Minutes - 02.27.23

Minutes - 02.27.23

February 27, 2023

The Board of Directors of the Webster City Community School District in the counties of Hamilton, Webster and Wright, State of Iowa, met in regular session, February 27, 2023, in the School Administration Office Board Room, Webster City, Iowa.

Open Comment to the Board – Teachers and parents from the District expressed concerns about last week’s situation at the Middle School.

ITEM 1. – Call to Order – The Board President called the meeting to order at 4:58 p.m.

ITEM 2. – Roll Call – Members answering roll call were Ms. Greenfield, Ms. Clarken, Mr. Stoakes, Mr. Patterson, and Ms. Van Diest.  Also present were Dr. Ross, Kathy Biere, and members of the media and other interested parties.

ITEM 3. – Approval of Agenda – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the agenda by adding a fundraiser.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 4. – WCEA Initial Proposal – Trish Bahrenfuss, Chief Negotiator, presented WCEA’s initial proposal to the Board. 

ITEM 5. – WCESA Initial Proposal – Tabled to the March 20 board meeting.

ITEM 6. – Discussion Items –

  1. Strategic Planning Update – Dr. Chris Greiner of Compass PD, shared the results of the online community survey. 
  2. Destroy Illusions School Assembly Tour – Jama Hisler, Director of Teaching and Learning, informed the Board that Central Iowa Community Services will present multiple assemblies for students and staff on May 12, which will focus on the theme of “respecting yourself, respecting others”. 

ITEM 7. – Action Items

  1. Authorization Letter from State Auditor – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Mr. Stoakes, to authorize Dr. Ross to request the State Auditor’s office provide a summary of their WC2DC findings.  Motion carried. 
  2. FEH Design Proposal – Tabled until alternative options are investigated.
  3. Special Education Contract – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the special education contract with Iowa Falls Community School District.  Motion carried. 
  4. Gift to District – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the monetary donation for unpaid lunch accounts from St. Thomas Aquinas Church.  Motion carried. 
  5. Fundraising Requests – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Mr. Stoakes, to approve the varsity and JV softball teams to hold a hitting and fielding camp and host a grill out; High School Girls’ Soccer to sell apparel; High School Boys’ Soccer to ask for charitable donations from local businesses; Vocal Boosters ticket sales for the Variety Show, and Hamilton High to hold a supply drive for the Cat Hut.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 8. – Personnel – Motion by Mr. Stoakes, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the following:

  1. Contract Recommendation:  Kaitlynn Seeley, K-6 Shared Music and Band at Northeast Hamilton Elementary and Stratford 
  2. Contract Resignations:  Brandon Moore, Maintenance Technician; Sandy Benda, Paraeducator; Brad Van Deer, 9th Grade Football Coach; Patrick Olmstead, 8th Boys Basketball Coach; Troy Draeger, High School Night Custodian; and Mike Keane, Bus Driver. 

Motion carried. 

ITEM 9. – Other

  1. Items from the Superintendent
    1. Board Planning Calendar – Strategic Planning work continues with Dr. Greiner, a closed session will be held after the work session to start planning for negotiations, and Em Loughry will share her work with the Middle School mentoring programs at the March board meeting.
    2. The Administration Building will be closed Friday, March 17 for Spring Break. 
  2. Items from the Board
    1. Ms. Clarken stated that the community is fortunate to have Kendall Young Library in the community. 
    2. Mr. Patterson visited the high school last week to experience Meals for the Heartland. 
    3. Ms. Greenfield said the concerns expressed regarding the situation at the Middle School need to be figured out.

ITEM 10. – Consent Items – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve minutes from the February 7 and February 13 board meetings and the open enrollment update.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 11.  – Adjournment - Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Stoakes, to adjourn the meeting at 5:41 p.m.  Motion carried. 

After the regular board meeting, the board went into a work session on enrollment and a closed session on negotiations.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, March 20 at 6:00 p.m. at the School Administration Office Board Room.  Board Meetings are subject to change dependent upon need.

Attest:                                                                               Attest:

Kathy Biere, Secretary                                                Beth Van Diest, President      

kbiere@webster… Wed, 03/01/2023 - 14:17