Minutes - 2020.10.26

October 26, 2020

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, October 26, 2020, in the School Administration Office Board Room, Webster City, Iowa. 

ITEM 1. – Call to Order – The Board President called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m.

ITEM 2. – Roll Call – Members answering roll call were Ms. Williams, Mr. Pruismann, Mr. Stroner, Mr. Patterson and Ms. Van Diest.  Also present, via Zoom, were members of the media and other interested parties.

ITEM 3. – Approval of Agenda – It was moved by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Patterson, to approve the agenda with personnel changes.  Motion carried unanimously. 

ITEM 4. – Open Comment to the Board – Dr. Ross read an email from Amy Shannon regarding when high school students would return to school full time.

ITEM 5. – Discussion Items –

  1. 2020 Certified Enrollment - Dr. Ross informed the Board the 2020 Certified Enrollment is down 31 resident students.
  2. COVID Mitigation Update – Dr. Ross gave the Board a COVID mitigation update.  Daily monitoring of staff is taking place with each staff member recording their temperature and answering a series of health questions.  In each elementary building, mitigation steps include masks or face coverings, social distancing, practicing hand hygiene routines and enhancing mask practices at lunch and recess.  The Middle School and High School mitigation steps include masks or face coverings, social distancing, practicing hand hygiene routines, enhancing mask practices at lunch and locker routines.  The High School is also addressing social emotional issues and has added study tables on alternate days. 

ITEM 6. – Action Items

  1. Four Year Old Preschool Budgets – Motion by Mr. Pruismann, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the Four Year-Old Preschool Budgets for the 2020-2021 school year.  Motion carried unanimously.
  2. Gifts – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the gift of laundry soap from Rotary After Hours and Noon Rotary groups, and tables from Joe Shanks.  Motion carried unanimously.
  3. Seidlitz Education Service Contract – Motion by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the Seidlitz Education Service Contract for professional development.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  4. Allen College Memorandum of Agreement – Motion by Ms. Williams, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the Allen College Memorandum of Agreement for student nurses.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  5. CICS Water Bottle Fill Station Grant – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Patterson, to approve the CICS Water Bottle Fill Station Grant for the Middle School for 2 stations.  Motion carried unanimously.
  6. First Reading of Board Policy 803.2 Lease, Sale or Disposal of School District Buildings and Sites – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the first reading of Board Policy 803.2 Lease, Sale of Disposal of School District Buildings and Sites.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  7. Fundraising Request – Motion by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the fundraising request of NEH Elementary for a monthly fundraiser with Kona Ice.  Motion carried unanimously. 

ITEM 7. – Personnel – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the following:

  1. Contract Resignation of:  Erica Whittier, Paraeducator
  2. Contract Recommendations of:  Karen Daniels, Elaine Robertson, Craig Signorin, Emily Sletten and Brandy Williams, TLC Site-Based Council; and Edgar Perez Raymundo, Paraeducator. 

Motion carried unanimously.

ITEM 8. – Other -

A.         Items from Dr. Ross –

    • Dr. Ross informed the Board the District has 5 fewer elementary students in remote learning, 13 fewer at the Middle School, and 8 fewer at the High School.
    • Dr. Ross asked the Board to let her know if they would like to do a walk through of the High School.
    • Dr. Ross told the Board there will be an Informal Board Meeting with Stratford Community School on Monday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. in Webster City.  Beth Van Diest and Eric Patterson will represent the Board at the meeting.
    • Dr. Ross told the Board Van Diest Medical Center has received 600 quick COVID tests.  Lea Ahrens, School Nurse, and Cindi Sweedler, School Nurse, will have updated protocols forthcoming.   

B          Items from the Board –

    • Mr. Stroner discussed the cost of live streaming the playoff football games and asked if the Board supported signing a letter of disapproval of IHSAA charges to do so during a pandemic. 
    • Mr. Pruismann asked if blue ray glasses were available to students to wear when using technology devices.  He will come back with research about these.
    • Ms. Williams asked about the different format for parent teacher conferences. 

ITEM 9. – Consent Items – It was moved by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the minutes of the October 12, 2020 Board Meeting.  Motion carried unanimously. 

ITEM 10.  – Adjournment - A motion was made by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to adjourn the meeting at 7:33 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously.

The Board moved into a work session on facilities.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, November 9, 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