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 8, 2021, in the NFV High School Library, 600 N Pine Street, West Union, IA 52142
NFV Board of Education: LaCreasha Schultz, Julie Ahrens, Marc Rue, Eileen
Schlawin, Stacy Cummings, & Emily Koch. Carolyn
Roys was absent. Student Members: Nathan Crocker, Sophie Durnan, & Claire Britt
Others: Superintendent: Joe Griffith, Business Manager: Sue
Thoms; Principals: Travis Elliott, Micah Gearhart, Chris Miller, & Lori Westhoff; Media: Jack Swanson; Staff: Kathy Hageman; Public: Kiah Schultz, Gracie Kuhn, Rich Klosterman, and Steve Dunt
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: Schultz, Ahrens, Rue, Koch, Cummings, & Schlawin. Roys was absent.
The agenda was approved as presented with the deletion of Brody Hubbell as a volunteer coach, the addition of 7d – use policy 209.2 for immediate action of policy 401.14 and 7g, 7h, and 7i – SBRC modified supplement amounts for increased enrollment, open enrollment out, and LEP additional needs beyond 5 years. Schlawin/Rue Motion Carried 6-0
Public Forum: President Cummings welcomed and invited comments from the public.
Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:
- Minutes of the October 11 regular meeting and work session
- Review/approve invoices
- Approve Financial Reports
- Approve Resignations: Stephanie Wagner – Nurse
- Approve New Hire: Lauren Falck – WR Cheer Coach, Morgan Menne – Vocational AG & FFA, Jamie Hoey – Large Group Speech Assistant Coach
- Volunteer Coach: Brock Sorensen and Robbie Kerr – Wrestling
Ahrens/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
COMMUNICATIONS
Nathan Crocker reported on the Veterans Day program, FFA National Convention, and the Pumpkin decorating challenge. Claire reported on the recent student leadership conference, winter activities planning, the end of the football season, and Maeley Nefzger qualifying for state swimming. Winter sports started today. Sophie Durnan reported on the musical which will be performed this weekend.
Principal reports were received. Principal Westhoff reported on the National Honor Society inducting 11 new members and parent-teacher conferences. Old trophy cases have been removed from the cafeteria. Principal Gearhart reported that the NFV MS and VE were honored as a top 100 school in the State of Iowa. 100% attendance at VE for conferences. 86% attendance at the MS. Basketball and wrestling have started. Veteran’s Day Assembly will be held on Thursday. Principal Elliott reported on the Veteran’s Day Assembly at FE. Parent-Teacher Conferences were at 95-96% attendance. The first set of Alice drills were recently run. Praised the instructional coaches for the work that they do. Principal Miller fall sports are done except for swimming. Winter sports have started today. Conversations have been held with local vendors regarding NFV items and clothing. Vendors interested in meeting with the coach/sponsor of various groups should contact the high school office.
Betsy Nefzger reported on the conditions of learning and the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).
Business Manager Thoms reported on quarterly reporting and the 5-year budget projections.
Superintendent’s report included the following:
Preliminary numbers for the November election show the Voted PPEL passed with 674 yes votes and 191 no votes – 63% passage. With this approval, the district can move forward with some projects.
Board members voted in are LaCreasha Schultz, Richard Klosterman, Amanda Rodgers, and Eileen Schlawin.
A trip to Washington DC was approved in November 2018 for travel in the spring of 2020. Per board minutes, this was only approved for one year. This trip has not been rescheduled and will not continue in future years. Therefore, the funds may be used for other approved uses for the class that had done the fundraising.
The new procedures for the mid-year, formative evaluation of the Superintendent were discussed.
GovDelivery – the current system used for emergency notification – will no longer be in use as of November 15th. School Messenger has been recommended for use and the district will transition to this system asap. Families will automatically be in our contact lists – community members with no students at NFV will need to sign up online.
The North wing of West Union Elementary is almost done and we hope to be able to occupy this space shortly after Thanksgiving.
COVID vaccine boosters for our staff will be offered on November 19th at school. Families that wish vaccinations for children should contact their care provider. The federal requirement for businesses to mandate vaccinations has been stayed by the court systems. NFV will continue to watch this case. Thanks were given to Jessica Wegner of Fayette County Public Health for the ongoing support.
OLD BUSINESS
The Board held and approved the second reading of the 200 Series of Board Policies and #505.6 – Early Graduation. Schlawin /Schultz Motion Carried 6-0
NEW BUSINESS
The Board approved the LEP Allowable Cost application in the amount of $5,969.12 for ELL expenses that were in excess of the FY21 allocation. Rue/Koch Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the application to the School Budget Review Committee in the amount of $1,955.39 for special education administrative costs associated with the Lied Center Consortium program for the 2022/2023 school year. Schlawin/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved setting a public hearing for December 13th to amend the 2021-2022 budget. Schlawin/Koch Motion Carried 6-0
The Board held the first reading and approved Board Policy #401.14 – Employee Expression. The second reading was waived per Board Policy #209.2 – Adoption of Policy citing a mandatory policy. Rue/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the bid specifications for lawn care. This will be a 2-year contract. Closed bids will be received and opened on January 6th at noon. Koch/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board reviewed the High School HVAC scope as presented by AJ Associates. The Board approved the specification scope of the project. Schlawin/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved authorizing the NFV administration to submit a request to the SBRC in the amount of $107,832.80 for a modified supplemental amount for an increase in certified enrollment from the prior year. Schlawin/Rue Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved authorizing the NFV administration to submit a request to the SBRC in the amount of $42,228 for a modified supplemental amount for open enrolled out students not included in the district’s previous year certified enrollment count. Schultz/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved authorizing the NFV administration to submit a request to the SBRC in the amount of $15,657 for a modified supplemental amount for providing an English language learner program for students who have exceeded five years of weighted funding that are included on the Fall 2021 certified enrollment count. Schlawin/Schultz Motion Carried 6-0
DISCUSSION
Koch questioned if a middle school student can practice with the high school for wrestling. Supt Griffith stated that according to the Iowa High School Athletic Association, it is permissible for middle school students to practice with the high school. There are questions regarding liability and risk that do exist with this practice. In addition to the liability factor, consideration needs to be given to practice space, student/coach ratio, consistency between all high school sports, and honoring the middle school split basketball/wrestling season. The item will be placed on the agenda next month.
Motion to adjourn at 7:04 pm. Rue/Schultz Motion Carried 6-0
______________________________ _____________________________
Stacy Cummings, President Sue Thoms, Business Manager