NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION 

 

Minutes, Regular Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, April 10, 2023, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA  52175

 

NFV Board of Education: Stacy Cummings, Eileen Schlawin, Emily Koch, Julie 

Ahrens, Amanda Rodgers, & Richard Klosterman.  

LaCreasha Schultz was absent. Student member: Claire 

Britt  

Others: Superintendent: Joe Griffith, Business Manager: Sue 

Thoms;  Superintendent Secretary:  Susan Winter; Principals: Micah Gearhart & Chris Miller,  Media: Sharon Drahn; Staff: Shanda Miller & Sarah Lerch; Patrons: Gary Schlawin.

 

President Koch called the Regular Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 5:30 pm and Richard Klosterman led the board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call of Board members: Klosterman, Schlawin, Cummings, Ahrens, Rodgers, & Koch.  Schultz was absent.

 

The agenda was approved as presented with the addition of Maria Solis-Delgado – Asst Soccer, gifts from Fayette Heritage & Bank 1st and moving the closed session before adjournment.  Schlawin/Ahrens  Motion Carried 6-0

 

Public Forum:  President Koch welcomed and invited comments from the Public.   

 

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:

• Minutes of the March 13, 2023 meeting. 
• Review/approve invoices
• Approve Financial Reports
• Approve Resignations/Retirements:  Kelli Kovarik – Large Group Speech, Sue Thoms – School Business Official/Board Secretary, Darin Johnston – MS Social Studies & MS G Basketball Coach, Justin Heins – Asst Baseball Coach, Denise Henning – Paraprofessional, & Kristen Reinking – Paraprofessional.
• Approve New Hires: Jade Daughton – Asst Girls Basketball, Kelli Baumler – Elementary Special Education, Logan Mork – MS Science, Maria Solis-Delgado – Asst G Soccer.
• Transfers: Trey Kuhens – Asst HS Football from MS Football
• Gifts: Fayette Heritage for HS Band – $150 & Bank 1st for FFA banquet supplies – $50

Schlawin/Rodgers  Motion Carried 6-0

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Reagan Wymer presented her Capstone presentation – ‘Art Therapy’.

 

Claire Britt reported on fine arts successes including solo contest, art show, and writing contests along with ISASP testing, variety show, and Senior Chicago trip.  Spring sports have started and the Spring Fling is being held this week.   

 

Principals’ reports included a busy Spring preparing for next school year, science fair, literacy night, ISASP in the elementary buildings, impact concussion testing in the MS, great things that students are doing as well as the 8th grade trip to Des Moines.   

 

Business Manager Thoms reported on preparing contracts and work agreements for next year.

 

Superintendent’s report included a report on legislation in Des Moines including changes to Chapter 20 and operational sharing weighting increases, WUE project is near completion, and a budgetary summary over the past 2 years.     

 

OLD BUSINESS

President Koch opened the Public Hearing on the FY24 certified budget at 6:01 pm.  No public comments were received and the hearing was closed at 6:02 pm.

 

The Board approved the FY24 Certified Budget.  Schlawin/Klosterman  Motion Carried 6-0

 

President Koch opened the Public Hearing on amending the FY23 certified budget at 6:02 pm.  No public comments were received and the hearing was closed at 6:03 pm.

 

The Board approved the FY23 Certified Budget Amendment. Klosterman/Ahrens  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved the following FY24 Budget Guarantee:  RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the North Fayette Valley Community School District, will levy property tax for fiscal year 2023-2024 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.   Schlawin/Ahrens  Motion Carried 6-0

 

NEW BUSINESS

The Board approved the contract with the NFVEA for FY24 to FY26 – 3 year contract with salary increases of 5% in year one and 3% in years 2 and 3.  This also includes a 3% increase in the supplemental wage for years 1 and 2.   Schlawin/Cummings  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved the contract with the NFVSPA for FY24 & FY25 – year one at 4.5% and year two at 4%.   Schlawin/Ahrens  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved contracts for administration and department heads – 3% increases for FY24 and FY25.  Cummings/Schlawin  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved sending out contracts and work agreements for FY24 the week of April 17th.  Schlawin/Klosterman  Motion Carried 6-0

 

Supt Griffith reviewed the HS course trend data over the past 5 years that was compiled by Principal Westhoff and HS Counselor Clark.    The Board approved the HS course trend data.  Ahrens/Schlawin  Motion Carried 6-0

 

Supt Griffith reviewed the elementary class sizes for FY24.  The Board approved the FY24 class sizes as recommended with the ELP teacher helping with core classes to reduce numbers of 3rd graders at VE during that time. Discussion followed.   Klosterman/Ahrens  Motion Carried 5-1 (Rodgers)

 

The Board approved summer band lessons for June 2023.  Cummings/Klosterman  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved a heat pump replacement in the PAC in the amount of $36,900 to be installed by Winona Controls to be paid with PPEL.   Schlawin/Cummings  Motion Carried 6-0

 

The Board approved sharing agreements in FY24 with the following:  Keystone AEA for a .4 FTE social worker, South Winn for a .2 FTE curriculum director, and Central for a .2 FTE buildings director.  Klosterman/Rodgers  Motion Carried 6-0

 

Supt Griffith discussed the Fayette Elementary property and presented a timeline for gifting the building to the City of Fayette. This gifting would include a hold harmless agreement with the following conditions: facility not to be used by a public or private school in competition with NFV, access to park/plug in for our bus on city property, and that the city take over the solar array.  Timeline is as follows:  1 – May 8th pass a resolution to have a public hearing in June, 2 – June 12th hold public hearing on the gifting and possible action, and 3 – transfer possession on August 1.   Discussion was held on the solar panels, moving items from Fayette to the Valley and West Union sites, and getting staff into classrooms in mid June.  

 

Cummings made a motion to go into closed session for review of applicants for School Business Official per Iowa Code 21.5(i).  Ahrens seconded the motion.  Roll Call Vote: Ayes:  Cummings, Schlawin, Ahrens, Klosterman, Rodgers, Koch, Nays:  None.  The Board went into closed session at  6:37 pm.  The Board came out of closed session at 6:54 pm.

 

Motion to adjourn at 6:55 pm. Cummings/Ahrens  Motion Carried 6-0

 

______________________________ _____________________________

Emily Koch, President Sue Thoms, Business Manager