2025-10 October 8, 2025 Minutes

East Buchanan Community School District - Regular Board Meeting Minutes – October 8, 2025

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, Andrew Maas, Tim Recker, Andy Sperfslage, and Heather Steffens. Administrators attending were Superintendent Kory Kelchen, Secondary Principal Derick Ludwig, Elementary Principal Nathan Reck, and Board Secretary Teresa Knipper.  Several visitors attended the meeting. Motion carried with all ayes unless noted otherwise. 

Approve Agenda - Motion by Maas, second by Recker to approve the agenda as presented.

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 September 10, 2025; resignation of Al Snyder as girls basketball coach; expenditures listed; and financial reports.

Student Senate Conference Presentation – Student council advisor Lee White presented information about the NASC LEAD conference in Washington DC in late February 2026.  He requested approval to travel out of state and use of district vehicles to travel to/from the airport.

Administrative Updates and Reports –  Reck reported on progress of the literacy curriculum pilot, student-led conferences will be held on October 21st & 23rd, a Leader in Me coach met with teachers, and the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) was sent out.  Ludwig reported staff took the MRA to get baseline data, banners have been hung in the events gym, pink-out night was held, Timmy the Dreamer spoke to 7th-12th graders this week, and a goal has been set in an effort to reduce students leaving class.  Kelchen presented the school performance profile, reported preliminary certified enrollment numbers, and stated that Denovo did a walk-thru of the building with the architect.

Application for MSA – English Learners (EL) -  Motion by Steffens, second by Maas to submit a request to the SBRC for a modified supplement amount of $28,613.92 due to excess costs of providing the EL program in the prior year.

Application for MSA – Special Education Deficit – Motion by Steffens, second by Recker to submit a request for allowable growth and supplemental aid for the negative special education balance of $50,040.68.

Custodial Position Posting – Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to approve the potential posting for a new custodial position beginning the second semester                                

Music Theatre International Contract – Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the Music Theatre International Contract as presented.

Board Policy Review – Motion by Maas, second by Recker to approve the first reading of board policies 505.8 series, 506.1 series, 506.2 series and 506.4 series as presented. 

Student Senate Conference Request  – Motion by Steffens, second by Cooksley to approve the out of state field trip and use of district vehicles for the student senate conference as requested.

Open Enrollment Requests – Motion by Maas, second by Steffens to approve the open enrollment out requests presented by Kelchen.  

Closed Session – Motion by Maas, second by Recker to hold a closed a session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual requests a closed session as authorized by Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(i).  The board entered closed session at 5:44 pm with roll call vote of Aye:  Recker, Maas, Steffens, Sperfslage;  Nay:  Cooksley. The board returned to open session at 5:54 pm.

Closes Session Action -  Motion by Cooksley, second by Steffens to accept the resignation of Trisha Lindsay as bus driver.  Aye:  Cooksley, Maas, Steffens, Sperfslage; Nay:  Recker

BucPr1de – Banners have been hung in the gym and new basketball hoops installed on the playground.

Adjourn- Motion by Maas, second by Recker to adjourn the meeting at 5:57 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 and Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.