UNOFFICIAL MINUTES Board of Education Muscatine Community School District May 11, 2015 The Board of Education of the Muscatine Community School District, in the County of Muscatine, State of Iowa, met in regular session on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall. President Nathan Mather called the meeting to order. Directors Tim Bower, Brenda Garcia, Tom Johanns (arrived at 7:06 p.m.), Randy Naber and Mary Wildermuth were present. Director Tammi Drawbaugh was absent. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe and Director of Finance Jean Garner. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. President Mather welcomed media representatives and visitors. Superintendent Riibe, as part of School Board Recognition Month, recognized the school board members for their service to the students of Muscatine Schools. No one spoke during Citizen Speaks. Kate Custis, Macy Morrow, and Kindra Petersen updated the board on recent student council activities. A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Naber to approve the consent agenda to include: the minutes of the April 27, 2015 regular meeting; the bills and claims dated May 11, 2015, the student teaching agreement with St. Ambrose University, and the following employment recommendations: • the certified resignations of McKenzie Fairclough – CMS Reading and Language Arts, Julie Jeffries – WMS Special Education, Jean Harmston – Franklin Special Education, and Jane Hodge – Home School Coordinator. • the schedule C resignation of Andrea Wilford – Model UN. • the 2015-‐16 certified staff hires of: Maria Pimental – Gifted/Talented teacher, Neftali Lopez Duprey – MHS Math, Tyler Hulbert – CMS Science, Laura Christensen – MHS Math, Shannon Walker – MHS Science, Jonie Kirchner – WMS Math, Dana Carlson – Gifted and Talented teacher. • the 2014-‐15 classified professional staff hires of: Benjamin Johns – Juvenile Court Liaison and Brietta Collier – Accountant. All ayes; motion carried. Superintendent Riibe noted that any policy changes that may happen due to the policy review by IASB will supersede policies that are published in the elementary handbook and that changes would be published. A motion was made by Director Wildermuth and seconded by Director Garcia to approve the Elementary Student Handbook. All ayes; motion carried.
A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Naber to approve the list of 367 tentative graduates of the Class of 2015. All ayes; motion carried. Superintendent Riibe recommended that the Board terminate Mr. John Lawrence’s contract for budgetary reasons due to the state’s inability to determine state aid to local school districts and the inadequacies of the school funding formula. A motion was made by Director Wildermuth and seconded by Director Naber with regret to approve the issuance of a Notice of Consideration of Termination of Administrator’s Contract to John Lawrence for the following reasons: budgetary restrictions and problems, maintenance of programs, reduction of positions, and realignment of school organization. Roll call: Ayes: (with regrets) Bower, Garcia, Mather, Naber, and Wildermuth Nays: Johanns Motion carried. Superintendent Riibe shared that as the district moves into the final stages of the new Jefferson building, it will need to start looking at razing of the old building. He noted that FEH Architects will handle putting the RFP together and spearhead the sale of the fixtures and other items from the building. He further noted that there is a considerable amount of the building that will be sold –from grinding the cement to be resold as gravel, floor boards, fixtures, doors, etc. A motion was made by Director Garcia and seconded by Director Bower to approve the Request for Proposal for Professional Services for the Demolition of Jefferson Elementary Building. All ayes; motion carried. Scott Comstock, Technology Supervisor, presented the 2015 MCSD Middle School Laptop Refresh project specifically the student pilot project of using Chromebooks. He also shared their affordability as well as their increased durability and how Google continues to upgrade their product to better suit the needs of students. Superintendent Riibe and Director of Finance Jean Garner reviewed the Physical Plant & Equipment Levy (PPEL) Revenue Purpose Statement and how it may be of interest to the board to add it to the ballot of the upcoming school board election. He noted that the vote of the revenue purpose statement is not raising PPEL funds and money but how PPEL can be used. As it stands now, the district can only borrow out to 2019. With the passage of the revenue purpose statement, this could extend that out to 10 years or 2029. Discussion then centered on the voter approved PPEL. Superintendent Riibe reminded the board that the voted PPEL expires June 30, 2020 and that the district/board should consider putting this on the ballot sometime in the near future as well. He also noted that without PPEL the district would be in serious financial strain as everything from technology and construction work and repairs come from this fund. Today’s general fund would not be able to sustain any of these added costs. Mrs. Garner stated that voters approved the district the authority to levy up to $1.34. Currently the levy is at $0.90 and next year it is approximately $1.10. The board approves this levy rate every year, and the district has never levied the full $1.34.
Mrs. Garner provided the April financial statements for the general, cafeteria, activity, and payroll funds. She and Alisha Eggers, Food Service Supervisor, also provided the board with a food service update on revenues and expenses. President Mather provided the followed announcements of meetings and events: May 17, 2015 – Excellence in Education Scholarship Program at 2 p.m. at MHS May 19, 2015 – Last Day for Seniors May 24, 2015 – Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2015 at 2 p.m. at MHS Gymnasium May 29, 2015 – Last Day for Students / 2-‐hour early dismissal June 1, 2015 – District Retirement and 30 Year Celebration June 2, 2015 – Last Day for Teachers June 8, 2015 – Regular Board Meeting at City Hall at 7 p.m. A motion was made by Director Naber and seconded by Director Wildermuth to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion carried. Time: 8:23 p.m. Nathan Mather, President Lisa Mosier Bunn, Secretary
