September 9, 2020 minutes

Call to Order:  President Greg Schmitt called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.  The board recited the East Buchanan Mission Statement. 

Roll Call:  Board members present were Greg Schmitt, Shawn Stone, Scott Cooksley, Andy Sperfslage, and Heather Steffens.  Administration attending were Dan Fox, Superintendent/Elementary Principal;  Eric Dockstader, MS/HS Principal ; Teresa Knipper, Business Manager/Board Secretary.  Several visitors attended. 

Approve Agenda:   Motion to approve the agenda was made by Stone, second by Sperfslage.  Motion carried with all ayes.

Approve Consent Agenda:    Motion to approve the Consent Agenda was made by Stone, second by Cooksley.  Motion carried with all ayes.  Items included on the Consent Agenda:   minutes from the regular meeting on August 12, 2020; financial reports; expenditures listed; and personnel changes which included Justin Kress as MS football coach, Rachel Larson as associate, Carly Flexenhar as associate, Sarah Junk as associate, Andrea Ries as associate, Mandi Smith as MS volleyball coach, and Kelli Connolly as MS volleyball coach.

Administrative Updates and Reports: Dockstader explained that there is less passing time with the 6-period day.  There are 33 students utilizing Edgenuity and those students are being monitored by 4 staff members to guide them through it.  Fox reported that 19 K-5 students are using Edmentum in 4 subject areas.  Teachers have been busy testing student reading levels and doing assessments.  SeeSaw is working well and the students are figuring out how it works in case we have to go to online learning only.  District update included options for parent-teacher conferences, cohort groups are working well, students are doing well with the masks, and the lunch setup is going well due to social distancing.  Nurse Tracy Klendworth and health associate Rachel Larson are updating parents on covid symptoms when a student is sent home. 

2020-2021 MS/HS Handbook:  Dockstader explained the updates to the handbook that is posted on the district’s website.  Motion was made by Cooksley to approve the handbook with changes, second by Steffens.  Ayes:  Cooksley, Schmitt, Steffens, Stone.  Nays:  Sperfslage.

Board Policy Review:  Motion to approve the 1st reading with changes as discussed of the 605 Policy series was made by Sperfslage, second by Stone.  Motion carried with all ayes.  Motion to approve the 2nd reading of policies 409.2E1, 409.2E2, and 907.R1 was made by Stone, second by Sperfslage.  Motion carried with all ayes.

Buccaneer Brag About:  Buccaneer Brag About included the improvements in the lunch setup, working on SeeSaw with their child, and everyone is doing well with wearing the masks when social distancing is not possible.  Speede Shop, State Farm, and Citizens State Bank have made donations towards the district which included food, care packages, and mask lanyards.  Staff is working hard every day to make things work and to make everyone better.

Student Questions:  Students asked questions about the minimum online learning time to participate in activities, how it will work if we go online only, and what happens if covid cases increase.

Exempt Session:  Motion by Sperfslage, second by Steffens to go into exempt session to discuss matters relating to employment conditions of employees not covered by the collective bargaining law was made at 6:35 pm.  Ayes:  Schmitt, Sperfslage, Steffens, Stone.  Nays:  Cooksley.  Motion by Stone, second by Steffens to return to open meeting was made at 6:46 pm.  Motion carried with all ayes.

Exempt Session Decision:  Motion by Stone, second by Cooksley to approve the recommendations stated in the exempt session.  Motion carried with all ayes.

Adjourn – Motion was made by Sperfslage, second by Stone to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 pm.  Motion carried with all ayes. 

Next regular meeting is scheduled for October 14, 2020 at 5:00 pm.

The above are not official minutes until approved at the next regular board meeting.  A copy of the official minutes may be viewed in the office of the Board Secretary any Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.