Regular Meeting-February 17, 2010

The Board of Directors of the Jefferson-Scranton Community School District met in regular session on February 17, 2010 at the Jefferson-Scranton Elementary School. President Sam Harding called the meeting to order at 5:33 p.m. Also present were Directors Teresa Hagen, Kevin Neal and Celli Whipple; Superintendent Tim Christensen and Board Secretary Brenda Muir.

President Harding read the mission statement and goals of the Jefferson-Scranton School District.

Motion was made by Whipple, seconded by Hagen to approve the agenda as presented. Motion
carried 4-0.

Director Holden arrived at 5:35 p.m.

The public hearing on the 2010-2011 Early Start Date was opened at 5:35 p.m. Superintendent Christensen presented the calendar which was developed with the other county schools. School would start on August 19, 2010 and end on May 20, 2011. The first five snow days would be added to the end of the calendar. Snow days above that amount would come from other scheduled break days. No comments were heard from the public and the hearing was closed at 5:37 p.m.

Hagen made and Neal seconded a motion to approve the 2010-2011 calendar as presented. Motion carried 5-0.

Director Neal requested that the contract/title change for Bill Kibby and Dean Lansman be pulled from the consent items. Motion was made by Holden, seconded by Whipple to approve the remaining consent items. Motion carried 5-0. Consent items are: Minutes from the January 13, 2010 special meeting and the January 21, 2010 regular meeting; Bills as presented.

Holden made a motion to approve the proposal changing the title and contracts for Bill Kibby from head football coach to co-head football coach and Dean Lansman from assistant football coach to co-head football coach. Hagen seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-1. Ayes: Hagen, Holden, Whipple, Harding. Nay: Neal.

During Open Forum, concerns were expressed from a parent about the move of the fifth grade to the middle school.

The configuration of middle school/high school softball was again discussed. The programs will continue as they have been run in the past with sixth grade girls allowed to play junior high ball and eighth grade girls allowed to play high school ball.

More discussion was held on graduation requirements. Adding Financial Literacy and deleting Tech Applications was discussed. A board policy will be worked on and a first reading will be available for a future board meeting.

Director Harding reported on the Park & Rec meeting. Superintendent Christensen reported the insurance committee will meet with insurance agents on February 25, 2010.

Auditor Bruce Frink presented the 2008-09 audit report. He emphasized the need to cut General Fund expenditures to get back to a positive balance and spending authority. Whipple made and Holden seconded a motion to accept the audit report as presented. Motion carried 5-0.

Concerns were heard from a parent about the proposed cut of a school nurse position and from a teacher about the proposed cut of elementary regular education associates.

A list of pooled cuts totaling $437,417 was read. They included not replacing the following retiring staff members – two middle school teachers, a principal, a custodian, and a secretary. Also on the list was cutting one elementary teacher and the middle school computer lab monitor, eliminate all outside counseling, eliminate five coaching positions, merge the School Within a School with the Success Center, reduce the number of phone lines and remove appliances from classrooms. Hagen made and Holden seconded a motion to approve these cuts as presented. Motion carried 5-0.

Other proposed cuts were discussed and acted on separately.

Holden made and Hagen seconded a motion to share the mental health counselor with East Greene for 20% of the time, saving the district $11,451. Motion carried 5-0.

Holden made and Neal seconded a motion not to replace the one retiring regular education associate. Motion carried 5-0. This is a savings of $21,873 to the district.

Hagen made a motion to move from two school nurses to one and one half school nurses. This would save the district $22,809. Holden seconded the motion and it carried 5-0.

One music teacher position was cut on a motion made by Holden and seconded by Neal, saving the district $50,023. Motion carried 5-0.

Items remaining on the list for future consideration are three regular education associates, a kindergarten teacher and extended contract days. Other items will be added to the list and discussed at the next board meeting.

Athletic fundraisers were discussed with some general guidelines. A board policy or an addendum to the Coaches Handbook was discussed and will be addressed at a future meeting.

A real estate purchase agreement for the City of Scranton to purchase the Scranton school building, except the three-story portion, for one dollar was approved on a motion made by Holden and seconded by Hagen. Motion carried 5-0. The agreement includes the Jefferson-Scranton School leasing the gym for $5,000 per year and paying $15 per day for a bus stop at the building site for the next ten years.

Hagen made and Whipple seconded a motion to approve 2010-11 sharing agreements with Paton-Churdan for girls’ and boys’ golf, wrestling and football and with East Greene for wrestling. Motion carried 5-0.

Neal made and Hagen seconded a motion to approve 2010-11 sharing agreements with Boone for girls’ and boys’ swimming and soccer and with Carroll-Kuemper for boys’ tennis. Motion carried 4-1. Ayes: Hagen, Neal, Whipple, Harding. Nay: Holden.

Two open enrollment out requests due to a good cause provision were received. Superintendent Christensen believes approval of the requests would be in the best interests of the students. No money will be exchanged between the districts this current school year. Holden made and Whipple seconded a motion to approve the two open enrollment requests. Motion carried 5-0.

The Heart of Iowa Conference is considering an increase in sub-varsity admission prices. The adult admission price would increase from $2 to $3. There would continue to be no charge to students. Holden moved to not support the increase in admission, Hagen seconded the motion and it carried 5-0.

Tim Christensen was appointed as the board’s representative on the Bell Tower Foundation on a motion made by Whipple and seconded by Neal. Motion carried 5-0.

A discussion was held on the DE site visit recommendations. The administration plans to meet with staff to discuss how best to address the recommendations from the Department of Education.

During his monthly report, Superintendent Christensen announced Lieutenant Governor Patty Judge will be at the South Grade on Monday, February 22, 2010 to promote and observe the preschool program. He discussed the use of school facilities on snow days with the need to revisit our current policy. The April regular board meeting is April 21, 2010 after the budget certification deadline. The budget hearing will be held on April 14, 2010 prior to the board work session that evening.

The financial report was given.

The president declared the meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.