East Buchanan Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes – November 11, 2020
Call to Order: President Greg Schmitt called the meeting to order at 5:08 pm. The board recited the East Buchanan Mission Statement. 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 in person and via Zoom.
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 Steffens. Motion carried with all ayes. Items included on the Consent Agenda: minutes from the regular meeting on October 14, 2020; financial reports; expenditures listed; personnel changes which included Suzanne Goeller as MS girls basketball coach and Raynae Zingg as associate; and inter-agency agreements with North Linn CSD, Waterloo CSD, Waverly-Shell Rock CSD, and Independence CSD for specialized education programming.
Administrative Updates and Reports: Dockstader reported the end of the 1st trimester is November 13th and that flexibility is needed. Fox reported that elementary conferences are on November 17th and November 23rd and will be held virtually.
Organizational Meeting: The superintendent presided over the meeting until a president was elected.
Election of President: The superintendent took nominations for president. Motion by Stone to nominate Schmitt. Sperfslage motioned to cease nominations. Motion carried with all ayes to approve Schmitt as president. The oath of office was administered by the board secretary.
Election of Vice-President: Schmitt took nominations for vice-president. Motion by Stone to nominate Sperfslage. Motion by Cooksley to nominate Steffens. Sperfslage was elected vice-president with a vote of 4 to 1. The oath of office was administered by the president.
Appoint Board Secretary: Motion by Sperfslage, second by Steffens to appoint Teresa Knipper as board secretary. Motion carried with all ayes. The oath of office was administered by the president.
Appoint Board Treasurer: Motion by Stone, second by Cooksley to appoint Marilyn Steinkamp as board treasurer. Motion carried with all ayes.
Appoint Legal Counsel: Motion by Stone, second by Sperfslage to appoint Steve Weidner of Swisher and Cohrt as legal counsel. Motion carried with all ayes.
Approve Official Depositories: Motion by Stone, second by Sperfslage to approve the official depositories and maximum deposits as: Citizens State Bank ($10 million), UMB ($2 million), and ISJIT ($2 million). Motion carried with all ayes.
Name Official Publication: Motion by Sperfslage, second by Steffens to approve The Winthrop News as official publication for the district. Motion carried with all ayes.
Establish dates and times of school board meetings: Motion by Stone, second by Cooksley to approve the second Wednesday of each month at 5:00 pm as the school board meeting date and time. Motion carried with all ayes.
Covid-19 Guidelines: Fox provided information on the positivity rate for the county and school as well as a summary of enhanced public health measures from the IDPH. Extensive discussion was held about the use of masks. Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to require masks if six feet can’t be maintained on school property which includes all buildings, buses, and school events beginning November 12th with reevaluation at the January school board meeting. Motion carried. Aye: Cooksley, Schmitt, Sperfslage, Steffens. Nay: Stone.
River Hills Consortium SBRC Administrative Cost Request: Motion by Cooksley, second by Stone to approve the application to the SBRC in the amount of $1,918.00 for special education administrative costs associate with the River Hills Consortium program for the 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried with all ayes.
Lied Center Consortium SBRC Administrative Cost Request: Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the application to the SBRC in the amount of $1,736.39 for special education administrative costs associate with the Lied Center Consortium program for the 2021-2022 school year. Motion carried with all ayes.
SBRC Application for Modified Supplement Amount: Motion by Stone, second by Cooksley to approve the SBRC application for increased enrollment of $7,752.80 and open enrollment out not in Fall 2019 of $102,512.00 for a total of $110,264.80 Motion carried with all ayes.
Resolution to transfer remaining Fund 31 bank account balance: Motion by Cooksley, second by Sperfslage to approve the resolution to transfer $6,347.91 from Fund 31 to Fund 40 debt service. Motion carried with all ayes for the resolution as follows: Whereas, the East Buchanan CSD has completed the projects approved by the voters and has $6,347.91 remaining: and Whereas, pursuant to Iowa Code Section 298A.9 the District has principal and interest due on which the funds may be used; and Whereas, the Board of Directors finds it in the best interest of the district to transfer the funds to the debt service fund for payment of principal and interest.
Snow Removal Bids: One bid was received from Jeff Childers for snow removal at $60.00 per hour. Motion by Stone, second by Steffens to approve the bid. Motion carried with all ayes.
Appoint member to the Buchanan County Conference Board: Motion by Stone, second by Cooksley to appoint Andy Sperfslage to the Buchanan County Conference Board. Motion carried with all ayes.
Annual Board Policy Review: Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to approve policies 407.6 series Certified Personnel Retirement and 413.02 series Classified Employee Retirement as presented. Motion carried with all ayes.
Buccaneer Brag About: The board was recognized for their handling of covid concerns. The PTO is boosting morale. Veterans in the meeting were recognized for their service. A board member commented on how he saw a student helping another student with car problems – Buc Pr1de!
Student Questions: Several students asked about being eligible for activities when learning online, use of masks when no one is in the hall with them, use of microwave at lunch, and face gator use.
Adjourn – Motion by Sperfslage, second by Steffens to adjourn the meeting at 6:40 pm. Motion carried with all ayes.
Next regular meeting is scheduled for December 9, 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.