December 9, 2019 Minutes

Posted: December 10, 2019 at 9:49 AM in 2019 School Board Minutes

 NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION 

Minutes, Annual/Organizational Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, 6:00 p.m., Monday, December 9, 2019 in the High School Library, 600 North Pine Street, West Union, IA 52175

 

NFV Board of Education: Julie Ahrens, Dawn Daughton,Stacy Cummings, LaCreasha McNeese, Carolyn Roys, Eileen Schlawin and Marc Rue

Others: Superintendent: Duane Willhite, HS Principal: Todd  Wolverton, Business Manager: Sue Thoms, VE & MS Principal: Micah Gearhart, Superintendent Secretary, Susan Winter, Board Secretary, Carole Nading;  Student Ex-Officio Members: Taylor Ney, Cassie Moss

Public: Roger Wilcox, Pam Follon, Jess Bushman, Irmal Tizo Lopez, Zetta Hart, John Rothlisberger, Media: Megan Moleseed

 

Retiring Board

 

President Cummings  called the Annual Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 6:00 p.m. and led the board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Board members present: Ahrens, Daughton, Cummings, McNeese, Roys, Schlawin. 

Absent: Rue.

 

Motion to approve the agenda as printed. Schlawin/Ahrens. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:

  • Minutes of the November 11, 2019 regular meeting
  • Minutes of the November 25, 2019 Work Session
  • Review/approve invoices
  • Approve Financial Reports

Schlawin/Roys. Motion carried: 6-0.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Member Rue arrived at 6:06 p.m.

 

Motion to approve the 3rd read and adoptions of Policy and regulations 606.3 – Certified Therapy Dog Teams in NFV Schools. Roys/Ahrens. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

The official Election Results were shared with the Board. The Fayette County Board of Canvassers, declare LaCreasha McNeese duly elected for the office of North Fayette Valley School Director To fill a Vacancy District 1 for the term of 2 years and  Emily Koch District #4, Juliann Ahrens District #6 and Stacy Cummings District #7 for a term of 4 years. 

 

Motion to adjourn. Rue/Daughton. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

This was member Daughton’s final meeting. Dawn served 14 years on the Board of Education for the Valley and NFV District combined. She was presented with lifetime athletic passes and a plaque commemorating her years of service to the District.

 

The board adjourned their Annual Meeting at 6:14 p.m.

 

_____________________________ _____________________________

Board President, Stacy Cummings Board Secretary, Carole Nading

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

 

New Board

Board Secretary Carole Nading called the Organizational Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 6:16 p.m. in the NFV High School Library, 600 North Pine Street, West Union, IA.

 

Board Members Present:  Julie Ahrens, Stacy Cummings, Emiiy Koch, LaCreasha McNeese, Carolyn Roys, Marc Rue and Eileen Schlawin. 

 

Motion to approve the agenda as printed. Ahrens/Roys. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

The floor was open for nominations for School Board President. Member Schlawin nominated Stacy Cummings seconded by Rue. Motion that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Stacy Cummings as School Board President for the 2019-2020 school year.

Ahrens/Roys. Motion carried unanimously.

 

The board secretary administered the oath of office to newly elected Board President, Stacy Cummings and turned the meeting over to her.

 

The floor was open for nominations for School Board Vice President. President Cummings  nominated Julie Ahrens seconded by Roys. Motion that nominations cease and a unanimous ballot be cast for Julie Ahrens as School Board Vice President for the 2019-2020 school year.

Roys/Schlawin. Motion carried unanimously.

 

The board secretary administered the oath of office to newly elected  Board Vice President, Julie Ahrens.

 

Motion to appoint Carole Nading as Board Secretary and Sue Thoms as Business Manager for the 2019-2020 school year. Ahrens/Schlawin. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

Board President Cummings administered the oath of office to Business Manager, Sue Thoms and Board Secretary, Carole Nading.

 

The Board was given a detailed presentation from Roger Wilcox of Grundmeyer Leader Services regarding the services their firm would provide in conducting a Superintendent search for the NFV district.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Student Ex-Officio Members reports included updates on: Jazz Choir, Speech, FFA fruit fundraiser and Student Council members involvement in Christmas Child Program by sending 43 boxes overseas and they also wrote letters to members of the military that will not be able to be home for the holidays.

 

Principals and Curriculum Director reports were in board packets for review and discussion.

 

Superintendent’s report included updates on:

  • Cost of Election – The legislature changed the dates of School Board elections to align with City elections in the hopes of cutting costs to districts. With consolidation there were multiple precincts needed for the NFV board elections which added to the cost. ($5,232.00)
  • Superintendent Willhite gave the board an overview of the IASB convention that he and member Ahrens attended in Des Moines.

 

Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:

  • Approve resignation of Claude Peterson, custodian and Carissa Bausch, Para
  • Volunteer Coaches: Robbie Kerr and Aaron Grimes – Wrestling
  • Receive and approve gifts: Wall padding for the MS tornado room by the Tigerhawk Wrestling Club and Cole Sanchez memorial to MHAT. (Mental Health Awareness Team)

Ahrens/Schlawin. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Motion to approve Drew Bracken of the Ahlers Law Firm and Jerem White of Elwood, Donohue, Braun and White as legal counsel for the 2019-2020 school year. Roys/Ahrens.

Motion carried: 7-0.

 

Motion to approve the district’s official depositories as Bank 1st (West Union, Iowa; General and Management Funds) limit of $6,000,000, Kerndt Brothers Savings Bank, (West Union and Clermont, Iowa; Activity and Food Service Funds) limit of $3.5 million and Elgin State Bank (Elgin, Iowa PPEL and SAVE funds) limit $3,000,000. Ahrens/Schlawin. 

Motion carried:7-0.

 

Motion to authorize the Board Treasurer and Superintendent as official signatures.

Schlawin/Roys. Motion carried:7-0.

 

Motion to set the time and date of regular board meetings for the second Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at NFV High School Library. Motion carried: 7-0. (The board may hold a meeting in other NFV district buildings during the year with public notice given.)

 

Motion to designate The Fayette County Union, and the Elgin Echo as the district’s official Newspapers for Publication of Proceedings and Other Notices for the 2019-2020 school year.

Schlawin/Rue. Motion carried:7-0.

 

Motion to approve the SBRC Application for Increasing Enrollment, Open Enrollment Out and LEP Instruction beyond 5 years as presented. Rue/Schlawin. Motion carried 7-0. (Open enrollment out request: $26,944; ELL beyond 5 years request: $6,123.92)

 

Motion the Board of Directors of the North Fayette Valley Community School district approve the application to the School Budget Review Committee in the amount of $1,758.23 for special education administrative costs associated with the LIED Center Consortium program for the 2020-2021 school year.  Schlawin/Ahrens. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

Motion to approve offering Early Retirement package of $40,000 for up to 3 Certified Staff (first come, first serve) with a January 23, 2020 application deadline. Schlawin/Roys. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Motion to approve the open enrollment out to Postville CSD request as presented. Rue/Koch.

Motion carried: 7-0.

 

After discussion, Motion to table a decision on the open enrollment request out to a virtual online school until after the winter break. Koch/McNeese. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Motion to approve the disposition of obsolete property (FFA Tractor and old upright piano) with the district receiving bids on these items. Rue/Roys. Motion carried.7-0.

 

Motion to seek a full time Superintendent for the NFV District. Koch/Roys. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Motion to hire the firm of Grundmeyer Leader Services to perform a Superintendent Search for a full time candidate for the NFV district. Koch/Roys. Motion carried: 7-0. (Survey questions will be given to Grundmeyer for incorporation in the survey document.)

 

Motion to adjourn. Rue/Schlawin. Motion carried: 7-0.

 

The board adjourned the organizational meeting at 8:33 p.m.

 

_______________________________ ____________________________

Board President, Stacy Cummings Board Secretary, Carole Nading

 

Following adjournment the board met in exempt session for certified negotiations for strategic planning.