UNOFFICIAL MINUTES MUSCATINE SCHOOL BOARD OF EDUCATION REGULAR SESSION April 14, 2014 The Board of Education of the Muscatine Community School District, in the County of Muscatine, State of Iowa, met in regular session on Monday, April 14, 2014 at 7 p.m. at City Hall. President Nathan Mather called the meeting to order. Directors Tim Bower, Tammi Drawbaugh, Brenda Garcia-‐Van Auken, Tom Johanns, Randy Naber, and Mary Wildermuth were present. Also present were Superintendent Jerry Riibe and Director of Finance Jean Garner. The board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. President Mather welcomed visitors and media representatives. Daphne Donald, 1559 Washington St, and Kristen Manjoine, 2460 Cattail Ridge, invited the board to participate in the 2nd annual Race for the Schools scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2014. This year they added a 10K route along with the 5K and a family fun run. Last year, $5,400 was raised for the Muscatine School Foundation. This year a portion of the proceeds will go to the Foundation and an equal amount distributed among physical education teachers and their schools within the district. Junior student council representatives Julie Pineda and Emilee Meyer updated the board on recent high school student council activities. A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Wildermuth to approve the consent agenda as follows: the minutes of the March 10, 2014 regular meeting and the March 27, 2014 and April 8, 2014 special sessions; the student teacher agreements with the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa Wesleyan College; the bills and claims dated April 14, 2014; the personnel recommendations of: Resignations: Brandon Guy – MHS Social Studies teacher, Danielle Trzebiatowski – MHS Special Ed teacher, John Dockery-‐Jackson – MHS Science Teacher, Anne Giesel – MHS Spanish teacher, and Walter Crowder – Director of Operational Services. Schedule C Resignations: Christina Walker – Assistant Speech & Debate Coach and Hank Murray – middle school football. Certified Hires: Jennifer Keltner – MHS Teacher Librarian, Lynn Ralston – West Middle School Math, Alison Stern – MHS Family & Consumer Science. Classified Hires: Angela Curtis – CMS Student Interventionist (for one year only). Schedule C Hires: Dave Kerr – MHS assistant volleyball coach. Other: up to 1.0 FTE TAG position. And the following field trips: Model United Nations to the Model U.N. Conference on April 24-‐25, 2014 in Cedar Falls, Iowa as submitted by teachers Hanson/Wilford/Prinsen. Middle School Orchestra to Music in the Parks Six Flags on May 10, 2014 in Gurnee, Illinois as submitted by Jessica Blanchard.
Colorado 5th grade to the Iowa Children’s Water Festival in Ankeny, Iowa on May 15, 2014 as submitted by Karen Hartman. MHS Band to New York City on March 13-‐18, 2015 as submitted by Jeff Heid. All ayes; motion carried. The board then began the public hearing for the purpose of certifying the 2014-‐15 school budget. A motion was made by Director Naber and seconded by Director Drawbaugh to open the public hearing. Roll Call: Ayes – Directors Bower, Drawbaugh, Garcia-‐Van Auken, Johanns, Mather, Naber, and Wildermuth. There were no nays. Motion carried. Time: 7:09 p.m. Director of Finance Jean Garner reviewed the proposed budget and noted that there were no written comments received. There were also no oral comments made during the public hearing. A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Naber to close the public hearing. Roll call: Ayes – Directors Bower, Drawbaugh, Garcia-‐Van Auken, Johanns, Mather, Naber, and Wildermuth. There were no nays. Motion carried. Time: 7:15 p.m. Superintendent Riibe noted that the board authorized him to work with a property owner on E. 9th Street. He stated that an amount of $90,000 was offered and accepted pending board approval. A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Johanns to purchase the property on E. 9th Street in the amount of $90,000. All ayes; motion carried. A motion was made by Director Naber and seconded by Director Wildermuth to approve the board goal objectives as presented. Superintendent Riibe noted that these are the measurable objectives for the goals that the board approved earlier this year. All ayes; motion carried. A motion was made by Director Garcia-‐Van Auken and seconded by Director Bower to approve the 2014-‐15 budget as presented. Board members and the superintendent thanked Mrs. Garner and her team for their hard work with the budget as well as Director of Human Resources Wes Fowler for his work during negotiations. All ayes; motion carried.
A motion was made by Director Bower and seconded by Director Naber to approve the settlements as follows: MEA – 4.03%, SCAP – 3.67%; CMM – 3.75%; FNW – 3.83%; Drivers – 3.76%; Classified Professionals – 3.99%; and Certified Administrators – 3.96%. All ayes; motion carried. Muscatine High School principal and assistant principal Mike McGrory and Chris Nienhaus gave a presentation on weighted grading and how this change could provide a culture of academic rigor for the high school and benefit students as they prepare for post-‐secondary success. Superintendent Riibe stated that he supports the high school’s proposal to use weighted grading. A motion was made by Director Wildermuth and seconded by Director Naber to approve the weighted grading proposal with future changes/adjustments made as necessary. Roll call: Nays: Bower, Drawbaugh, Johanns, and Naber. Ayes: Garcia-‐Van Auken, Mather, and Wildermuth. Motion did not pass. The board heard a first reading on the following policies: 203.09 Conflicts of Interest of the Board 204.05 Annual Meeting of the Board 400.00 Statement of Guiding Principles 401.08 General Personnel Physical Examination 402.01 Equal Employment Opportunity with Admin Procedure 502.01 Discipline 505.05 Student Medication Administration – Admin Proc. 506.15 Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices The board heard a second reading on the following policies: 404.04 Discipline of Students 501.01 Homeless Children & Youth w/Admin Proc 501.09 Approval of Open Enrollment Transfers 501.10 Insufficient Classroom Space 501.11 Competent Private Instruction 502.03 Suspension/Expulsion of Special Education Students 502.05 Weapons 502.08 Transportation Discipline with Administrative Procedures 502.09 Corporal Punishment 503.06 Student Appearance 505.05 Student Medication Administration 507.08 Special Health Services 601.23 Special Education Program 601.29 School Bus Safety Instruction 602.02 Request for Reconsideration of Instructional Materials with Administrative Procedures 702.02AP Student Fee Waiver and Reduction Procedures 702.02 Tuition and Fees for Service 900.09 Nutrition and Wellness Program with Administrative Procedures
Superintendent Riibe provided information on a proposal by members of the football boosters to build a storage facility to house practice materials and to provide a meeting area for the team during half-‐time. This group has been working on raising private capital to support this project as well as seeking local tradespersons for donation of their time and expertise. Chuck Van Hecke, former activity/athletic director, noted that this would also allow for pre-‐ game meetings for video viewing use (instead of using a classroom) and would provide bathroom facilities for those that use the tennis courts. Superintendent Riibe noted that this would be brought to the board for approval at the April 28th meeting. Director of Elementary Innovation and Instruction Shane Williams updated the board on the recent SIAC meeting. The minutes of this meeting were provided as part of the board book. Director of Finance Jean Garner reviewed the March financials. President Mather provided the following announcements: April 16, 2014 AEA Board and Administrative Banquet at 6 p.m. at MBAEA. April 21, 2014 School will be in session due to a snow makeup day. April 22, 2014 DE Site Visit Board Interview at 6 p.m. at the Administration Center. April 28, 2014 Regular Board Meeting at the Administration Center (time to be announced). May 3, 2014 Race for the Schools at the high school. May 10, 2014 STEM Festival at the LACMERS facility. May 12, 2014 Regular Board Meeting at City Hall at 7 p.m. A motion was made by Director Johanns and seconded by Director Wildermuth to adjourn the meeting. All ayes; motion carried. Time: 9:11 p.m. Nathan Mather, President Lisa Mosier, Secretary
