Minutes - 2021.02.22

February 22, 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, February 22, 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 (via Zoom), Mr. Stroner, Mr. Pruismann, 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. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the agenda.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 4. – Open Comment to the Board – There were none.

ITEM 5. – WCEA Initial Proposal – Trish Bahrenfuss, WCEA Chief Negotiator, presented the Board with the initial proposal from the Webster City Education Association for 2021-2022.  The Association is asking for a salary increase of 5.11% and for the contract to be in effect from July 1, 2021 through June 20, 2022.  

ITEM 6. – WCESA Initial Proposal – Dr. Ross presented the Board with the initial bargaining proposal from the Webster City Educational Services Association.  The Association is asking for all salary schedules to increase by $0.75 on base for Food Service, Secretary, Paraeducators, and Custodial, and Bus Drivers to increase by $75.00 with all employees advancing a step for 2021-2022. 

ITEM 7. – Discussion Items –

  1. Elementary Enrollment Planning – Northeast Hamilton Elementary Principal, Jessica Hector; Pleasant View Elementary Principal, Mindy Mossman; and Sunset Heights Elementary Principal, Kelli Reis, updated the Board on elementary enrollment processes for the 2021-2022 school year.  The District’s goal is to utilize all three elementary centers to their maximum potential by balancing enrollment in each building.  Information will be shared with families at parent-teacher conferences as well as area businesses and social media about how they can indicate their preferred attendance center for the next school year for students in PK-3.  However, families are not guaranteed to get their choice.

ITEM 8. – Action Items

  1. Resolution Fixing Date for a Hearing on the Proposed Issuance of Approximately $1,920,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds – Director Stroner introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption.  Director Patterson seconded the motion to adopt.  The roll was called, and the vote was:

AYES:  Williams, Stroner, Pruismann, Patterson, Van Diest

NAYS:  None

The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows:

RESOLUTION FIXING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $1,920,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE bondS

WHEREAS, the School District receives revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund ("SAVE Revenue") pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 423F and an election duly held in accordance therewith on April 3, 2018 approving a revenue purpose statement (the "Revenue Purpose Statement"), the Board of Directors is currently entitled to spend SAVE Revenue for school infrastructure purposes; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors is in need of funds for the following school infrastructure project(s): to remodel, repair and improve its existing Pleasant View Elementary and Sunset Heights Elementary buildings, including HVAC and related improvements, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has deemed it necessary and advisable that the District issue School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, in the approximate amount of $1,920,000 for the purpose of providing funds to remodel, repair and improve its existing Pleasant View Elementary and Sunset Heights Elementary buildings, including HVAC and related improvements, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser.  Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District's Revenue Purpose Statement; and

WHEREAS, before said Bonds may be issued, it is necessary to comply with the provisions of Iowa Code Section 423F.4, and to publish a notice of the time and place of the public hearing on the proposal to issue such Bonds; and

WHEREAS, notice of the time and place of a public hearing must be published not less than ten nor more than twenty days before the public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the District:

NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:

  1. A public hearing will be held in the School Administration Office, 820 Des Moines Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595, on March 8, 2021, at 6:00 P.M., on the proposal to issue approximately $1,920,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, for the purpose of providing funds to remodel, repair and improve its existing Pleasant View Elementary and Sunset Heights Elementary buildings, including HVAC and related improvements, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser.  Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District's Revenue Purpose Statement.
  2. The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish notice of this public hearing in a newspaper having general circulation in the School District.  Such publication will be made not less than ten nor more than twenty days ahead of the hearing date, and be in substantially the following form:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF APPROXIMATELY $1,920,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE BONDS

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Webster City Community School District, in the Counties of Hamilton, Webster, and Wright, State of Iowa, will hold a public hearing upon its proposed issuance of approximately $1,920,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, which may be issued in one or more series over multiple fiscal years, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 423F.2 and 423E.5, for the purpose of providing funds to remodel, repair and improve its existing Pleasant View Elementary and Sunset Heights Elementary buildings, including HVAC and related improvements, including costs of issuance and a debt service reserve fund if required by the purchaser.  Any bond proceeds remaining after completion of this project will be used for other school infrastructure projects as authorized by the School District's Revenue Purpose Statement.

The hearing will be held in the School Administration Office, 820 Des Moines Street, Webster City, Iowa 50595, on March 8, 2021, at 6:00 p.m.

  1. Piper Sandler Engagement Letter – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Pruismann, to approve the Piper Sandler Engagement Letter.  Motion carried. 
  2. Ahlers Cooney Engagement Letter – Motion by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the Ahlers Cooney Engagement Letter.  Motion carried. 
  3. Special Education Contract – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the Special Education Contract with South Hamilton Community School District.  Motion carried. 
  4. 2021 America’s Farmers Grow Communities Organization Letter of Agreement – Motion by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Mr. Patterson, to approve the 2021 America’s Farmers Grow Communities Organization Letter of Agreement.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 9. - Personnel

  1. Contract Recommendations – Motion by Mr. Pruismann, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to approve the following: 
  • Resignations of Tyler Mosbach, Head 7th Boys Track Coach; and Jessica Bailey, 9th Grade Girls Volleyball Coach
  • Contracts of Derek Turner, Head 7th Boys Track Coach; and Tyler Mosbach, Assistant Varsity Boys Track Coach

Motion carried.   

ITEM 10. – Other -

  1. Items from Dr. Ross –
  1. Dr. Ross has received input from staff regarding the 2021-2022 school calendar and those responses will be shared at the March 8 Board meeting. 
  2. Dr. Ross shared that the Legislature has set SSA (Student Supplemental Aid) at 2.4% for the 2021-2022 school year. 
  3. Dr. Ross told the Board it is Public Schools Recognition Week and that all Webster City School staff should be celebrated. 

B.Items from the Board -

  1. Mr. Stroner congratulated the three Webster City High School wrestlers who made it to state and thanked them for their efforts.
  2. Mr. Pruismann informed the Board there was a water main break near NEH Elementary last week.
  3. Ms. Van Diest told the Board she attended the Hamilton County Childcare Coalition meeting, which is involved in long term planning to fund the childcare crisis in Hamilton County.   

ITEM 11. – Consent Items – It was moved by Mr. Stroner, seconded by Ms. Williams, to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2021 Board Meeting.  Motion carried. 

ITEM 12.  – Adjournment - A motion was made by Mr. Patterson, seconded by Mr. Stroner, to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 p.m.  Motion carried. 

The Board went into Exempt Session to discuss negotiations strategy.

The next Regular Board Meeting will be Monday, March 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