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MINUTES

DAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Regular Meeting

January 18, 2010

UNOFFICIAL

The work session was called to order by Board President Marty Owen at 5:30 p.m.

Superintendent:                                  Sam Miller

Board Secretary/Business Manager:  Betsy J. Bassett

School administrators present:  Joel Pedersen, middle school principal; Dan Roberts, director of support services.

Patrons of the district present:  Stacie Howk, Deb Norton, Danelle Howard, Sharlyn Marshall, Joni Helton, Kelly Swan, Linda McConnell, Katy Houston.

Margaret Buckton, Vice President of Iowa School Finance Information Services (ISFIS), was present to provide background and information regarding the instructional support levy (ISL).  She began by reviewing Iowa K-12 public school finance.  She spoke briefly about Governor Culver’s State of the State address given a few days before.  She explained the ISL, how it is funded and how to implement an ISL.  She stated that 332 out of 361 districts have some form of the ISL and presented comparisons of the districts in the same AEA as Davis County.  Board members asked questions and a discussion was held.

The work session ended at 6:50 p.m.

A quorum being present, the regular meeting was called to order by Board President Marty Owen at 7:00 p.m.

School administrators present:  Jeff Graves, high school principal; Joel Pedersen, middle school principal; Linda Perry, elementary school principal; Dan Roberts, director of support services; Ryan Woods, assistant high school principal and activities director.

Patrons of the district present (in addition to those listed at the work session):  Marilyn Piper, Carol Mayberry, Linda Ferguson, Annette Thompson, Cathy Henderson, Lori Chaplin, Ed Koser, Jane Hutchings, Scott Spurgeon of the Bloomfield Democrat.

During the public comment time, Stacie Howk, middle school teacher and union president, thanked the board members for their work.  She asked that the board look at everything before cutting any job positions.  She gave some examples that might save money such as the Call ‘Em All process, rent payments to the Mutchler Community Center, Mustang Memo expenses, color paper, color print cartridges, laminating and copies.  She even suggested not paying out the Teacher Salary Supplement if it would save jobs.  She stated that the district might lose students if jobs within the district are cut.

Rob Melvin moved to approve the tentative agenda as follows:

Consent agenda

Resignation(s) / contract(s)

First reading of Board Policies 200 and 300 series

Consider Teacher Salary Supplement reduction

Approve GASB 45 agreement

Approve change orders

Discuss state budget reduction and ramifications for 2010-11 budget         

Approve middle school lift

Administrative reports

Closed session pursuant to Iowa Code Sections 21.5(1)(e) and 21.5(1)(a)

Decision on student disciplinary matter

Adjournment

Exempt negotiating session

Rod Lynch seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Positive Comments:

The Drakesville United Methodist Church donated $200 to the elementary clothing fund.

Third graders collected 62 pairs of pajamas for the less fortunate.  The third grade’s book club, Scholastic, will donate a new book to go with each pair of pajamas.

Davis County’s 2009 girls volleyball team and girls cross country team earned a Distinguished Academic Achievement designation from the IGHSAU for achieving a grade point between 3.61 and 4.0.  The boys cross country team and the football cheerleaders also earned Distinguished Academic Achievement designation from the IHSAA for achieving a grade point between 3.42 and 4.0, with the football cheerleaders scoring 6^th highest in the State of Iowa.

Alan Bodkins moved that the Dan Bodkins Trucking and Excavating bill be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately.  Rod Lynch seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Rob Melvin moved to approve the consent agenda items as follows:

Positive comments

Minutes of regular meetings November 16, 2009 and December 21, 2009

Payment of warrants, with the exception of the payment to Dan Bodkins Trucking and Excavating in the amount of $541.97 for rock at the transportation parking lot

Monthly financial reports for November and December 2009

Ken Wuthrich seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Ken Wuthrich moved to approve the payment to Dan Bodkins Trucking and Excavating in the amount of $541.97 for rock at the transportation parking lot.  Rob Melvin seconded the motion.  ABSTAIN-Bodkins.  AYES-Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Alan Bodkins moved to approve the following contracts:

Gerald Rupe                Special Education Bus Monitor, $11.74 per hour

Linda Rysdam              Kitchen Helper (<30 hours per week), $11.66 per hour

Brian Skaggs               Girls Tennis Coach, $1,576.76

Sheryl Wright seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

There were no resignations to consider.

The first reading of Board Policies 200 and 300 series was held.

The Iowa Department of Education issued a declaratory order ruling on December 4, 2009 regarding the impact of the ten percent across-the-board budget reduction on Teacher Salary Supplement (TSS) moneys.  The declaratory order found that TSS moneys are not exempt from the ten percent cut and that school districts do not have to make up the ten percent difference when paying out the TSS funds.

Ken Wuthrich moved to approve a reduction of the TSS payments to teachers from $4,417.49 per teacher in the 2009-10 school year to $4,016.66 per teacher.  Rob Melvin seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

In January 2009 the board approved an agreement with IASB for GASB 45 services that could have cost as much as $7,750.  Since then a different GASB 45 service provider has been found who has quoted his services at $1,680 - $1,880.  IASB agreed to terminate the agreement for its GASB 45 services.

Rob Melvin moved to approve hiring Robert Hopson as a consultant to provide services in meeting GASB 45 requirements necessary at the end of the current fiscal year, June 30, 2010.  Sheryl Wright seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Larry Dix of Story Construction gave an update on the high school building project.  A rainy October and a snowy and cold December have pushed the completion date back to November 2010.  He reviewed the Project Cost Summary for payments through November 2009 and explained the $400,000 change order allowance.

Ken Wuthrich moved to approve the 12 change orders for the high school building project (see attached).  Alan Bodkins seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Superintendent Miller said the ten percent across-the-board cut cost the district $544,000 in permanent lost revenue.  Additionally, declining enrollment and a loss in Phase I funding has cost the district another $230,000, making a total revenue deficit of $730,000.  The classified and certified wage increases for 2010-11 are currently unknown.  The early retirement plan for certified staff provided an estimated $200,000 decrease in expenses.  The district has three options to balance the 2010-11 budget—reduce expenses, additional revenue (raise taxes) and/or deficit spending.  Based on the earlier work session with Margaret Buckton, an instructional support levy in place of any cash reserve levy would be better for the district.  Board members had a lengthy discussion.  It was decided that the district should attempt to reduce expenses wherever possible to become more efficient.  Only then will the board consider cutting any job positions.  Further steps will be taken toward implementing the instructional support program.

Sheryl Wright moved to approve replacing the handicapped chair lift at the middle school at an estimated cost of $17,000-19,000 from the PPEL Fund.  Rob Melvin seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

Administrative Reports:

Jeff Graves – ITED scores were good.  He provided information regarding 11^th Grade ITED Scores from 2002 through 2009.

Ryan Woods – The weather has caused a lot of scheduling problems with activities recently.  He invited everyone to attend the only two home wrestling meets later that week.

Joel Pedersen – Colton Moore won the middle school geography bee for the third year in a row.  Preparations are being made for ITBS later in January.  The middle school received $12,000 from the Community Foundation Grant and $1,000 from Partners in Education (PIE) for a wireless computer lab.

Linda Perry – In addition to the $200 donation to the elementary clothing fund, the Drakesville United Methodist Church also donated $200 to assist students whose lunch accounts become delinquent.  The elementary also received a $500 donation from Bank of the West.  Testing has been completed.  The elementary food drive was very successful again.  The Title I after school program has started every Tuesday and Thursday.

Dan Roberts – Substitute drivers have been on-call and bus fuel has been blended to prevent fuel problems during the exceptionally cold weather recently.  Final touches are being completed on the gym floor at the middle school.

Sam Miller – Advertising will begin for a new elementary principal in light of Linda Perry’s resignation at the end of the current school year.  Meetings have been held concerning the innovative calendar for the 2010-11 school year.  The innovative calendar does provide some transportation savings because buses run ten less days and some savings in wages because some classified employees choose not to work the ten professional development days.

Rob Melvin moved to go into closed session to conduct a hearing to consider disciplinary action against a student as provided by Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(e) and to review and discuss records which are required by state and federal law to be kept confidential as provided by Iowa Code 21.5(1)(a).  Ken Wuthrich seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.  (8:50 p.m.)

Rob Melvin moved to return to open session.  Sheryl Wright seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.  (9:15 p.m.)

Rob Melvin moved to accept the superintendent’s recommendation that the student who was the subject of the disciplinary hearing be expelled from attendance at the Davis County Community School District and any school activities for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year and the first semester of the 2010-2011 school year.  During the period of expulsion, said student shall not be eligible for any District provided educational services, including placement in the alternative school.  Upon completion of the expulsion period, an application for re-admission must be submitted and approved by the Board of Directors prior to re-admission for the second semester of the 2010-2011 school year.  Legal counsel is directed to draft findings and conclusions consistent with the Board’s deliberations, the President is authorized and directed to execute the Findings of Fact and Conclusion, and the Secretary is directed to mail the Findings of Fact and Conclusion to the student, the student’s parent and their representative, if any.  Alan Bodkins seconded the motion.  AYES-Bodkins, Johnson, Lynch, Melvin, Owen, Wright, Wuthrich.  NAYS-None.  Motion carried.

There being no further business to come before the board for consideration at this time, upon motion made by Alan Bodkins and seconded by Rod Lynch, the President declared the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

An exempt negotiation session was held following adjournment.

                                                                        Betsy J. Bassett

                                                                        Board Secretary/Business Manager