NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Minutes, Regular Meeting of the North Fayette Valley Community School District Board of Education, Monday, October 12, 2020 in the NFV High School Performing Arts Center, 600 N Pine St, West Union, IA 52175
NFV Board of Education: Julie Ahrens, Stacy Cummings, Carolyn Roys, Eileen
Schlawin, LaCreasha McNeese, & Emily Koch. Marc Rue was absent. Student Members: Nathan Crooker. Baylie Shrubb, Kailee Ginger, & 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: Stephanie Ellis, Public: Megan Molseed – media, Derek Heins, and others by Microsoft Teams
President Cummings called the Regular Meeting of the NFV Board of Education to order at 6 p.m. and led the board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call of Board members: Ahrens, Cummings, Schlawin, McNeese, Koch & Roys. Rue was absent.
The agenda was approved as presented with the addition of Suzanne Shreve as part time cook and Chris Moss as volunteer MS Wrestling coach under consent items. Schlawin/McNeese Motion Carried 6-0
Motion to approve the consent agenda with the following items:
- Minutes of the September 12, 2020 regular meeting
- Review/approve invoices
- Approve Financial Reports
- Approve Resignations: None
- Approve New Hire: Suzanne Shreve – part time cook
- Approve Volunteer: Chris Moss – MS wrestling
- Gifts – None
Ahrens/Schlawin Motion carried 6-0
COMMUNICATIONS
Student Ex-Officio members reports were received. Nathan reported that some great things are happening. Fall sports teams are doing well and ready to wrap up. Mask wearers are sitting apart from those who do not wear them in classrooms. There will be a blood drive at the HS this coming Friday in the morning. Current issues include the one-way walking system and scheduling on Wednesdays for sports members.
Principal Reports were received. Principal Elliott reported that Halloween celebrations are being planned. LIM at the MS is progressing with clubs starting to meet. HS sports are moving into the post season now. A fishing club is in the works and will be brought to the Board for approval. Working on seating arrangements for the upcoming play and concerts. Hudl AD package has been purchased for all sports. Training for the package will happen later this month. A camera did come with this package – it will be installed in the HS gym.
Curriculum report was received. LIM training in September centered on the academic learning portion of LIM.
Business Manager Thoms gave an update of the CARES Act funds.
Superintendent’s report included information on enrollment – NFV is down approximately 26 students. Final count approval is due on October 15th. IASB Legislative Priorities were discussed. Preschool funding, mental health, school funding policy, and supplemental weighting are the most important. Superintendent goals and a mid year evaluation will be held in a closed session on October 26th at 5:30pm.
Supt Griffith thanked Public Health officials Jess Wagner and Jamie Hoey for their help this fall.
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
President Cummings opened the Public Hearing on the Instructional Support Levy at 6:24 pm.
No comments were received from the group. Therefore, the hearing was closed at 6:26 pm.
Ahrens introduced the following Resolution and moved for its adoption. Koch seconded the motion.
RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that to continue the current level of services and to fund the ongoing programs of the School District, continuation of participation in the Instructional Support Program for a period of five years is necessary and in the best interests of the District and its residents and students; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has given consideration to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Sections 257.18 through 257.21, Code of Iowa; and
WHEREAS, the Board has published notice of the time and place of a public hearing on the Resolution; and
WHEREAS, a hearing has been held upon the proposal to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program and any objections are overruled:
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED:
- The Board of Directors determines that it is consistent with the five-year finance plan to fund the ongoing programs and services of the School District and it is in the best interest of the School District to continue participation in an Instructional Support Program as provided in Sections 257.18 through 257.21, Code of Iowa, and to provide additional funding therefor for a period of five (5) years commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.
- The additional funding for the Instructional Support Program for a budget year will be determined annually and will not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Section 257.14, Code of Iowa, as a budget adjustment for the budget year.
- Moneys received by the District for the Instructional Support Program may be used for any general fund purpose.
- The Instructional Support Program shall be funded by instructional support state aid and a combination instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and an instructional support income surtax imposed annually, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each budget year to be imposed upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31, 2021, and each year thereafter.
- Unless, within twenty-eight days following the adoption of this Resolution, the Secretary of the Board receives a petition containing the signatures of eligible electors equal in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of the number of voters at the last preceding regular school election, whichever is greater, asking that an election be called to approve or disapprove this action of the Board adopting the Instructional Support Program, this action of the Board is final and the Secretary is authorized and directed to certify a copy of this Resolution to the Department of Management.
In the event a petition containing the required number of signatures is filed with the Secretary of the Board within twenty-eight days of the adoption of this Resolution, the President shall call a meeting of the Board to consider rescission of this Resolution, or to direct the county commissioner of elections to submit the following question to the qualified electors of the School District at a special election.
If the Board determines to submit the question to the electors, the proposition to be submitted shall be as follows:
Shall the Board of Directors of the North Fayette Valley Community School District, in the County of Fayette, State of Iowa, be authorized for a period of five (5) years to continue to levy and impose an instructional support tax in an amount (after taking into consideration instructional support state aid) of not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total of regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Section 257.14, Code of Iowa, as a budget adjustment in the budget year, and be authorized annually, in combination, as determined by the Board, to levy an instructional support property tax upon all the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022, and to impose an instructional support income surtax upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with calendar year 2021, or each year thereafter, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each fiscal year, to be used for any general fund purpose?
Roll Call Vote: Ayes: Schlawin, Koch, Roys, McNeese, Cummings, Ahrens, Nays: None. Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the LEP Allowable Cost application allowing the district to recapture $47,806.38 in ELL expenses that were in excess of the FY20 allocation. Schlawin/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the FY21 SIAC Membership listing made up of parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members. McNeese/Schlawin Motion Carried 6-0
The Board held the first reading of revised Board Policy #406.7 – Voluntary Early Retirement. This revision gives the Board a bit more flexibility in determining what is best for the district.
The Board approved the early graduation requests for 7 students pending meeting all requirements. Schlawin/McNeese Motion Carried 6-0
The Board reviewed the request for Sunday Building Use from the Little Tigerhawk Wrestling Club for 3 youth wrestling tournaments. The tournaments would start before the 1:30 pm time set in Board Policy #905.1 – Community Use of School Facilities. The Board approved the request for the early start time. Schlawin/Ahrens Motion Carried 6-0
The Board approved the disbursement of a school bus. Closed bids will be taken in the Central Office and opened on November 2nd at 2 pm. Schlawin/McNeese Motion Carried 6-0
Valley Daycare is planning on opening October 19th. They are around 50% capacity.
COVID #’s in the district are very similar to other districts. Surveys are being sent out to all quarantined and positive case students. Teachers are working hard to make learning accessible to all students. The nurses have had some tough phone calls and have referred them to Public Health. Many students who started out virtually have made the decision to come back to the classroom.
Motion to adjourn at 6:48 pm. Koch/Ahrens Motion carried 6-0
______________________________ _____________________________
Stacy Cummings, President Sue Thoms, Business Manager