East Buchanan Community School District
Regular Board Meeting Minutes – August 14, 2024
Call to Order - President Andy Sperfslage called the meeting to order at 5:04 pm. The board recited the East Buchanan Mission Statement. Board members present were Scott Cooksley, Andrew Maas, Tim Recker, Andy Sperfslage, and Heather Steffens. Administration attending were Superintendent Kory Kelchen, MS/HS Principal Eric Dockstader, Dean of Students Nathan Reck, and Business Manager/Board Secretary Teresa Knipper. Several visitors attended the meeting. Motion carried with all ayes unless otherwise noted.
Public Hearing – Motion by Maas, second by Steffens at 5:04 pm to open the public hearing on the proposed resolution to consider continued participating in the Instructional Support Program. There were no comments from the public. Motion Steffens, second by Cooksley to close the public hearing at 5:05 pm.
Approve Agenda – Motion by Maas, second by Recker to approve the agenda.
Approve Consent Agenda - Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to approve the consent agenda. Items included on the Consent Agenda: minutes from the regular meeting on July 10, 2024; hiring of Emily Kehrli as MS volleyball coach, Brent Lenox as MS football coach, Bob Beatty as MS football coach, and Chad Lamker as HS football asst coach; expenditures listed; and financial reports.
Community/Program Presentations – Elementary guidance counselor Mandi Smith explained the requirements of a dog to be a therapy dog and the benefits of a therapy dog in a school setting.
Administrative Updates and Reports – Reck recognized the summer custodial staff for their assistance in moving classrooms and Mellisa Schweitzer for the registration process going well. He also reported the leadership teams have met. Dockstader also recognized the summer custodial staff, summarized the schedule for the next week, and reported that the new industrial arts teacher has been busy organizing the shop for the school year. Kelchen presented guidance from the Iowa Department of Education regarding attendance and chronic absenteeism. The replacement windows have been installed, Dwayne Manning cleared the fence line by the football field, and the door security project should begin this fall.
Out of state Field Trip – Kelchen provided details regarding a request form Andrew Machacek to take a field trip out of state for 7th grade students. Motion by Steffens, second by Recker to approve the request.
Instructional Support Levy Resolution - The President of the Board called up for consideration the Resolution to Participate in the Instructional Support. Motion by Recker, second by Cooksley to approve the motion to adopt the resolution to participate in the instructional support program. The roll was called and the vote was: AYES: Recker, Maas, Steffens, Cooksley, Sperfslage; NAYS: None. The President declared the Resolution adopted as follows: RESOLUTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has approved a five (5) year finance plan, which anticipates the level of funding that will be possible to continue the current level of services and to fund the ongoing programs of the School District; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.27; and
WHEREAS, the Board has published notice of the time and place of a public hearing on the resolution; and
WHEREAS, a hearing has been held upon the proposal to continue to participate in the Instructional Support Program and any objections are overruled;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is resolved:
1. The Board of Directors determines that it is consistent with the five (5) finance plan to fund the ongoing programs and services of the School District and it is in the best interest of the School District to participate in an Instructional Support Program as provided in Iowa Code sections 257.18 through 257.21, and to provide additional funding therefor for a period of five (5) years commencing the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.
2. The additional funding for the Instructional Support Program for a budget year will be determined annually, and shall not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Iowa Code section 257.14 as a budget adjustment for the budget year.
3. Moneys received by the District for the Instructional Support Program may be used for any general fund purpose, all subject to the limitations of Iowa Code Section 257.19.
4. The Instructional Support Program shall be funded by instructional support state aid and a combination instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and instructional support income surtax imposed annually, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each budget year to be imposed upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31, 2025, and each year thereafter.
5. Unless, within twenty-eight days following the adoption of this resolution, the Secretary of the Board receives a petition containing the signatures of eligible electors equal in number to not less than one hundred or thirty percent of the number of voters at the last preceding regular school election, whichever is greater, asking that an election be called to approve or disapprove this action of the Board adopting the Instructional Support Program, this action of the Board is final and the Secretary is authorized and directed to certify a copy of this resolution to the Department of Management.
In the event a petition containing the required number of signatures is filed with the Secretary of the Board within twenty-eight days of the adoption of this resolution, the President shall call a meeting of the Board to consider recision of this resolution, or to direct the county commissioner of elections to submit the following question to the qualified electors of the School District at a special election.
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 for a period of five (5) years to levy and impose an instructional support tax in an amount (after taking into consideration instructional support state aid) of not exceeding ten percent (10%) of the total of regular program district cost for the budget year and moneys received under Iowa Code section 257.14 as a budget adjustment in the budget year, and be authorized annually, in combination, as determined by the Board, to levy a combination of an instructional support property tax upon all the taxable property within the School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, and instructional support income surtax imposed annually the percent of income surtax to be determined by the Board for each budget year to be imposed upon the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the School District on December 31, 2025, and each year thereafter.
PASSED AND APPROVED this 14th day of August 2024. Andy Sperfslage, Board President; Attest: Teresa Knipper, Board Secretary
Central Rivers AEA Network Support Agreement – Kelchen explained the options available and recommended the $1,000/mo support option. Motion by Steffens, second by Maas to approve the network support agreement.
24-25 Junior Achievement MOA – Motion by Steffens, second by Recker to approve the 24-25 Junior Achievement MOA as presented.
24-25 Student Handbooks – Handbook changes were presented by Dockstader and Reck. Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to approve the 24-25 Student Handbooks as presented.
24-25 Employee Handbook – Kelchen explained the changes to the employee handbook. Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the 24-25 employee handbook as presented.
Turf Tank Athletic Field Painter – Kelchen presented the options and possibility of splitting the cost with another district for a 3-year lease of the field painter. Motion by Steffens, second by Recker to approve a 3-year lease for the Plus option as presented. Ayes: Maas, Recker, Sperfslage, Steffens. Nays: Cooksley.
Denovo Construction Solutions Assessment Proposal – Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the proposal for $9,500 from Denovo Construction to perform the assessment as presented.
Esports Sharing Agreement – Motion by Steffens, second by Recker to approve the Esports sharing agreement with Independence CSD.
Board Policy Review – Motion by Maas, second by Recker to approve the first reading of policies 103, 103.R1, 106, 605.3E4, 710.1E1, 710.1E2, and 711.8 as presented.
Board Policy Review – Motion by Cooksley, second by Recker to approve the second reading of board policies 710.4, 401.12R1, and 505 through 508 series as presented.
#BucPr1de – Summer custodial and technology staff did a great job getting everything ready for the school year, Mr. Brown organized a walk to raise funds for meal debt, and staff have been working hard to get everything ready for the start of the school year.
Adjourn – Motion by Recker, second by Cooksley to adjourn the meeting at 6:26 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.