NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION 

 

Minutes, Regular Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, November 11, 2024, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA  52175

 

NFV Board of Education: Emily Koch, LaCreasha Schultz, Amanda Rodgers, Kirstin
Nelson-Lerch, Richard Klosterman, Kris McGrane, & Kris
Marcks.  Student members: Avery Donnelly, Alex Kent, &
Bella Fuentes; Superintendent: Joe Griffith; Business
Manager: Kassie Stansbery; Principals: Chris Miller, Micah
Gearhart, Travis Elliott; Curriculum Director: Betsy Nefzger;
Staff: Stephanie Vagts, Kylee Smith, Jenna Fassbinder;
Media:Sharon Drahn; Patrons: Summer Klosterman, Kim
Kraft, Aiden Mack, Ryder Herriage, Keagan Schultz

 

President Koch called the Regular Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 5:30 pm.

 

Roll Call of Board members: Present: McGrane, Rodgers, Nelson-Lerch, Klosterman, Schultz, & Koch.  Marcks was absent.  Director Klosterman led the pledge of allegiance.  

 

President Koch welcomed and invited comments from the Public.  

 

The agenda was approved as presented.  Nelson-Lerch/Schultz  Motion Carried 6-0

 

Public Forum:  

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:

• Minutes of October 14, 2024, Regular Meeting
• Review/approve invoices (Reviewed by Kris McGrane)
• Approve Financial Reports 
• Approve Resignations/Retirements: Ron Franzen – Custodial – Effective June 30, 2025; Jenna Fassbinder- Teacher Leader – End of 24-25 school year; Keri Herriage – Paraprofessional
• Transfers: None
• Approve Contract Modifications: None
• Approve New Hires: William Durnan – Custodial; Katlyn Guyer – West Union Elementary Secretary; Lydia Knox – WUE Paraprofessional
• Volunteer Coaches: Jon Kullen – Varsity Girls Wrestling 
• Receive and Approve Gifts: Dean Family Chiropractic, Holly & Michael Johnson, State Farm Insurance, West Union Dental, West Union Trenching, Palmer Memorial Foundation, All Stop, Norm Einck, Gary Bemiss, Marcia Nuss 

 

Klosterman/McGrane  Motion Carried 6-0

 

COMMUNICATIONS

The FFA Chapter presented to the board on their trip to the National Convention in Indianapolis.

 

Student Ex-Officio member Donnelly reported on Veterans Day, the fall play, and fine arts updates.  Kent reported on the end of fall sports and conference/state achievements.  Fuentes reported on activities from the student council to include the blood draw, advisory challenges, and upcoming winter festivities.  

 

High School Principal, Mr. Miller, reported to the board on fall sports accomplishments, the Veterans Day program, the upcoming high school play, National Honor Society induction, and fall conferences and Capstones.  Middle School Principal, Mr. Gearhart, reported on parent-teacher conferences, the middle school Veterans program, the start of winter sports, and the addition of Luna, the middle school’s new therapy dog.  Elementary Principal, Mr. Elliott, reported on Susan Wenger (1st grade teacher) being named as a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics, fall conferences, Veterans Day, and A.L.I.C.E. drills.  

 

Curriculum Director Nefzger updated the board on current professional development topics, virtual professional learning for staff on snow days, micro interventions, and information on alternate assessment.

 

Business Manager Stansbery reported on Iowa School Business Officials fall conference, Fall BEDS reporting completion, the five-year budget projection model conference, and upcoming transition with the staff in the central office. 

 

Superintendent Griffith updated the board on the Inflation Reduction Act application, continual work on the 700 series of board policies, various board committee appointments that will be up for review at the December board meeting, and conference affiliation.

 

OLD BUSINESS

The board approved the Second Reading of the 507 and 508 Series policies.

Nelson-Lerch/Schultz  Motion carried 6-0

 

The board approved the Second Reading of 103 and 103-R1 policies.

McGrane/Schultz  Motion carried 6-0

 

NEW BUSINESS

Board President Koch opened a public hearing regarding the adoption of the 2025-2026 school year calendar at 6:07pm.  McGrane/Nelson-Lerch Motion carried 6-0

Comments were made about conference dates.  No written comments had been received.

The public hearing was closed at 6:09pm.  Klosterman/Schultz Motion carried 6-0

 

The board approved the FY26 School Calendar as presented.  Klosterman/Rodgers Motion Carried 6-0

 

The board approved purchasing a replacement fluid cooler at the West Union Elementary.  Nelson-Lerch/Schultz Motion carried 6-0

 

The board approved the purchase of the access point monitoring systems for each building. Klosterman/Schultz  Motion carried 6-0

 

The board approved purchasing two 12-passenger vans.  Klosterman/Nelson-Lerch Carried 6-0

 

The board approved the Athletic Trainer Agreement with Gundersen Palmer.

Schultz/McGrane  Motion carried 6-0

 

DISCUSSION

Superintendent Griffith presented pictures to the board of the North Fayette Valley facilities to begin conversations on updates and remodeling needs within the district.  Categories included single pane windows, unit ventilators, boiler systems, ceiling tiles, concrete entrance area at high school and middle school, sports complex accessibility, air conditioning unit replacements, exterior walls at West Union Elementary, overhead doors at the bus garage, and high school shop ventilation. 

 

There was no further discussion.

 

Motion to adjourn at 7:05pm.  McGrane/Nelson-Lerch  Motion Carried 6-0

 

______________________________ _____________________________

Emily Koch, President Kassie Stansbery, Business Manager