Government : Vinton Shellsburg School Board Meeting Notes

Board Vice President Sue Gates called the regular Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District board of directors to order at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 13, 2020 at Tilford Elementary. All members attended including Rob Levis via phone. Brenda Barkdoll, Business Manager and Mary Jo Hainstock, Superintendent were present. Guests included several representatives from the farming community.

Superintendent Hainstock read a prepared statement addressing recent media reports of the school's work and intention with the food service program and the Farm to School work. She noted that the district and F2S chapter are focusing on providing locally sourced food and providing training that assists food service staff in learning more scratch cooking techniques and preparation.

Under Audience Comments, Drew Fish, president of the Benton County Cattlemen Association, read a statement outlining Benton County commodity groups' interest in providing accurate information. Jenny Birker addressed the board and shared her appreciation for the district's interest in meeting with the commodity representatives to develop ways to support our students.

Under the Administrator Reports, Shelly Petersen shared FAST assessments will start at the Middle School next week and Lego League will compete at state next weekend. Matt Kingsbury shared the ACT will be given, free of charge, to junior students on February 25 and that the semester will end this week. He highlighted that professional development this week will focus on Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW).

Under Superintendent Report, Hainstock shared the deadline for early retirement applications was last Friday and that she will share a summary for the board's review and potential approval at the February board meeting. Mr. Kingsbury, Mr. Struve and she had recently met with someone interested in starting an archery program. Potentially, it will not be school supported but will be school recognized - similar to our trapshooting program. The next step is to see if there are students who would be interested. She noted specifics about the district's business procedures and how there are several checks and balances with how items are procured and approved for payment. She shared open enrollment requests filed on behalf of Keira Ritter and Christian Cardenas to continue at VS after a move; Natalie Matteson to continue in Cedar Rapids; Rylee Pavao to attend Iowa Connections Academy next year; and Caroline, Elizabeth and Lillian Plasencia to attend Union next year. There were several calendar items including that the "regular" February board meeting business will be conducted as part of one of the meetings the board has with the superintendent search work.

Under Board Reports/Requests, Kathy Van Steenhuyse and Sue Gates assisted at the recent career fair at the high school and with the district leadership team meeting focused around mental health. The success of the girls' basketball team was noted as was the recent choir concert. Rob Levis updated the board on the search process.

Under General Business of the Board, the board reviewed and approved:

• Minutes from the December 9th regular meeting and December 19th special board meeting.
• Claims and financials;
• Contracts with Kirkwood for several memorandums of understanding for teaching services; Johnson Controls to support the Metasys systems at Tilford, Shellsburg and the High School; Old Creamery Theatre to present at Shellsburg;
• Bids from Air Serv for two units for the MS Industrial Tech area and for a booster pump for Shellsburg.
• Resignations from Blake Bohnsack as 8th grade assistant boys' basketball coach and Rachelle Rammelsberg as an associate at the high school;
• Hiring of Aaron Zuspann as assistant 7th grade assistant boys' basketball coach and Cody Robertson as head 10th grade baseball coach;
• Kayla Peterson and Karys Lillie to be substitute teachers;
• Permission to solicit bids and dispose of a 2006 bus and 2003 van;
• Out of district travel for the high school band and choir to travel to Florida in June.

The board reviewed parameters that the superintendent and business manager should use in creating the 2020-21 budget.

The board approved a resolution for 2020-21 at-risk dropout prevention as part of next year's budget work.

The board reviewed items the administrators and directors had developed as priorities for the PPEL/SAVE funds.

The board conducted the first reading on miscellaneous board policies in the 100, 300 and 400 series.

The board reviewed work done a year ago as far as making priorities on how to communicate the district's stories. Hainstock noted the next Excel publication is almost ready to go to print.

There were no audience comments.

Correspondence items included the IASB new money report, information on the music trip to Florida, IASB budget information, final Grant Wood AEA enrollment data, school board member committee assignments and meeting dates.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 PM.