BOARD OF DIRECTORS
NORTH LINN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Regular Meeting 7:00 PM
North Linn District Office
3033 Lynx Drive
Troy Mills, IA
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
100: Call to Order and Determination of a Quorum
President, Jeffrey Boss, called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Present were Directors J Benesh, R Benesch (via zoom), Hoover, Krogmann, Michael & Price, Superintendent Breitfelder, Secondary Principal Giegerich, Elementary Principal/Director of School Improvement Graven and Secretary Peyton. Also in attendance was Katie Hatch, Treasurer for the PTO.
200: Adoption of the Agenda
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to adopt the agenda as presented. Motion carried 7-0.
300: Consent Agenda
Secretary Peyton discussed the February financial reports and the results of the FY23 Audit. It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to approve the following consent items; Minutes of the February board meeting, bills, Secretary’s financial reports, Activity Fund report and Food Service report. Motion carried 7-0.
400: Audience Communications
There were no comments from the audience.
500: Informational Reports, Discussions, and Presentations
501: Superintendent Report
Superintendent Breitfelder shared an update on the planning for a facilities committee to include board members, staff, students, administrators and community members. She discussed putting together a focus group to discuss procedures for closing school due to school activities and making those days up at the end of the year, as well as plans for the administrator meeting off site next week for goal setting and planning for next school year. She asked when was the best time to do the Superintendent evaluation and the board recommended the June meeting. Secretary Peyton gave an update on the playground equipment installation this summer and discussed the recent renewal information provided from EMC for the FY25 property and casualty insurance.
502: Elementary Report
Elementary Principal Graven provided highlights from the Kindergarten/Preschool registration night and gave updated enrollment numbers for Kindergarten and preschool classes. She also shared information from the last preschool data team meeting where they reviewed where students fell within their Gold bands.
503: Secondary Report
Middle School/High School Principal Giegerich commended the entire staff who work together to make sure all activities happen. He shared praise for Mr. Novey and Ms. Raab and their hard work preparing for the All Bands concert, variety show and middle school musical. He also shared congratulations to the boys and girls basketball teams who each brought home championship titles from the state basketball tournament! He also shared information about the attendance review committee that will dig further into our absenteeism rates and plan for supports and interventions.
The board asked what things the district can do to help promote fine arts events to help increase attendance and would like to know what challenges the fine arts teachers have and how the district can help alleviate some of those. Discussion continued regarding the overall scheduling of events dates and trying to avoid planning fine arts events during state tournament when possible and paying close attention to scheduling summer sports the last week of May when we could use those days as makeup days for school if necessary.
504: School Improvement Report
School Improvement Director Graven shared updates from the recent lighthouse meetings, plans for the May 1st Leadership Day, conditions for learning survey that will only be given to students this year and plans for a different survey more closely tied to Leader in Me that will be sent to staff and parents. ISASP testing will be the first week in April and she is currently working on rewriting the District’s Professional Development plan to submit to the state.
505: Buildings and Grounds Report
Buildings and Grounds Director Giegerich discussed the spring clean-up list, plans for the athletic fields, spring testing with Johnson Controls and work that Brecke Mechanical will be in to complete as well as a couple of issues that are being addressed on the roof.
600: New Business
601: First Reading of Policy Recommendations
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Price to waive the second reading and approve policy 804.5 Stock Epinephrine Auto-Injector Supply, 503.7 Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause Incidents of Violence and 503.7 R1 Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence or Cause Incidents of Violence Regulations. Motion carried 7-0.
602: Receive Sharing Agreement for Curriculum Director 24-25
It was moved by Price, seconded by Hoover to approve the sharing agreement with Central City for Curriculum Director for the 2024-2025 School Year. Motion carried 7-0.
603: Receive Copier Quotes
Secretary Peyton shared the quotes from Access Systems and Gordon Flesch for eight new copiers for the district. The board discussed the equipment from each quote, both being a similar cost for the district. It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Price to approve the copier lease agreement with Access Systems for eight copiers. Motion carried 7-0.
604: Receive AEA Purchasing Agreement for 2024-2025
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to approve the AEA Purchasing Agreement for the 2024-2025 school year for food bids, small wares and wash wares. Motion carried 7-0
605: Receive FFA Overnight Travel Request for State Convention
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Price to approve the overnight travel request from FFA to travel to Ames April 14-16 for the State Convention. Motion carried 7-0.
606: Receive Cooperative Agreements for Student Teachers
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to approve the Cooperative Agreements for Student Teachers from Morningside University, Coe College and UNI for the 2024-2025 school year. Motion carried 7-0.
607: Receive Public Hearing for the Revised 2023-2024 School Calendar
The time being 8:51PM it was moved by Price, seconded by Hoover to open a public hearing to discuss the revised proposed school calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. Motion carried 7-0. Superintendent Breitfelder shared the proposed updates to the 23-24 school calendar making May 22nd a full day of school, adding a full day of school on May 23rd and adding a 12:15 early dismissal on May 24th making that the last day of school. The board had a lengthy discussion surrounding the school calendar and expectations for making up missed days going forward and communicating that to parents and staff early in the year. The time being 9:26 PM it was moved by Krogmann, seconded by Hoover to close the public hearing. Motion carried 7-0.
608: Receive Revised 2023-2024 School Calendar
It was moved by Hoover, seconded by Krogmann to approve the changes to the 2023-2024 school calendar as presented. Motion carried 7-0.
Katie Hatch left the meeting at 9:27PM.
609: Receive Public Hearing for the 2024-2025 School Calendar
The time being 9:27 PM it was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to hold a public hearing to discuss the proposed school calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. Motion carried 7-0. Superintendent presented the 2024-2025 school calendar. Director of School Improvement Graven shared a number of factors that limit the length of the school calendar, the board discussed their desire to align the school calendar to maximize student contact days but provide for the necessary professional development time as well. The time being 9:41 PM it was moved by Hoover, seconded by J Benesh to close the public hearing. Motion carried 7-0.
610: Receive 2024-2025 School Calendar
It was moved by Krogmann, seconded by Hoover to approve the 2024-2025 school calendar as presented. Motion carried 7-0
611: Receive Fundraiser Request from Skills USA/Industrial Tech
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Michael to approve the fundraiser request from Skills USA to sell custom wood signs designed and built by students during March, April and May 2024. Motion carried 7-0.
612: Receive Final Independent Auditors Report for FY23
Secretary Peyton shared the details of the FY23 Audit in the Consent Agenda. It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to approve North Linn’s fiscal year 2023 independent audit of our basic financial statements and supplementary information by Terpstra, Hoke & Associates. Motion carried 7-0.
613: Open Enrollment Requests
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Hoover to approve four Open Enrollment Requests into the district and two Open Enrollment Requests out of the district and deny one Open Enrollment Request into the district due to insufficient space. Motion carried 7-0.
615: Receive and set Hearing Date and Time to Amend Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Budget
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Krogmann to set the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Amendment hearing on April 17th at 7:00 PM in the District Office located at 3033 Lynx Drive, Troy Mills, IA. Motion carried 7-0.
700: Personnel
It was moved by J Benesh, seconded by Price to approve the following personnel requests: Kim Graven reassigned from Elementary Principal/Dir Of School Improvement to Shared Director of School Improvement, Hire Trevor Boge, K-8 PE for the 24-25 school year, hire Emily Raab as MS Softball Coach for the 23-24 school year and hire Jackie Hamilton as a Special Education Associate pending background check and accept resignations from Dave Sattgast, Robotics coach, and Rae VanMilligan, MS Softball coach. Motion carried 7-0.
800: Board Communications and Calendar
801: Board Communications
There were not additional comments from the Board.
802: Board Calendar
The next meeting will be April 3rd at 7:00 for the FY25 Proposed Tax public hearing.
900: Adjournment
The time being 9:50 PM it was moved by Hoover, seconded by J Benesh to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 7-0.
___________________________________ _______________________________
Kerry Peyton, Board Secretary Jeffrey Boss, Board President
