March 20, 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, March 20, 2023, in the School Administration Office Board Room, Webster City, Iowa.
Open Comment to the Board – There was none.
ITEM 1. - Call to Order – The Board President called the meeting to order at 6:01 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 other interested parties.
ITEM 3. – Approval of Agenda – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Stoakes, to approve the agenda by adding contract resignations. Motion carried.
ITEM 4. – Mentoring Program Presentation – Em Loughry gave a presentation on the Webster City mentoring program.
ITEM 5. - Discussion Items –
- Board’s Initial Proposal to WCEA – Dr. Ross read the Board’s initial proposal to WCEA.
- Board’s Initial proposal to WCESA – Jodi Clabaugh read WCESA’s initial proposal to the Board and Dr. Ross read the Board’s initial proposal to WCESA.
- 2023-2024 Budget – Matt Gillaspie, Piper Sandler, walked the Board through the concept of an advanced surplus levy which can only be used to pre-pay outstanding principal on GO Bonds.
ITEM 6. – Action Items
- WCHS Band and Choir Trip Proposal –Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the WCHS Band and Choir trip proposal. Motion carried.
- Set Public Hearing Date for the FY2024 Budget – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Stoakes, to set the public hearing date on the FY2024 budget for April 10, 2023. Motion carried.
- Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2017, Dated December 1, 2017, Approving an Escrow Agent Agreement, and Levying a Tax for Fiscal Year 2024 for the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2017, Dated December 1, 2017 –
Board Member Stoakes introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption. Director Clarken seconded the motion to adopt. The roll was called, and the following Directors voted:
AYES: Greenfield, Clarken, Stoakes, Patterson, Van Diest
NAYES: None.
The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows:
Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding bondS, SERIES 2017, Dated December 1, 2017, APPROVING AN ESCROW AGENT AGREEMENT, and Levying a Tax for fiscal year 2024 for the Redemption of General Obligation School Refunding bondS, SERIES 2017, Dated December 1, 2017
WHEREAS, the Webster City Community School District (the "District") issued $8,479,000 General Obligation School Refunding Bonds, Series 2017, dated December 1, 2017 (the "Series 2017 Bonds"), $6,849,000 of which are currently outstanding, and of which $525,000 are now being called for redemption on or after December 1, 2026, which are described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution (the "Redeemed Bonds"); and
WHEREAS, the District issued the Series 2017 Bonds before it reorganized with the Northeast Hamilton Community School District in 2019; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Petition for Reorganization, the existing debt service levy for payment of principal and interest on outstanding general obligation bonds of the historical Webster City Community School District remains with the territory of the historical Webster City Community School District, including any refunding or reissuance of the outstanding general obligation bonds; and
WHEREAS, at this time, it is in the best interest of the District to levy a tax for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024, which is sufficient to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on or after December 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Series 2017 Bonds which mature after December 1, 2024 may be called in whole only and not in part on any date beginning on December 1, 2024, from any funds regardless of source, in any order of maturity and within annual maturity by lot by giving 30 days' written notice of redemption to the registered owner of the Bonds, the terms of redemption to be par plus accrued interest to the date of call, such notice to be deemed completed upon transmission to the owner of record of the Bond at the address shown on the books of the Registrar; and
WHEREAS, selection by lot will be necessary to select bonds to be called among the bonds which have a mandatory redemption of June 1, 2031; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved:
Section 1. That the Redeemed Bonds are hereby redeemed on or after December 1, 2026 (the “Redemption Date”).
Section 2. UMB Bank, N.A., West Des Moines, Iowa (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company, Des Moines, Iowa), in its capacity as Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent, is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of such redemption to be given not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of redemption by written notice to the registered owner of the Redeemed Bonds in substantially the form set forth in Schedule B attached to this Resolution. Piper Sandler & Co., as Dissemination Agent for the District, is hereby authorized and directed to provide electronic notice of such redemption to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board at http://emma.msrb.org/. On or before June 1, 2024, the Treasurer shall deposit with the Escrow Agent $525,000 to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution, such call and redemption to be effective on the Redemption Date pursuant to the terms of the Series 2017 Bonds. All liability for interest on the Redeemed Bonds shall cease, terminate, and be completely discharged on the Redemption Date as provided in Section 6(b) of the Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of the Series 2017 Bonds.
Section 3. There is levied upon all the taxable property of the territory of the historical Webster City Community School District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, $525,000 which when collected shall be deposited with the Paying Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agent Agreement. The Paying Agent is authorized and directed to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on the Redemption Date. Annually, on each June 1, beginning June 1, 2025 the investment earnings on the Escrow Fund and any other funds in excess of the amount required to redeem the Redeemed Bonds shall be deposited into the General Obligation School Refunding Bond Fund 2017 for payment of principal and interest on the Series 2017 Bonds. Any remaining balance on the Redemption Date shall be deposited in the General Obligation School Refunding Bond Fund 2017.
Section 4. The Escrow Agent Agreement is hereby authorized and approved, and the President and Secretary are authorized and directed to execute the Escrow Agent Agreement. Upon deposit on or before June 1, 2024 of $525,000 with the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent is authorized and directed to invest such funds, at the written direction of the District, in Treasury Securities of the State and Local Government Series (SLGS) or direct U.S. Treasury obligations, at a yield not to exceed the yield on the Bonds and to mature on or before the Redemption Date. Absent such written investment direction from the District, the Escrow Agent shall hold such funds uninvested. The District must comply with the rebate requirements of the Resolution authorizing the issuance of the Series 2017 Bonds.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 20th day of March, 2023.
- Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Mr. Patterson, to approve the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement for the 2023-2024 school year in the amount of $125,674.15. Motion carried.
- Snow Day Makeup Proposal for the 2022-2023 School Year – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the snow day makeup proposal for the 2022-2023 school year. Motion carried.
- Wellness Action Plan and Policy – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the Wellness Action Plan and Policy. Motion carried.
- Iowa Communications Network Agreements – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Mr. Stoakes, to approve the Iowa Communication Network agreements. Motion carried.
- Field Experience Contract with University of Northern Iowa – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the Field Experience Contract with the University of Northern Iowa. Motion carried.
- Clinical Experience Placement Contract with Morningside University – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the Clinical Experience Placement Contract with Morningside University. Motion carried.
- AEA Purchasing Agreement – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the AEA Purchasing Agreement. Motion carried.
- Gifts to District – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Mr. Patterson, to approve the monetary donations to: High School Boys and Girls Golf from Webster City Youth Golf; FFA from Eric and Beth Patterson and Patrick and Darla Patterson; High School weight room from Ray and Mernie Reasland; and Special Education classrooms for specific needs from the Knights of Columbus; and approve the hallway mural at Northeast Hamilton Elementary from Cindi Sweedler. Motion carried.
- Fundraising Request – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Mr. Patterson, to approve WC Rocketry to sell gym floor merchandise during Trivia Night; and High School baseball to ask for monetary donations through Adrenaline Fundraising. Motion carried.
ITEM 7. – Personnel – Motion by Mr. Stoakes, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the following:
- Contract Resignations: Cindi Sweedler, School Nurse; Julie Kramersmeier, High School Business Teacher; Pat Farley 7th Grade Football Coach; Yolanda Licea, Sunset Heights Paraeducator; Chris Nessa, Middle School Paraeducator; and Chad Hisler, High School Wrestling Coach.
- Contract Recommendations: Robert Schauer, Part-Time Food Service.
Motion carried.
ITEM 8. – Other
- Items from Dr. Ross -
- A strategic planning listening tour will be held at the High School Library on Monday, March 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- The Career Academy will have a work session with the Board on April 10.
- There will be no school on Friday, April 7.
- Narcan training has taken place and kits were placed in each building.
- Stop the Bleed kits have been distributed to each building.
- An informal board meeting with Stratford was held prior to the regular board meeting. Discussion focused on the transition of 6th grade students from Stratford, Northeast Hamilton Elementary, and St. Thomas to the Middle School.
- Items from the Board –
- Board Secretary, Kathy Biere, read an update regarding Meals from the Heartland from Kurt Veldhuzien.
ITEM 9. – Consent Items – It was moved by Mr. Stoakes, second by Mr. Patterson, to approve the minutes of the February 27 and March 8, 2023 meetings; to approve General, Schoolhouse, Lunch and Activity Fund Reports; payment of the bills and claims as listed at the close of these minutes; to approve the interfund transfer; to approve the fundraising report; and open enrollment update. Motion carried.
ITEM 10. - Adjournment – Motion by Mr. Patterson, second by Mr. Stoakes, to adjourn the meeting at 7:36 p.m. Motion carried.
The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, April 10, 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