Minutes - 04.24.23

April 24, 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, April 24, 2023, in the School Administration Office Board Room, Webster City, Iowa.

Open Comment to the Board – There were 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, and Ms. Van Diest.  Mr. Patterson was absent.  Also present were Dr. Ross, Kathy Biere, and members of the media and other interested parties.

ITEM 3. – Approval of Agenda – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the agenda.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 4. – Public Hearing on the 2023-2024 School Calendar - President Van Diest opened the public hearing at 6:02 p.m.  Dr. Ross summarized comments received from staff and public comments from the calendar being shared on Facebook.  After no comments from those in attendance, President Van Diest closed the public hearing at 6:16 p.m. 

ITEM 5. – Action Items

  1. Approval of the 2023-2024 School Calendar – Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Mr. Stoakes, to approve the 2023-2024 school calendar by moving the professional development day from January 15, 2024 to January 2, 2024.  Motion carried. 
  2. Resolution Authorizing the Retention of Boundaries for Director Districts – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the Resolution Authorizing the Retention of Boundaries for Director Districts.  Motion carried. 
  3. Approval of the Tentative Agreement between the Webster City Education Association and the Webster City Community Schools Board of Directors – Motion by Mr. Stoakes, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve the tentative agreement between the Webster City Education Association and the Webster City Community Schools Board of Directors.  Motion carried. 
  4. Approval of the Tentative Agreement between the Webster City Educational Services Association and the Webster City Community Schools Board of Directors – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Ms. Clarken, to approve the tentative agreement between the Webster City Educational Services Association and the Webster City Community Schools Board of Directors.  Motion carried. 
  5. Approval of Non-Bargaining and Administrative Salaries – Motion by Ms. Greenfield, second by Mr. Stoakes, to approve the non-bargaining and administrative salaries for the 2023-2024 school year.  Motion carried. 

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

  1. Contract Recommendation:  Jeff Lyons, MS Baseball Coach 
  2. Contract Resignations:  Liz Burton, MS General Music/Vocal Teacher; Megan Kostka-Dietz, ELL Teacher; Tyler McCubbin, HS Student Council Advisor; and Madison Wilde, Assistant Volleyball Coach. 

Motion carried. 

ITEM 9. – Other

  1. Items from the Superintendent
    1. Board Planning Calendar – Three areas have been identified as part of the strategic planning process:  high quality literacy, ELL programming, and communication plans with the Donovan Group.  Since the District will have three new administrators beginning July 1, strategic planning has been paused and will pick back up in the Fall. 
    2. Retirees will be honored on May 25 with a reception at the Middle School from 3:45-4:30, with a short program at 4:00.
    3. Registration for the 2023-2024 school year started on Monday, April 17.
    4. Middle School principal interviews will be on Monday, May 1.
    5. Dr. Ross hopes to share bids for the Lawn Hill building at the next board meeting.
  2. Items from the Board
    1. President Van Diest shared that the Board had received a question from the public regarding the District’s property tax rate.  Dr. Ross and Director Van Diest composed an email response.

ITEM 10. – Consent Items – Motion by Mr. Stoakes, second by Ms. Greenfield, to approve minutes from the April 10, 2023 board meeting and the open enrollment update.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 11.  – Adjournment - Motion by Ms. Clarken, second by Mr. Stoakes, to adjourn the meeting at 6:29 p.m.  Motion carried. 

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, May 8 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