PLEASANT VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLEASANT VALLEY, IOWA
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES
BOARD OF EDUCATION, REGULAR MEETING, BELMONT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
Monday, November 9, 2009, 7:00 P.M. C.S.T.
Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dayman. Members present: Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Huegel, Paulsen, Witters. Absent: None. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Chris Harvey, Mike Clingingsmith, Joel Haack, Jodi Buzzell, Sheriff Dennis Conard, Deputy Jayne Ruckholdt, Ray LaFrentz, Kevin Kraft, and Patty Herzberg.
Motion by Witters, second by Dohmen 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, Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Huegel, Paulsen. Nays – none. Motion carried.
Mike Clingingsmith explained that Item D under New Business, ISCAP Supplemental Resolution, had been added to the agenda.
Motion by Archer, second by Paulsen to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS: President Dayman welcomed everyone present.
Director Witters congratulated the cast and crew of “Seussical the Musical” on a fine performance.
Cyndy Behrer congratulated the boys cross country team for its third place overall finish at State and Tyler Meseke who finished as a runner up in the class 4A competition; the girls cross country team for its 10th place overall finish; the competition cheerleading squad on their third place finish at state; and she also congratulated Minwei Cao, PVHS freshman, for being the Grand Prize Winner of the Quad City Symphony Essay writing contest.
Dr. Spelhaug reported that the district received final word on its certified enrollment today. The final count, which was drawn for the first time through the Project Easier student information system, is 3609.03, an increase over last year’s enrollment of 3588.5.
He also reported that conversations continue with the Hopewell Elementary general contractor about ways to address construction delays caused by wet weather. The contractor and district are working hard to avoid additional costs associated with winter conditions.
Motion by Huegel, second by Bullock that the consent agenda be approved as presented. All ayes. Motion carried. The Consent Agenda consists of the following: approval of the minutes of the October 26 Regular meetings; the resignations of Chuck Gaura as district food van driver and Theresa Noll as a special education aide at Bridgeview; the recommendation of Karri McBeth for regular employment as a special education aide at Riverdale Heights and Aubrey Winslow for probationary employment as a special education aide at Bridgeview; and one open enrollment application in from Bettendorf schools.
Motion by Huegel, second by Witters that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $211,459.59 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Huegel, second by Bullock that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $56,419.30 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 $8,372.94 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Witters, second by Paulsen that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $29,128.97 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Archer, second by Dohmen that Management Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $14,531.75 in payment of the invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Paulsen, second by Huegel that PPEL Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $100,187.98 in payment of the invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Motion by Bullock, second by Witters that Capital Projects Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $8,379.04 in payment of the invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.
Dr. Spelhaug recognized and thanked Sheriff Dennis Conard for his many years of support and service by providing security for the district.
Deputy Jayne Ruckholdt presented the results of a community survey completed as a part of an application she submitted for a COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant (a 50/50 match grant for $243,950) which was awarded to the district. One hundred sixty-two (162) surveys were mailed to the neighborhoods bordering PVHS and 85 were returned. The majority indicted they felt the high school was a good neighbor.
Kevin Kraft who lives near the high school expressed his appreciation for the survey being sent and indicated a portion of the neighborhood that needs additional attention. Deputy Ruckholdt wants neighbors to contact her if they are aware of any problems. She can be reached at (563)328-4110 (office) or (563)340-7762 (cell).
Ray LaFrentz provided an update on safety items that have been implemented with the funds received from the COPS grant. Additional security cameras have been added to the junior high, high school, Pleasant View, and Bridgeview and entry systems at Riverdale and PVHS that require anyone accessing the building to enter through the main office after classes begin have all been provided with funds from the COPS grant.
Dr. Spelhaug and the board discussed the following strategies to gather resources necessary to pay back, during 2010-11, the ISCAP loan incurred because of the 2009-10 state budget cut.
Note: This is not an on-going funding source for Hopewell.
2. Increase the amount of transportation costs covered by PPEL(Physical Plant and Equipment Levy). The district recommends increasing the portion of PPEL used for lease payments for bussing from $190,000 to $350,000 in 2009-10 and from $350,000 to $450,000 in 2010-11.
Note: This is not an on-going funding source for Hopewell.
3. Do not replace the district’s food service van driver in December. The current food service van driver is retiring as of 12/22/09. The district recommends integrating these responsibilities into the work of the district’s general delivery van driver.
Note: This may be an on-going source of revenue for Hopewell.
4. Eliminate the mailing of board minutes to every home in the district as of January 1, 2010. (See note following to sign up for electronic delivery of minutes to your home.)
Note: This may be an on-going source of revenue for Hopewell.
Motion by Witters, second by Dohmen that the board approve the interim assistant superintendent, increase in PPEL funds to cover transportation costs, restructuring of food service and general delivery positions and elimination of direct mail of board minutes as cost saving strategies to provide for the repayment of the IASB ISCAP loan during 2010-11. Roll call vote. Ayes – Witters, Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Huegel, Paulsen. Nays – none. Motion carried.
In honor of American Education Week, President read the following proclamation:
American Education Week
Proclamation
Great public schools: a basic right and our responsibility
November 15-21, 2009
WHEREAS, public education is the backbone of our democracy, providing
young people with the tools they need to maintain our nation’s precious
values of freedom, civility and equality; and
WHEREAS, by equipping young Americans with both practical skills and
broader intellectual abilities, schools give them hope for, and access to, a
productive future; and
WHEREAS, public education employees, be they educators, substitute
educators, higher education faculty and staff, custodians, teachers, bus drivers, clerical workers, food service professionals, skilled trades workers, health and student service workers, security guards, technical employees, or librarians, work tirelessly to serve our children and communities with care and professionalism; and
WHEREAS, public schools are the foundations of neighborhoods and
communities, bringing together adults and children, educators and volunteers, business leaders, and elected officials in a common purpose.
Mr. Clingingsmith presented information on the authorization of the ISCAP Supplemental Resolution. As had been discussed at a previous board meeting, while the district is implementing strategies to recover some of the 10% across the board budget cut for this year, (as a reminder, the 10% cut for Pleasant Valley means that it will receive $ 1,601,590 less in state aid for 2009-10 than originally promised), it will be forced to borrow money to meet its financial obligations. While the administration had recommended not borrowing from ISCAP until the “Series A” cycle, which would have funds available June 1, 2010, further informational meetings have indicated there could be additional across the board budget cuts from the state this fiscal year, which could create the need to borrow sooner, therefore, it is necessary to submit the supplemental resolution.
Motion by Huegel, second by Bullock that the Board approve the ISCAP Supplemental Resolution as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes – Huegel, Paulsen, Witters, Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen. Nays – none. Motion carried.
The board met in exempt session from 8:17 until 9:13 p.m. for the purpose of negotiations.
The meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
Important Notice
As a cost saving measure, the practice of mailing Last Week’s Board Meeting to every household in the district will be discontinued as of January 1, 2010. A listserv has been set up to deliver minutes via email. District residents, who are not enrolled in Pleasant Valley eNews, will need to sign up for this service. This listserv will only send the board minutes. No other messages will be sent to this list.
Pleasant Valley will not give email lists to anyone. Email addresses will not appear anywhere in the communications. Both of these protocols will insure that you will not receive spam/junk email as a result of signing up for this listserv.
To sign up for the school board minutes listserv, go to http://www.pleasval.k12.ia.us/enews/mainenews.asp and check the Pleasant Valley School Board Minutes box. There is also a link on the District Homepage at www.pleasval.k12.ia.us , “Sign up to receive school board minutes via email.” If you are currently enrolled in Pleasant Valley enews, board minutes will be automatically sent to you. If you are not signed up, please be reminded that after January 1, 2010 the practice of hard copy mailing of minutes to every household will be discontinued.