington, and Eric Kingland for their dedication to the district and to their service. A commemorative apple was presented to each member as an appreciation of their commitment and service to the District.
Keila Buffington motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Eric Kingland seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 3:56 p.m.
_________________________ ___________________________________ Gary Ludwig, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
Organizational Meeting
December 11, 2023
After a quorum was established, the meeting of the newly elected Board was called to order by Secretary Meinders at 4:02 p.m. on December 11, 2023 in the District Office. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Rick Wiley, Troy Thompson, Shelby Korth, and Kim Severson.
Kim Severson moved to approve the agenda. Beth Clouse 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 Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Rick Wiley, Troy Thompson, Shelby Korth, and Kim Severson.
Secretary Meinders called for nominations for President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. Beth Clouse nominated Troy Thompson for President. David Reese nominated Kim Severson. Nominations ceased. Votes were called by Sec’y Meinders for Board President. Five votes were cast for Troy Thompson by Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Rick Wiley, Troy Thompson, and Shelby Korth. Two votes were case for Kim Severson from David Reese and Kim Severson. Beth Clouse moved, Shelby Korth seconded to appoint Troy Thompson as President. Ayes: seven. Nays: None. Carried.
President Thompson called for nominations for Vice-President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. Rick Wiley nominated Beth Clouse for Vice- President. Kim Severson nominated David Reese. Nominations ceased. Votes were called by President Thompson for Board Vice-President. Four votes were submitted for Beth Clouse by Beth Clouse, Rick Wiley, Troy Thompson, and Shelby Korth. Three votes were cast for David Reese from Cody Hennigar, David Reese and Kim Severson. Rick Wiley moved, Shelby Korth seconded to appoint Beth Clouse as Vice-President. Ayes: seven. Nays: None. Carried. Sec’y Meinders administered the oath of office to newly appointed Board President Thompson and Board Vice President Beth Clouse.
David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded to appoint Sara Meinders as the Board Secretary. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. President Thompson administered the oath of office to Secretary Meinders.
Kim Severson moved, Rick Wiley seconded to hold the regular board meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office at 145 S. Clark Street in Forest City. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved David Reese seconded to appoint the following board members to the 2024 school board committees. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
- Certified Staff Salary & Benefits – Troy Thompson, Kim Severson, and Shelby Korth
- Classified Staff Salary & Benefits – David Reese and Cody Hennigar
- Administrative Salary & Benefits – Troy Thompson and Rick Wiley
- Calendar Committee – Beth Clouse, Shelby Korth and Cody Hennigar
- District Advisory Board – David Reese and Troy Thompson
- Education Hall of Fame – Kim Severson, Rick Wiley, and Beth Clouse
- Fund Raising – Troy Thompson
- IASB Delegate Assembly – Troy Thompson
- Wellness Committee – Beth Clouse
- County Compensation Board – David Reese (Hancock), Cody Hennigar (Winnebago), Kim Severson (Worth)
- Boman Fine Arts Center – Kim Severson
- Employee Benefits Committee – Cody Hennigar, Kim Severson, and Beth Clouse
- Athletic Hall of Fame (New) – David Reese and Shelby Korth
- Administrative Hiring Committee (New) – Beth Clouse and Shelby Korth
Beth Clouse moved, Rick Wiley seconded to approve board policies 501.10, 501.10R, 501.11, 501.12, 501.13, 501.14, 501.15, 501.16 as reviewed and 200.1RC and 705.4R1 as updated. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC for a modified supplemental amount of $2,290 related to the increased enrollment for the 23-24 school year. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Rick Wiley seconded to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC for a modified supplemental amount of $163,963 for open enrolled students who were not included in the district’s previous year certified enrollment count. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC for $3,206 for English Language Learning Program for students who have exceeded five years of weighting that are included on the Fall 2023 certified enrollment headcount. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve $403,013 for modified supplemental amount which requires a local match of $134,338 for the 2023-24 At Risk and Dropout Prevention program. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Beth Clouse moved, Shelby Korth seconded to set the public hearing time and date for the 2024-25 school calendar as January 8, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at the District Office. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Beth Clouse moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve an additional agreement with NIACC to include Macro Economics in the courses available to our students. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Rick Wiley seconded to approve Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association (WCTA) as the internet service provider for the district for the next five years as presented to be used for the District’s E-rate Universal Service Program. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Rick Wiley seconded to approve the purchase of switches from Aercor as presented at a cost of $107,495.82 to be used for the District’s E-rate Universal Service Program. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried
January meeting topics were discussed.
_______________________________ _____________________________
Troy Thompson, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
