MINUTES OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING
REGULAR BOARD MEETING FEBURARY 22, 2010
by Marilyn Mickey
March 09, 2010
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF EDUCATION
RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
A regular meeting of the Riverside Board of Directors was held on February 22 at the Riverside Middle School. President Greg Hansen called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Board members present were: Mark Beedle, Jeff Buckingham, Murray Fenn, Greg Hansen, Dan Ives, Tom Novotny and Phil Reed.
AGENDA
Mark Beedle moved, Phil Reed seconded adoption of the agenda with a personnel addition. Motion carried unanimously.
CONSENT AGENDA
Murray Fenn moved, Mark Beedle seconded approval of the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Items on the consent agenda included approval of minutes of prior meeting, approval of bills and claims and financial reports. Personnel included acceptance of the resignation of Merry Beth Nilan, Riverside Child Care Director, as of the last student day of school; resignation of Ray Brant, elementary teacher, at the end of his contract in accordance with the early retirement specifications and acceptance of the resignation of Loyd “Red” Drawbond, custodian as of April 30, 2010.
ACTION ITEMS
SIAC REPORT
Kim Gifford, representing the School Improvement Committee, presented a summary of the recent meeting and some of their suggestions. The committee wants to encourage more community support of the school including new families and citizens that do not have students in school. They want to continue to address open enrollment. The group would like to see improvements in the monthly newsletter including advertising and business information to new community members. We will encourage more parent involvement, community in the classroom and students helping the community. Also addressed was student to student respect, including texting, bullying, manners and social skills. The committee would like more drug and alcohol prevention information including signs in retail establishments listing the repercussions of supplying alcohol to under age persons.
Murray Fenn moved, Phil Reed seconded acceptance of the SIAC report. Motion carried unanimously.
PRINCIPAL REPORTS
Mr. Perrien, Middle School Principal, reported that he, along with Jason Shelangouski, Chris Conover, and Rob Brecht visited Logan Magnolia school on March 19 to visit with students and staff about the success of the Olweus Anti-bullying program which we plan to implement in 2010-11.
Mr. Gute, High School Principal, reported that the wrestling team placed 7th in the state wrestling tournament, with Quinn Wilson earning a championship medal, Jason Frain winning second place and Nate Wright also representing our team. Iowa Core curriculum in-service will be February 24. Mr. Gute will be making a presentation to the local Lion’s club in the near future.
Dr. Sutton, Elementary Principal, has requested funds for a second Harkin pre-school classroom and is waiting to see if a grant will be forthcoming. Some elementary teachers spent their professional development day observing “looping” in another district. The concept allows one teacher to teach the same group of elementary students for two years. More research will be done, but it is felt that in most cases it is good for the students and the teacher. Dr. Sutton participated in a state Department of Education site visit at East Mills.
PERSONNEL
Murray Fenn moved, Dan Ives seconded acceptance of the resignation of Deborah Williams, vocal music teacher, at the end of her contract. Motion carried unanimously.
PURCHASE CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT
Tom Novotny moved, Dan Ives seconded purchase of a $500,000, 120 day certificate of deposit from Arbor Bank at a rate of 1.77% APY. Motion carried unanimously.
WASHINGTON D.C. TRIP
Alex Oliver, High School Social Studies teacher, gave a brief overview of his planned trip to Washington D.C. March 9-13. Murray Fenn moved, Phil Reed seconded approval of permission for the students along with adults to participate in the trip. Motion carried unanimously.
MOWING AND TURF CARE CONTRACTS
Tim Blum, Business Manager, had reviewed mowing and turf care bids and recommended the same companies as last year be used as there was no change in prices. Tom Novotny moved, Murray Fenn seconded approval for M & R to mow the Middle School, football field and baseball field each for $70 per mowing and Clanton Custom Lawn Care to mow Elementary for $180, High School for $100 and softball field for $90. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Blum recommended the bid from Creative Landscapes for turf care. After discussion by the Board, it was determined that the area bid by both contractors was probably not the same. Steve Feauto will determine the exact property lines and ask for new bids to be reviewed at the March board meeting. Phil Reed moved, Mark Beedle seconded action on turf care be tabled until the March regular meeting. Motion carried unanimously.
FIRE MARSHAL REPORT UPDATE
Steve Feauto updated the board on improvements made in accordance with the Fire Marshal’s report. Bids have been received from Ed Feld and Per Mar for heat detectors. Bids will be solicited from local contractors for a list of electrical repairs that need to be made. These will be reviewed at the regular March meeting. The staff is working, as time permits, on other Fire Marshal requirements. A Fire Safety grant has been applied for to help with the cost of the repairs.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS (IASB CHAPTER 8)
Dr. Sutton led discussion of the IASB handbook regarding employee relations.
2009-10 SNOW MAKE-UP DAYS
Dr. Sutton read the memo from Judy Jeffries of the Department of Education, followed by board discussion. An email will be sent to parents and staff giving them an opportunity to express any concerns they have regarding the make-up day schedules. A special board meeting was set for Monday, March 1 at 7:30 pm to make a decision.
2010-11 BUDGET HEARING
Tom Novotny moved, Murray Fenn seconded to publish the 2010-11 Riverside budget and to have a public hearing on Monday, March 15 at the Middle School at 7:00 p.m.
RESOLUTION FOR BUDGET GUARANTEE
Murray Fenn moved, Dan Ives seconded “resolved, that the Board of Directors of Riverside Community school District will levy property tax for fiscal year 2010-11 for the regular budget adjustment as allowed under Iowa code section 257.14.” Motion carried unanimously.
2008-09 AUDIT
Mr. Blum reviewed the 2008-09 audit with the Board. Murray Fenn moved, Jeff Buckingham seconded acceptance of the audit report as presented. Motion carried unanimously. A report will be given at the March meeting on the plan to address any short-comings.
CERTIFIED TRANSFER REQUEST
An elementary teacher has requested a transfer to another grade level. After discussion, it was determined that the building principal may grant or deny the request without board approval.
NEGOTIATIONS – CLOSED (EXEMPT) SESSION
Dr. Sutton update the Board on the status of teacher negotiations.
SUPERINTENDENT’S EVALUATION – CLOSED SESSION
Murray Fenn moved, Jeff Buckingham seconded the board go into closed session “as provided in section 21.5(l)(i) of the open meetings law to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose performance is being considered to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation, as that individual has request a closed session.” Motion carried unanimously. The Board went into closed session at 10:00 p.m. and came out of closed session at 10:10 p.m.
DISCUSSION OF PROPERTY-CLOSED SESSION
Tom Novotny moved, Dan Ives seconded the Board go into closed session “as provided in section 21.5(l)(j) of the open meetings law to discuss the purchase of particular real estate where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the school district would have to pay for that property.” Motion carried unanimously. Board went into closed session at 10:11 p.m. and came out of closed session at 10:35 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m.
Marilyn Mickey, Secretary
