Regular Meeting
December 8, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for a regular meeting on December 8, 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 the President Troy Thompson. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Troy Thompson, Rick Wiley, Andrew Fedders, and Kim Severson. Absent: none. Beth Clouse moved to approve the agenda. Andrew Fedders seconded the motion Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Administrative Reports:
- Teacher Jason Crail, along with middle school students Natalie Hennigar, Navaeh Eastvold, Ella Stensrud, and Ayla Newman presented to the Board the idea of a Forest City Graduate Veteran Wall to honor the prior military service of Forest City graduates.
- High School Principal, Ken Baker, gave the Board an update of potential changes needed to graduation requirements due to requirements to career exploratories for seniors. More information will be coming in the future months.
- High School Principal, Sarah Leichsenring, presented about new connections with students such as a new game club for 7th and 8th grades, and a new reading club for 5th and 6th grades as well as the recent soldier care packages as organized by the MS Student Council. Attendance data and science curriculum was also discussed.
- Director of Teaching and Learning, Zach Dillavou, presented information on the Veterans wall, Open Sci Ed curriculum, Fall Teacher Quality PD Hours, and information on High Reliability Schools.
- Sec’y Meinders presented the monthly financial reports, upcoming budget dates, information about IASB Awards, and invoices for payment.
- Sup’t Lehmann provided information on IASB Convention, Veterans Day program, speed sign for the MS/HS entrance, and strategic planning next steps.
The following consent agenda items were reviewed: minutes of the November 10, 2025 regular meeting and the November 24, 2025 work session, employee contracts and resignations, donations, unpaid leave requests, early graduation request, financial statements, and bills for payment. After discussion, Kim Severson moved to approve all consent agenda items. Rick Wiley seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
- Employee New Contracts: Allison Patenaude, HS ELA Teacher (2nd Semester Only); Emma Thomas, MS/HS Music Teacher, Tuition Reimbursement Agreement, Supplemental MS/HS Vocal Music; Teacher Quality Professional Development December Payment; Anna Stene, 0.5 Mentoring
- Employee Resignations: Lulu Valadez, Paraprofessional, Tora Buffington, Food Service
- Employee Resignations at the end of the 2025-26 School Year: Kris Reece, ELP Coordinator & Spanish Exploratory Instructor; Damien Strecker, MS Special Education Teacher
- Donations: FC Rotary Club to the Mitten Fund, $4,000.00; Worth County Development Association (WCDA) to the Turf Field Project, $152,000
- Teacher unpaid leave request, Tami McInroy
- Early graduation request, Gabriella Candelaria Vazquez.
In old business, David Reese moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve two change orders for the Choir/Locker Room Project at $4,162.50. Ayes: seven. Nays: None. Carried.
In new business, Beth Clouse moved to approve the canvas of votes from the November 4, 2025 election, Rick Wiley seconded. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. David Reese seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
_______________________ _____________________________
Troy Thompson, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
Organizational Meeting
December 8, 2025
The Board of Directors of the Forest City Community School District met for their organizational meeting on December 8, 2025 at 7:22 p.m. at the District Office, Forest City, Iowa.
After a quorum was established, the meeting of the newly elected Board was called to order by Secretary Meinders. Members present: David Reese, Cody Hennigar, Beth Clouse, Troy Thompson, Rick Wiley, Andrew Fedders, and Kim Severson. Troy Thompson moved to approve the agenda. Beth Clouse seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Secretary Meinders administered the oath of office to the newly elected officers of the Forest City Community School District Board of Directors. Those elected to the School Board for a four year term and accepting the oath were Andrew Fedders, Beth Clouse, Cody Hennigar, and David Reese.
Secretary Meinders called for nominations for President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. Beth Clouse nominated Troy Thompson. There were no other nominations. Rick Wiley made a motion to appoint Troy Thompson as President. Beth Clouse seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: None. Carried.
President Thompson called for nominations for Vice-President of the Forest City Community School Board of Directors. David Reese nominated Beth Clouse. There were no other nominations. Rick Wiley motioned to appoint Beth Clouse as Vice-President. David Reese seconded the motion. Ayes: Seven. Nays: None. Carried. Secretary Meinders administered the oath of office to Vice President Clouse and President Thompson.
David Reese moved, Kim Severson seconded to appoint Sara Meinders as the Board Secretary. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. President Thompson administered the oath of office to Secretary Meinders.
David Reese moved, Kim Severson 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.
David Reese moved Rick Wiley seconded to appoint the following board members to the 2026 school board committees. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
- Certified Staff Salary & Benefits – Troy Thompson, Kim Severson, and Beth Clouse
- Classified Staff Salary & Benefits – David Reese and Cody Hennigar
- Administrative Salary & Benefits – Troy Thompson and Rick Wiley
- Calendar Committee – Beth Clouse, Andrew Fedders, 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 – David Reese
- Administrative Hiring Committee – Beth Clouse and Kim Severson
In new business, Beth Clouse moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve board policies 705.1, 705.1R1, 705.2, 705.3, 705.4, 705.4R1, 706.1, 706.2, 706.3, 706.3R1 as presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Rick Wiley moved, Kim Severson seconded to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC for a modified supplemental amount of $290,762.00 related to the increased enrollment for the 2025-26 school year. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Beth Clouse seconded to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the SBRC for $5,431.00 for English Language Learning Program for students who have exceeded five years of weighting that are included on the Fall 2025 certified enrollment headcount. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
A request to waive 9 days of the 90-day eligibility hold for varsity competition for open enrolled student, Isaac Chase, to Garner-Hayfield-Ventura was discussed. Public comment from Laura Chase for the waiver of 9 days was received. Kim Severson moved, Cody Hennigar seconded to accept the requested waiver for 9 of the 90 days. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
The district’s at-risk and dropout procedure plan was discussed. Cody Hennigar moved, Andrew Fedders seconded to approve the plan as presented. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Kim Severson moved, Beth Clouse seconded to approve $421,447 for modified supplemental amount which requires a local match of $140,482 for the 2026-27 At-Risk and Dropout Prevention program. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
Plans and specifications for the Bolstorff Field Turf Replacement project were presented and prepared by architect firm ISG. Kim Severson moved, David Reese seconded to approve the plans and specifications as presented and to set the date for letting of bids deadline as 2:00 p.m. on January 7, 2026 with the public hearing to be held on January 12, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese moved, Kim Severson seconded to approve the involuntary classified employee leave request with continuation of benefits for Sherri Lunning for an additional six weeks. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried.
David Reese motioned to adjourn the regular meeting. Rick Wiley seconded the motion. Ayes: seven. Nays: none. Carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:32 p.m.
_______________________ _____________________________
Troy Thompson, President Sara Meinders, Board Secretary
