NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes, Regular Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, January 11, 2021 in the NFV High School Performing Arts Center, 600 N Pine St, West Union, IA 52175
NFV Board of Education: Julie Ahrens, Stacy Cummings, Eileen Schlawin,
LaCreasha McNeese, Marc Rue & Emily Koch. Carolyn
Roys was absent. Student Members: Nathan Crooker & Kailee Ginger. Baylie Shrubb & Madison Clausen were absent.
Others: Superintendent: Joe Griffith, Business Manager: Sue
Thoms, Superintendent Secretary: Susan Winter, Principals: Micah Gearhart, Travis Elliott, & Lori Westhoff, Curriculum Director: Betsy Nefzger, Staff:, Public: Megan Molseed – media, Amanda Rodgers, Chris Lundgren, and others by Microsoft Teams
President Cummings called the Regular Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 6 p.m. and Julie Ahrens led the board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call of Board members: Ahrens, Cummings, Schlawin, McNeese, Koch & Rue. Roys was absent.
The agenda was approved as presented with the addition of Shirleen Reinhardt resignation – MS Drama, Volunteer Coach Jayde Daughton – HS GBB, and withdrawal of Kirk Jacobsen for early retirement. Ahrens/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:
- Minutes of the December 14, 2020 regular meeting
- Review/approve invoices
- Approve Financial Reports
- Approve Resignations: Lisa Davis – MS Para & Van Driver & Shirleen Reinhardt – MS Drama
- Approve New Hire: Kelli Kovarik – Asst Director Large Group Speech
- Approve Volunteer: Jayde Daughton – HS G Basketball
- Gifts – None
Rue/Schlawin Motion carried 6-0
COMMUNICATIONS
Student Ex-Officio members reports were received. Kailee Ginger reported that the Student Council is working on a district conference which will be on Zoom. The Mental Health Team is working on ways to make the HS more positive. Nathan Crooker reported that Madison Clausen will no longer be able to make the meetings. Proper mask wearing is taking a toll on the students. Students are glad to be able to attend sporting events again at NFV – Supt Griffith reported that other schools have different policies on attendance. Students are looking forward to the new semester.
Principal Reports were received. Principal Elliott reported that everyone is excited to be back – great break for both staff and students. Principal Gearhart reported that it was good to have some sense of normality for students with holiday preparations in December. Gearing up for testing now. Principal Westhoff reported that it is good to have more people at the sporting events. The HS will have the District Student Council conference and a mini large group speech contest in January.
Curriculum report was received. Nefzger reported on professional development plans for January 18th. Assessments are starting soon. Results will be shared with the board when they are received.
Business Manager Thoms gave an update of the CARES Act funds including notification of new funding of $580,075.
Superintendent’s report included the following:
CARES Funding – We have learned that these funds can be used for ventilation systems. NFV has spent existing funding on PPE and some subbing when staff are out sick for COVID reasons.
Budget Cliff – The early retirements approved tonight along with staffing recommendations will help to cover 65% to 70% of the budget shortfall. We will continue to work to “right size” our district to match our General Fund budget.
A work session will be held on Wednesday, January 13th at the West Union Elementary at 4:30pm. We will tour both the exterior and interior of the building as well as discuss the updates that need to be addressed immediately and the funding streams available.
Athletic Booster Club is talking about bathrooms/concessions/pressbox at the baseball field and walkways to each side at the football stadium. Trophy cases have been delivered for the HS cafeteria.
Snow Days – We will use the snow days that are built into our current calendar. If all of those are used, we will go to remote learning.
OLD BUSINESS
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Supt Griffith presented the 2021-2022 school calendar. The school year will start on August 25th, concluding on May 20th. The Board approved the 2021-2022 school calendar. Ahrens/Koch Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the At Risk Dropout Prevention Application for the FY22 school year in the amount of $500,308 which consists of $375,231 in state aid and $125,077 in district matching funds. Schlawin/McNeese Motion Carried 6-0
The Board appointed Eileen Schlawin & LaCresha McNeese to the committee to negotiate with the NFV Support Staff Union.
The Board approved the Early Retirement applications from the following: Cynthia Hinton – HS Math, Sharon Rich – MS Social Studies, Carol Reierson – MS Science, Ann Bruso – Title I, Karen Schmitz – 3rd grade teacher, Laurie Uthoff – 2nd grade teacher, Shelly Sieck – 4th grade teacher, Elaine Hanson – Family Consumer Science teacher, and Amanda Smith – 5th grade teacher. Schlawin/Koch Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the resignations of the early retirement applicants effective at the end of the school year. Cynthia Hinton – HS Math, Sharon Rich – MS Social Studies, Carol Reierson – MS Science, Ann Bruso – Title I, Karen Schmitz – 3rd grade teacher, Laurie Uthoff – 2nd grade teacher, Shelly Sieck – 4th grade teacher, Elaine Hanson – Family Consumer Science teacher, and Amanda Smith – 5th grade teacher
The Board acknowledged appreciation for the years of service and dedication to our students. Schlawin/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
Supt Griffith reviewed the positions that will need to be filled as a result of the early retirement efforts. These positions include a HS math, HS Family Consumer Science, Title I at WUE, .5 FTE MS PE, and 2 – 4th grade positions at Fayette Elem. The Board approved posting of these positions. Ahrens/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
Supt Griffith presented a revised COVID-19 statement allowing outside organizations to resume use of district facilities which follows the lead of the Governor and local public health directives. The Board approved this revised statement striking language positivity rates and outside organizations immediately. Koch/McNeese Motion Carried 6-0
Supt Griffith presented a recommendation to continue the FFCRA leave until March 31, 2021. Recent legislation did not extend this leave, however, it does allow employers to voluntarily extend this leave until the March 31st date. The Board approved the recommendation to voluntarily continue the FFCRA leave until March 31, 2021. Rue/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
Motion to adjourn at 6:34 pm. Koch/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
______________________________ _____________________________
Stacy Cummings, President Sue Thoms, Business Manager