Minutes - 2021.01.11

January 11, 2021

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, January 11, 2021, in the School Administration Office Board Room, Webster City, Iowa.

ITEM 1. – Call to Order – The Board President called the meeting to order at 6:00 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 Ms. Williams, to approve the agenda. 

ITEM 4. – Open Comment to the Board – Dr. Ross received comments from 22 people.  Those who asked that their comments be read at the Board table were:  John Symens, Nikki Kumm, Peggy Lyons Lovelace, Carrie Rabe, Lynn McKinney, Amy Shannon, Kasie Doering, Jennifer Brim, Ben Rahe and Zach Klaver who all voiced concerns regarding the 4 x 4 hybrid model of learning and want the high school students back in school full time. 

ITEM 5. – Discussion Items

  1. COVID Update –
    1. Joe Shanks, Activities Director, updated the Board on winter spectator protocols.

ITEM 6. – Action Items

  1. High School Hybrid Learning – Motion by Ms. Williams, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to support expanding in-person learning at the high school using the 4 x 4 schedule while requiring social distancing options that were previously unavailable.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  2. FEH High School Study Proposal – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Patterson, to approve the FEH High School proposal to study the renovation or new construction at Webster City High School.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  3. FFCRA Leave – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve discontinuation of FFCRA leave with the exception that those who have not previously used the leave be allowed to use it for COVID related absence.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  4. Johnson Controls Contract – Motion by Mr. Pruismann, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the Johnson Controls Contract for the Middle School systems upgrade.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  5. Verizon Wireless Contract – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Verizon Wireless Contract for the distance learning data plan.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  6. FEH Addendum – Motion by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the FEH Addendum to include Sunset Heights to the current Pleasant View HVAC Proposal.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  7. Daycare Retention Incentive – Motion by Mr. Pruismann, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Daycare Retention Incentive with the knowledge it will be reviewed after 18 months.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  8. School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) Modified Allowable Growth for At-Risk/Drop Out Prevention – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the SBRC Modified Allowable Growth request for At-Risk/Drop Out Prevention in the amount of $613, 524.00.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  9. Negotiation Teams for WCEA and WCESA – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Patterson, to approve Mr. Stroner and Ms. Van Diest to be on the WCEA Negotiations Team and Mr. Pruismann and Mr. Patterson to be on the WCESA Negotiations Team.  Motion carried unanimously. 
  10. Special Education Contract – Motion by Mr. Pruismann, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Special Education Contract for student services with Dubuque Community School District.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Item 7. – Personnel

  1. Contract Recommendations – Motion by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the early retirement application and resignation of Mel Cramer, High School Foreign Language; and Pam Ryan, High School Social Studies.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Item 8. – Other

  1. Items from the Superintendent – There were none.
  2. Items from the Board –
  1. Ms. Van Diest wished to congratulate the high school wrestling team on winning the Dick Kennedy Dual.
  2. Mr. Stroner asked if wrestling and basketball games were live streamed.

ITEM 9. – Consent Items - It was moved by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2020 Board Meeting, 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 and the fundraising report.  Motion carried unanimously.

ITEM 10. – Adjournment - A motion was made by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously. 

Following the regular board meeting, the Board went into a work session on Enrollment where no action was taken.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, January 25, 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