PLEASANT VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Bettendorf, LeClaire, Riverdale

UNOFFICIAL MINUTES

BOARD OF EDUCATION, REGULAR MEETING, BELMONT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Tuesday, May 29, 2012  - 7:00 P.M. C.D.S.T.

Please Note:  Beginning with the July 16, 2012 meeting, Board meetings will start at 6:00 p.m.

Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dayman.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Isbell, Witters.  Absent:  Richmond.

Also present:  Jim Spelhaug, Mike Clingingsmith, Brian Strusz, Christine Harvey, Julianne, Steve and Linda DeLessio, Marleana Boyd, Debbie Wright, Mike Zimmer, Beth Campbell, Mary Beth Kunau, Trampus Budde and Stephanie Judkins.  

AGENDA APPROVED:  Motion by Witters, second by Dohmen to approve the agenda as presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS:  President Dayman welcomed visitors to the meeting.  She thanked everyone who contributed to the Commencement services for the Class of 2012 on Sunday, May 27.

Marleana Boyd of Prudential Insurance Company of America presented Julianne DeLessio, PVCHS senior, the Prudential Spirit of Community Distinguished Finalist Award for her work with her program “Dance for Me”.  The program provides dance workshops for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, children with cancer, and children from low-income families.  She is currently developing a dance workshop for children with Down syndrome.

CONSENT AGENDA:  Motion by Bullock, second by Isbell that the consent agenda be approved as presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.  The consent agenda consists of:  the resignations of Karri McBeth as a special education aide for the district, Maggie Butler as a food service worker at Riverdale Heights and James Tague as a custodian at PVJH; the probationary employment of Emily Jepsen as the service learning coordinator at PVCHS and Dawn Taghon as the PVCHS principal’s secretary both for the 2012-13 school year; the extra-curricular/extra-duty adds as follows:  Mitch Braddock as PVJH science team leader, Wayne Brewer as assistant varsity boys track coach,  Mike Furlong as assistant freshman football coach, Clint Heitz as secondary technology coordinator, Jamie Homb as ESL coordinator, Sarah Larsen as assistant JH volleyball coach and as JH track coach, Paul Meyers as JH assistant football coach, Cassidy Peterson as secondary technology coordinator, Nicholas Sacco as secondary technology coordinator, Julie Small as JH department head – language arts, Matt Stutenberg – a single overload teaching section in Industrial Technology, Ron Ven Horst – two overload teaching sections in Industrial Technology, and Trever Zahn as a secondary technology coordinator; the extra-curricular/extra-duty drops as follows:  Joe Ambrose as assistant varsity boys track coach, Mitch Braddock as assistant freshman football coach, Richard Gonzalez as JH assistant football coach, Traci Lerch as JH volleyball coach, Ann Martin as JH science team leader and Katharine Mulfinger as JH department head – Language Arts, Tony Runkle as JH girls track coach, and Valerie Thompson as HS theatre technical co-advisor; 2012 Summer School assignments of:  Lisa Bradley, Pathways 1 – Bridgeview, Jenna Rokes, Pathways 2 – Bridgeview, Joe Nichols – Pathways 3 – Bridgeview, Cindi Ven Horst – Pathways 3 – Bridgeview, Kathy Miller – Pathways 1 – Riverdale Heights, Holly Gruenke, Pathways 1 – Riverdale Heights, Nikki Garnica, Pathways 2 – Riverdale Heights,  Janice Carter, Pathways 2 – Riverdale Heights, Amy Ewald, Pathways 2 – Riverdale Heights, Jessica Slater, Pathways 2 – Riverdale Heights, Traci Lerch, Pathways 2 – Riverdale Heights, Jill Nedved, Pathways 3 – Riverdale Heights,  Janice Pavlicek, Pathways 3 – Riverdale Heights, Andy Fermoyle, Pathways 3 – Riverdale Heights, Sonia Vogel, Pathways 4 – Riverdale Heights, Karen Brown, Building Aide – Bridgeview, Karen Bemis, Student Aide – Bridgeview, Cathy Spinsby, Student Aide – Bridgeview,  Holly Crowley, Student Aide – Bridgeview, Darlene Corchado, Building Aide – Riverdale Heights, Julie Johnson, Student Aide – Riverdale Heights, Jane Crawford, Student Aide – Riverdale Heights, Hope White, Student Aide – Riverdale Heights, Lisa Hartford, Student Aide – Riverdale Heights, Merry Jo Harmon, Student Aide – PVJH, Ruth Roseman, Math – PVJH, Matt Gauss, Math and Reading – PVJH, Kelly Dircks, Reading – PVJH, LeAnn Sokolik, Reading – PVJH, Audry Bailey, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Kristin Lopez, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Tara Daurer, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Rachel Fitkin, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Nick Propes, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Brian Gartner, Instrumental Music – HS/BV, Drew Anderson, Instrumental Music – HS/BV;  three open enrollment applications in – all from Bettendorf schools; and student teaching agreements with the University of Phoenix and St. Ambrose University.

EXPENSES APPROVED:  Motion by Dohmen, second by Witters that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $139,701.22 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Archer, second by Bullock that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $17,769.65 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Bullock that Elementary/Junior High Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $7,388.78 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Isbell, second by Archer that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $17,918.03 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Bullock, second by Dohmen that PPEL Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $13,620.50 in payment of invoices presented.

Motion by Dohmen, second by Archer that a Capital Projects Fund Warrant be issued in the total amount of $111,209.45 in payment of the invoice presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Isbell that Trust Fund Warrants be issued in the total amount of $1,637.93 in payment of invoices presented.  All ayes.  Motion carried.

2011-2012 EXTENDED LEARNING PROGRAM REPORT:  Mr. Strusz introduced Beth Campbell, Teacher Librarian/ELP at Hopewell, and Mary Beth Kunau, ELP teacher at Pleasant View.  They presented an end of year review of the District’s extended learning program by documenting progress in each of the programming goal areas and providing updates to the extended learning program handbook. 

Motion by Bullock, second by Witters that the board approve the Extended Learning Program report as presented.  Roll call vote.  Ayes – Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Isbell, Witters, Archer.  Nays – none.  Motion carried.

IOWA CORE:  K-8 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN:  Each school district in Iowa is required to develop a written plan to describe its implementation of the Iowa Core.  The K-8 Professional Leadership Team comprised of teachers and administrators has begun the implementation process by having preliminary dialogue, analysis of data, coordination of resources, and initial examination of content, instruction, and assessment.  Stephanie Judkins, Principal of Hopewell, and Trampus Budde, Principal of PVJH, described the K-8 implementation process of the Iowa Core in their respective areas.   The K-8 portion of the Iowa Core must be submitted to the State by July 1.

Motion by Witters, second by Dohmen that the board approve the Iowa Core K-8 implementation plan as presented.  Roll call vote.  Ayes – Witters, Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Isbell.  Nays – none.  Motion carried.

CONSIDERATION OF CODY’S HUNT AS A WALK-ZONE: At the May 14 board meeting, the Board reviewed diagrams of this area and the outline where new sidewalks are being built.  The consensus from that discussion was that the board is not comfortable with this area becoming a walk zone if the sidewalks along 8th and Davenport are not completed.  Also discussed at the May 14 meeting were the possibilities of crossing guards and the addition of four way stops.  Dr. Spelhaug has talked with the City of LeClaire and there was no indication that crossing guards will happen.  Additional signs will not take place on Wisconsin, however, they may on Jones, but there is no guarantee.  The district has offered to purchase speed limit signs if the City will install and service them.

The administration recommended moving forward in designating Cody’s Hunt as a walk zone unless the sidewalks are not completed.  There will be a bus stop on Holland near Musket Court.  If there is room on the bus, riders from Cody’s Hunt will be given priority by youngest to oldest student.

Motion by Bullock, second by Dayman that the Board approve Cody’s Hunt as a walk zone provided sidewalk construction as discussed is completed.  Ayes – Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Isbell, Witters, Archer.  Nays – none.  Motion carried.

2013 IASB LEGISLATIVE ACTION PRIORITIES:  The topic of legislative action priorities was introduced to begin the board’s process of developing priorities for the 2013 legislative session.  The priorities will be finalized by the July 16 board meeting.  Following, as reference material, are the board’s priorities from last year.  Dr. Spelhaug drew attention to the vulnerable position school districts are in given the fact that the Legislature did not set allowable growth for the 2013-14 school year.

PV 2012 Legislative Action Priorities

Approved July 18, 2011

Rank                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

    1                  Supports the creation of an additional funding mechanism for school districts' transportation costs that does not directly or indirectly impact funding for the educational program.

     2                 Supports setting allowable growth at a rate that encourages continuous school improvement and reflects actual cost increases experienced by school districts.

    3                  Supports implementation of a sustainable model which ensures affordable access to high quality pre-school for all 4 year olds.

A complete chart of the 2012 IASB Legislative Priorities and Resolutions is available at the Iowa Association of School Board website  www.ia-sb.org.

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MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS:  Mr. Clingingsmith presented the monthly financial reports for April, 2012.  Through April, general fund revenue totaled $29,770,385 and expenses totaled $24,700,474.  The fund balance in the General Fund at April 30, 2012 was $7,419,707.  He also presented reports on the Management, PPEL, Capital Projects, Debt Service, Nutrition, Internal Service, and Activity Funds.  There were no significant variances from projections in the financial reports.

Motion by Witters, second by Archer that the board  accept the monthly financial reports for April as presented.  Roll call vote.  Ayes – Witters, Archer, Bullock, Dayman, Dohmen, Isbell.  Nays – none.  Motion carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED:  The meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.

FUTURE DATES:      June 11, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. – Regular Board Meeting.

Closing Graduation Remarks 

(The fire alarm system was triggered by a smoke detector reading dust in an air duct, which interrupted these remarks.)

By Sergio Tekeli

Co-President, Spartan Assembly

“Achievement is not always defined by victory. Sometimes achievement lies in the honest endeavor to do your best under all circumstances, knowing that on any day, intense personal effort may be the only thing that separates you from your competition.” There is much truth behind that statement. This graduation is definitely considered a victory, and up to this point we have all had other things to be proud of.  Mr. Wolfe, my Honors Geometry teacher always told us there were three things we needed to be successful: “Focus, discipline and effort. Yes!”  In the past, we may have fallen short competing in sports, music or academics, but let’s remember even preparation and hard work is considered achievement because ultimately we learned. Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. We succeed because we have built off of our competition!  My fellow classmates, I hope we will always remember our victories, but I also hope we will learn from our short-comings. Embrace every day fully… intentionally…always with an eye to the future. “We have fought the good fight, we have finished the race, we have kept the faith.”

Finally, I must thank several groups. On behalf of the graduates I would like to thank the administration and teachers. Their commitment to our education has helped us get to this point and they have prepared us for our future endeavors. I would also like to thank parents. Parents, from the day we stepped on the bus for the first day of kindergarten, to this day, you have been there to support us and guide us. You have always been and always will be our biggest advocates and this day is also dedicated to you. And so fellow graduates, I also thank you. Thank you for the four interesting years we’ve spent together. Class of 2012, I wish you good luck and congratulations.

OPEN ENROLLMENT

Open Enrollment is the process by which a parent or guardian residing in an Iowa school district may enroll their child into a public school district other than the one in which they reside.  The deadline for filing an Open Enrollment Application for students in grades 1-12 is March 1^st prior to the school year of requested attendance.  The deadline for filing an open enrollment request for an incoming kindergarten child is September 1^st of the year open enrollment is first requested.  For more information on Open Enrollment, please visit the district website at www.pleasval.k12.ia.us, email or call Kelly Hatler, hatlerk@pleasval.k12.ia.us at the Administration Center at (563)332-5550.

PLEDGE A PENNY TO BIRDIES FOR CHARITY

The Pleasant Valley Schools Educational Foundation’s Golf Benefit was held April 30 at Palmer Hills Golf Course.  All proceeds from the benefit will be used to provide funding for student scholarships.  The Foundation has given $361,500 in scholarships to PV seniors. 

On May 16, the Foundation presented fifty-five (55) scholarships with a combined value of $60,000 to PV seniors.  Our community values youth and education.  The Foundation’s scholarship program puts an exclamation point behind that belief! 

Birdies for Charity pledges contribute to this scholarship fund.  Please consider Pledging a Penny on behalf of the PV Foundation, (Birdie #587).  Thank you!

Pledge forms can be obtained at http://www.birdiesforcharity.com/index.php or by filling out the following and mailing to:  PV Foundation, %Chris Harvey, 525 Belmont Road, Bettendorf, IA 52722. 

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I pledge and promise to donate $_______.___________ for every birdie made during the 2011 John Deere Classic to the John Deere Classic Charitable Corporation for use by participating charities.  I guess that ________ birdies will be made.  No donation is required to be eligible to win a prize.  Void where prohibited by law.

PLEDGE INFORMATION (please print)

Name                                                                                                                                                    

Address                                                                                                                                                 

Thank You!

The Pleasant Valley Schools Educational Foundation thanks the individuals and companies on the following page for their support of its annual golf event (April 30, 2012).  Proceeds provide scholarships for PV graduates.  This year 55 scholarships were presented on Wednesday, May 16 to the 51st graduating class of PVCHS.  The Foundation has the hope of presenting 60 scholarships for the 52nd graduating class – 2013.  If you are interested in sponsoring a scholarship or contributing to an existing scholarship please contact Dr. Spelhaug at (563)332-5550 or spelhaugjim@pleasval.k12.ia.us.