PLEASANT VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

PLEASANT VALLEY, IOWA

UNOFFICIAL MINUTES

BOARD OF EDUCATION, REGULAR MEETING, BELMONT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Monday, January 25, 2010 - 7:00 P.M. C.S.T.

Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dayman.  Members present:  Bullock, Dayman, Huegel, Paulsen, Witters.  Absent: Archer and Dohmen.  Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Chris Harvey, Mike Clingingsmith, Mike Zimmer, Kim Gasaway, Chris Cournoyer, Tim Bradley, Audra Bailey and others.

Motion by Witters, second by Bullock that the Board hold an exempt session for the purpose of negotiations as provided in section 20.17(3) of the Code of Iowa.  Roll call vote.  Ayes – Witters, Bullock, Dayman, Huegel, Paulsen.  Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Paulsen to approve the agenda as presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS:  President Dayman welcomed those present.

Pleasant Valley's Lego Robotics team, “LeClaire Catapult Chaos”, demonstrated their presentation from the regional and state competition.  They answered questions about their recent experience and success.  At the regional level, the team won the teamwork category, and at the state level, the team received honorable mention in robot design/technical interview. 

Team members and their parents are Alex McLean (Ian and Connie), Bennett Cournoyer (Kurt and Chris), Lexi Dohmen (Frank and Joni), Scott Henrichs (Mike and Ruthann), Lucas Ford (Ben and Jeannie) and Gage McCotter (Mike and Ann).

Cyndy Behrer congratulated the PVHS Competition Cheer Squad for receiving 1st place in their division and winning over all champions at the Midwest Regionals for the third year in a row on Saturday.  She also congratulated the Large Group Speech contestants for their success in Iowa City.  PVHS sent seven events to the Iowa High School District Large Group competition held at Iowa City, City High on Saturday, January 23.  Of the seven events entered, five qualified for participation in the state contest to be held on February 6 at Linn-Mar High School in Marion.  Groups that qualified for state include: Solo Mime (Bishop Massey), Group Improvisation (Kathleen Walter, Alyson Wennlund, Alex Watson, Caroline Kwan), Ensemble Acting (Morgan Hoke and Emma Thompson), Group Improvisation (Taylor Truster and Bishop Massey), One Act Play (Regina Pauly, Brooke Schelly, Nick Schurr, Morgan Hoke, Megan Mohs, Alex Watson, Tim Bawden, Emma Thompson, Emily Myers, Brehanna Ryssemus, Rachel Guhin, Mallory Peterson, and Taylor Truster).

Ms. Behrer thanked all parents, teachers, classified staff, board members and administrators who represented the district during the Department of Education Site visit January 19-21.

The Board thanked Ms. Behrer and her team for their preparations and organization of the site visit.

Dr. Spelhaug extended the Board’s and district’s sympathies to the family of Cal Calvert on his recent death. Mr. Calvert was a PVCHS math teacher who served the district for many years.

Motion by Paulsen, second by Huegel that the consent agenda be approved as presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.  The Consent Agenda consists of the approval of the minutes of the January 11 regular meeting; the regular employment of Tambi Rosendahl as a food service worker at Riverdale; the extra-curricular addition of Chris Bryant as high school assistant boys track coach; and two open enrolled in students for 2009-10 from Bettendorf schools.

Motion by Huegel, second by Paulsen that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $1,322,610.29 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Paulsen, second by Bullock that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $24,236.96 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Bullock, second by Witters that Elementary/Junior High Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $4,340.24 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Bullock that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $13,849.52 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Huegel, second by Witters that Management Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $19,117.94 in payment of the invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Bullock that PPEL Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $182,953.64 in payment of the invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Paulsen, second by Huegel that Capital Projects Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $827,546.20 in payment of the invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Bullock, second by Huegel that Trust Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $648.31 in payment of the invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Discussion continued on the weighted grade review topic with a plan to have a motion at the February 8 meeting. 

PVCHS Principal, Mike Zimmer, reported on the public meetings he has held and the correspondence he has received on the weighted grade topic.  Another public meeting regarding this topic will be held Wednesday, February 3, 7:00 p.m. in the HS Theater.  A link to the Power Point providing additional background information on this topic can be found on the district’s website (www.pleasval.k12.ia.us).  The recommendation in front of the board is to add value to the “+” and “-” in g.p.a. calculation and to eliminate the weighted grading system (i.e. grades in all classes would be on a pure 4.0 system).

The district hosted members of the Iowa Department of Education Site Visit Team on January 19-21, 2010 for their review of the district’s educational progress during the last five years.  Despite difficult weather conditions, the team concluded their visit and shared a preliminary findings report on Thursday, January 21.  A formal report will follow in 4-6 weeks.  In summary the team shared the following overarching strengths in the district:  1)  There is a strong and positive spirit of community and district interaction; 2)  There is a general feeling of safety expressed by students, parents and faculty; 3)  There is a pervasive atmosphere of shared leadership in the district; 4)  The district collects and uses a variety of data to inform its decisions and make programmatic changes; 5)  The district’s commitment to excellence is a driving force toward continuous improvement.  The site visit team’s recommendations for improvement included:  1)  Elementary parents are not always clear about the program locations for the various low-incidence special education programs across the district;  2)  As the district moves forward with its use of data, the continued development and use of formative assessments should remain a focus; 3)  While the district has provided a great deal in the way of technology, personnel in the buildings need to be better apprised of the various pieces of hardware/software and their uses; 4)  With the changing demographics of the district, additional awareness needs to be focused on the implications of those changes. 

Through December, general fund revenue totaled $14,229,436 and expenses totaled $11,879,843.  The fund balance in the General Fund on December 31, 2009 was $3,811,083.  Reports on the Management, PPEL, Capital Projects, Debt Service, Nutrition, Internal Service, and Activity Funds were also presented.  There were no significant variances from projections in the December financial reports.

Motion by Witters, second by Bullock that the board accept the monthly financial reports for December as presented.  Roll call vote.  Ayes – Witters, Bullock, Dayman, Huegel, Paulsen.   Nays – none.  Motion carried.

The board met in exempt session from 8:12 – 8:52 p.m. for the purpose of negotiations.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.