East Buchanan Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes – April 13, 2022
Call to Order -President Andy Sperfslage called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. The board recited the East Buchanan Mission Statement. Board members present were Scott Cooksley, Tim Recker, Andy Sperfslage, Heather Steffens, and Shawn Stone. Administration attending were Superintendent/Elementary Principal Dan Fox and Business Manager/Board Secretary Teresa Knipper. HS/MS Principal Eric Dockstader was absent. Several visitors attended the meeting. Motion carried with all ayes unless otherwise noted.
Public Hearing – Motion to open the public hearing regarding the 2022-2023 certified budget was made at 5:00 pm by Steffens, second by Cooksley. The proposed budget as published was presented. There were no comments from the public. Motion to close the public hearing was made at 5:02 pm by Stone.
Approve Agenda - Motion to approve the agenda was made by Cooksley, second by Stone.
Approve Consent Agenda - Motion to approve the Consent Agenda was made by Cooksley, second by Steffens. Items included on the Consent Agenda: minutes from the regular meeting on March 9, 2022; minutes from the special meeting on March 14, 2022; minutes from the special meeting on March 16, 2022; minutes from the special meeting on March 23, 2022; resignations of Nicole Reck as dance coach, Olivia Connolly as associate, Byron Reeder as junior class sponsor, Chad Lamker as HS boys basketball coach, Abby Taylor as cheer sponsor, Nathan Reck as summer maintenance; hiring of Julie Gile for food service; hiring of Kiersten Amos for cheer sponsor; rehire of Chad Lamker as MS track coach; expenditures listed; and financial reports.
Administrative Updates and Reports – Fox presented that ISASP testing is complete for grades 3-11 and that field trips, Day of Awesomeness, and Camp Wapsi are planned for next month. Fox also presented the progress report from the contractors for the sports complex and that the poles have been set for the ball field netting.
Scholarship Committee Members – The board appointed Sperfslage and Steffens to the Carl Arnold Scholarship selection committee. Stone, Cooksley, and Recker were appointed to the Lowell and Agnes Davis Scholarship selection committee.
Playground Project – The board discussed placing the new playground to the west of the MS instead of on the vacant log. A proposal from Boland Recreation was presented. Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the proposal with the rubber mulch option.
Staff Retention Incentive Payment – Motion by Stone that, due to systemic staff shortages in the state, staff vacancies in the district, in anticipation of continued shortages and additional responsibilities due to the pandemic, on-going pandemic mitigation, and to reinforce our desire to retain our employees, the board pay all active continuing staff at East Buchanan Community School District (excluding teachers that already received the Governor’s retention payment, coaches, event center coordinator, board treasurer, and substitutes) that were under contract on October 1st and agree to fulfill the remainder of their 2021-2022 employment contract in its entirety, a one-time stipend of $1,000 multiplied by their full-time equivalency as determined by the superintendent for a maximum $1,000 funded by ESSER and Nutrition Fund reserves, as allowed. Motion was seconded by Recker.
Approve FY21 Audit Report – Motion by Cooksley, second by Stone to approve the FY21 audit report as presented.
Set Public Hearing for FY22 Amended Budget – Knipper presented that there is a need to amend the current year budget with exact amounts to be determined. Motion by Stone, second by Recker to set the public hearing for the purpose of amending the current school budget on May 11, 2022.
Resolution Fixing the Date for Public Hearing on the Proposed Use of SAVE Revenue for an Athletic Facility Infrastructure Project – Steffens introduced the resolution and moved its adoption. Recker seconded the motion to adopt. Roll was called and the vote was: Ayes: Stone, Recker, Steffens, Cooksley, Sperfslage; Nays: none. President Sperfslage declared the resolution adopted as follows: RESOLUTION FIXING THE DATE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED USE OF SAVE REVENUE FOR AN ATHLETIC FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT WHEREAS, the School District receives revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund ("SAVE Revenue") pursuant to Iowa Code § 423F.2; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 423F and an election duly held in accordance therewith on September 9, 2008, the Board of Directors is currently entitled to spend SAVE Revenue for school infrastructure purposes, including the construction of an athletic facility infrastructure project; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has considered potential uses of the District's SAVE Revenue including use for secure entries for the District's attendance centers and has determined that it is necessary and advisable for the District to use SAVE Revenue for the following athletic facility infrastructure project that is not physically attached to a student attendance center: to improve the athletic complex, including constructing, furnishing and equipping a new concession stand with bathrooms, a new storage building, softball field dugouts, baseball field bleachers, football field visiting spectator bleachers, all-weather four-lane track, pedestrian facilities and related site work; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has complied with the provisions of Iowa Code § 423F.3(6A) by adopting a resolution setting forth the proposal for the athletic facility infrastructure project, and holding a public hearing on the proposed construction of the athletic facility NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:
- The Board of Directors hereby supports the proposed use of SAVE Revenue for the following athletic facility infrastructure project: to improve the athletic complex, including constructing, furnishing and equipping a new concession stand with bathrooms, a new storage building, softball field dugouts, baseball field bleachers, football field visiting spectator bleachers, all-weather four-lane track, pedestrian facilities and related site work. The estimated cost of the construction of this athletic facility infrastructure project is $1,600,000.
- Eligible electors of the school district have the right to file with the Board Secretary a petition pursuant to Iowa Code § 423F.4(2)(b), on or before close of business on May 25, 2022, for an election on the proposed use of SAVE Revenue. The petition must be signed by eligible electors equal in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of those voting at the last preceding election of school officials under Iowa Code § 277.1, whichever is greater.
- In the event a petition containing the required number of valid signatures is filed with the Secretary of the Board on or before close of business on May 25, 2022, the President shall call a meeting of the Board to consider rescinding this Resolution supporting the proposed use of SAVE Revenue or directing that the question of the proposed use of SAVE Revenue be submitted to the qualified electors of the School District.
If the Board determines to submit the question to the electors, the proposition to be submitted shall be as follows: Shall the Board of Directors of the East Buchanan Community School District in the County of Buchanan, State of Iowa, be authorized to use revenue from the State of Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund to improve the athletic complex, including constructing, furnishing and equipping a new concession stand with bathrooms, a new storage building, softball field dugouts, baseball field bleachers, football field visiting spectator bleachers, all-weather four-lane track, pedestrian facilities and related site work, with the estimated cost of construction being $1,600,000?
Prepayment Levy Resolution – Cooksley introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption. Stone seconded the motion to adopt. Roll was called and the vote was: Ayes: Stone, Recker, Steffens, Cooksley, Sperfslage; Nays: none. The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows: Resolution Authorizing the Redemption of General Obligation School bondS, SERIES 2017, Dated May 1, 2017, and Levying a Tax for fiscal year 2023 for the Redemption of General Obligation School bondS, SERIES 2017, Dated May 1, 2017 WHEREAS, the East Buchanan Community School District (the "District") issued $6,500,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2017, dated May 1, 2017 (the "Series 2017 Bonds"), of which $5,485,000 are currently outstanding; of which $90,000 were called for redemption on May 1, 2023 pursuant to a resolution adopted April 10, 2019; of which $125,000 were called for redemption on May 1, 2023 pursuant to a resolution adopted April 8, 2020; of which $125,000 were called for redemption on May 1, 2023 pursuant to a resolution adopted March 10, 2021; and of which $210,000 are now being called for redemption on May 1, 2023, which are described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution (the "Redeemed Bonds"); and WHEREAS, at this time, it is in the best interest of the District to levy a tax for the Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2023, which is sufficient to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on May 1, 2023; and WHEREAS, the Series 2017 Bonds which mature after May 1, 2023 may be called in whole or in part on any date beginning on May 1, 2023, from any funds regardless of source, in any order of maturity and within annual maturity by lot by giving 30 days' written notice of redemption to the registered owner of the Bonds, the terms of redemption to be par plus accrued interest to the date of call, such notice to be deemed completed upon transmission to the owner of record of the Bond at the address shown on the books of the Registrar; and WHEREAS, selection by lot will be necessary to select bonds to be called among mandatory redemption payment due May 1, 2036 of the Term Bond which matures on May 1, 2037; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the District to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved: Section 1. That the Redeemed Bonds are hereby redeemed as of May 1, 2023. Section 2. UMB Bank, N.A., West Des Moines, Iowa (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company, Des Moines, Iowa), in its capacity as Registrar, Paying Agent and Transfer Agent, is hereby authorized and directed to cause notice of such redemption to be given not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of redemption by written notice to the registered owner of the Redeemed Bonds in substantially the form set forth in Schedule B attached to this Resolution. Piper Sandler & Co., as Dissemination Agent for the District, is hereby authorized and directed to provide electronic notice of such redemption to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board at http://emma.msrb.org/. On or before May 1, 2023, the Treasurer shall deposit with the Paying Agent $210,000 to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds described in Schedule A attached to this Resolution, such call and redemption to be effective May 1, 2023 pursuant to the terms of the Series 2017 Bonds. All liability for interest on the Redeemed Bonds shall cease, terminate, and be completely discharged as of May 1, 2023 as provided in Section 6(b) of the Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of the Series 2017 Bonds. Section 3. There is levied upon all the taxable property of the District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, $210,000 which when collected shall be deposited with the Paying Agent. The Paying Agent is authorized and directed to call and redeem the Redeemed Bonds on May 1, 2023. PASSED AND APPROVED this 13th day of April, 2022.
FY23 Budget Adjustment Resolution – Motion by Recker, second by Cooksley that the board levy property taxes for the FY23 regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa. The president declared the resolution adopted as Resolved, that the Board of Directors of East Buchanan CSD, will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2022-2023 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.
Approve FY23 Budget – Knipper presented the budget and taxes to be adopted. Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to approve the budget and taxes as presented.
Board Policy Review – 1st Reading – Motion by Stone, second by Recker to approve the first reading of policies 707 to 712 with changes as discussed.
Buccaneer Brag-About – The students tried very hard on ISASP tests and staff are proud of them. A student made cookies for all staff members. Kitchen staff has worked hard on keeping the lunch program going without a director. The musical was great.
Student Questions – A student asked if the old playground equipment would be removed. Fox explained that the new playground is more of a fitness playground.
Exempt Session – Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to go into exempt session at 6:13 pm per Iowa Code 20.17(3) and Iowa Code 20.9. Motion by Steffens, second by Stone to leave exempt session at 8:09 pm.
Adjourn – Motion by Recker, second by Steffens to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 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 am and 4:00 pm.