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 11, 2022, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA  52142

 

NFV Board of Education: LaCreasha Schultz, Julie Ahrens, Amanda Rodgers, Eileen 

Schlawin, Stacy Cummings, Richard Klosterman, & Emily Koch.  Student Members: Sophie Durnan  

Others: Superintendent: Joe Griffith, Business Manager: Sue 

Thoms; Superintendent Secretary: Susan Winter; Principals: Micah Gearhart Travis Elliot, & Lori Westhoff; Curriculum Director: Betsy Nefzger; Media: Sharon Drahn; Staff: Lisa Schneider, Todd Conway, Emily Kullen, Barb Schroeder, Kris Peterson, Shanda Miller, Sarah Lerch 

 

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

 

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

 

The agenda was approved as presented with the addition of new contracts: Jordan Pollock – MS/HS Social Studies, Abigail Toussaint – 5-8 Band & MS Band factor, Mitchell Nims – MS Special Ed, & approval of joint sharing agreement with Keystone AEA for a social worker.   Schlawin/Ahrens  Motion Carried 7-0

 

Public Forum:  President Cummings welcomed and invited comments from the public.   

 

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:

• Minutes of the March 14 regular & March 30 special meetings
• Review/approve invoices
• Approve Financial Reports
• Approve Resignations: Julie Frieden – MS Concessions & Mark Nuss – Asst V Track, MS football, & MS basketball
• Approve Modifications: Annie Adams – 1.0 FTE TAG/Art & Jared Tilleraas – Co-Head Volleyball
• Approve New Hires: Jordan Pollock – MS/HS Social Studies, Bryan Wendt – K-8 Music and MS Vocal Factor, Abigail Toussaint – 5-8 Band and MS Band Factor, Mitchell Nims – MS Special Education, & Billie Cowley – Co-Head Volleyball Coach
• Approve Transfers: Jade Daughton – Asst V Volleyball to MS Volleyball
• Receive & Approve Gifts:  Moore Trucking – HS Band & Chorus.

Klosterman/Schultz  Motion Carried 7-0

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Sophie Durnan reported on HS student successes in the past month.

    

Todd Conway, an ELL teacher, gave an overview of our district ELL students, potential numbers for next year, and procedures to identify an ELL student.  

 

Principal reports were received.  Principal Gearhart reported that ISASP testing started today.  The solo contest, literacy night, and the science fair were all held last Thursday.  Students in 6th grade and most of the 8th grade took part in the ImPACT concussion testing.  Principal Westhoff reported on the recent Freshman trip to NICC, information on graduation is being sent to Seniors and their parents, and a CTE survey that was sent out to various stakeholders as a requirement for our Perkins grant.  She also reviewed the results of the Post Secondary Readiness report.  Principal Elliott reported that ISASP testing started today.  The Kindergarten roundup was last Friday.  Senior writers will travel to Fayette to work with the 5th graders.   Asst Principal Miller reported on activities happening at NFV. 

 

Curriculum Director Nefzger reported that ISASP testing will be completed next week and the Conditions for Learning survey will be administered later this month.

 

Business Manager Thoms reported that the remaining contracts and work agreements will be out this week.  Preparation for the year-end is starting.   We are contracted with a firm to do our redistricting for this fall.     

 

Superintendent’s report included the following: WUE HVAC project is progressing well.  The last steam boiler will be removed next week.  We do expect that much of the work will be completed by the end of June.

 

We have received an indication that free lunches will not be extended for the FY23 school year.   We will communicate with our families once the official notification is received.  

 

We are planning on a few summer projects this summer in order to save funds for the purchase of our solar arrays in the next few years.

 

NFV has offered our green space (except competition fields) for camping when RAGBRAI comes to West Union on July 29.  We plan to offer fee-based shower facilities and transportation for shuttling.  That week is designated as DEAD WEEK by the athletic associations – students may volunteer for non school-based organizations.

 

The end of the year celebration will be held on May 25th for all staff.  

 

A work session with IASB will be held on either August 1st or 15th with a 5:30 start.  

 

OLD BUSINESS

The Board approved setting a Public Hearing date to amend the FY22 Certified Budget on May 9th at 5:30 pm.  Schlawin/Ahrens  Motion Carried 7-0

 

Public Hearing on the FY23 Certified Budget:  President Cummings opened the public hearing on the 2022-23 Certified Budget at 6:03 pm.  No public comments were received and the hearing was closed at 6:04 pm.

 

The Board approved the FY23 Certified Budget. Klosterman/Ahrens  Motion Carried 7-0

 

The Board approved the following resolution for the Budget Guarantee:  RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the North Fayette Valley Community School District, will levy property tax for the fiscal year 2022-23 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.  Ahrens/Klosterman  Motion Carried 7-0

 

Public Hearing on FY23 Calendar: President Cummings opened the public hearing on the 2022-23 Calendar at 6:05 pm. No public comments were received and the hearing was closed at 6:06 pm.

 

The Board approved the FY23 Calendar with a start date of August 24th with the first semester ending before Christmas break.   Schlawin/Schultz  Motion Carried 7-0

 

NEW BUSINESS

The Board approved support staff salaries for the FY23 school year.  This reflects an average of 6% total package which is above the previously negotiated settlement of 0.5%.  The Board is also committing to a 3% total package increase for FY24 and FY25.  A Memorandum of Understanding reflecting these proposals will be provided to the NFVESPA.   The Board also approved a 3% total package increase for the Administration and Department Heads.  Ahrens/Schultz  Motion Carried 7-0

 

The Board approved sending out contracts and work agreements to support staff, administration, and department heads.  Klosterman/Ahrens  Motion Carried 7-0

 

Supt Griffith addressed the current difficulty finding spaces in our 4-year-old preschool program.  NFV’s partners in this program are at capacity for the upcoming school year.  He recommends that NFV expand the program at WUE by adding a second teacher.  This additional classroom will support both the 4-year-old preschool, early childhood special education needs, as well as junior kindergarten program when needed.  The Board approved the recommendation to add an additional 4-year-old preschool/ECSE classroom at WUE.  Klosterman/Schultz  Motion Carried 7-0

 

Supt presented the joint sharing agreement with Keystone AEA for a school social worker.  The Board approved the joint sharing agreement.  Ahrens/Koch  Motion Carried 7-0

 

The Board went into a closed session to conduct a Superintendent Evaluation per Iowa Code 21.5(i) at 6:18 pm.   Ahrens/Schultz  Roll Call Vote:  Ayes – Cummings, Schlawin, Ahrens, Koch, Klosterman, Rodgers, Schultz,  Nays – none  Motion Carried 7-0

 

The Board came out of the closed session at 7:52 pm.  No action was taken.

  

DISCUSSION   

Rodgers would like to discuss Eagle Scout projects for the school grounds.  

 

Motion to adjourn at 7:57 pm. Koch/Schultz  Motion Carried 7-0

 

______________________________ _____________________________

Stacy Cummings, President Sue Thoms, Business Manager