UPDATED, notes from April 24, 2017 School Board Work Session
In attendance: Mrs. Hatteberg, Mr. Kendell, Mr. Coen, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Bross
At 6:37 - the meeting hadn’t started. According to Coen, they are waiting on Sharon who is at the track meet. Brenda Mitchell arrived.
At 6:39 Mr. Vickstrom arrived. Sharon arrived at 6:40.
Kendell asked if anything to hand out. Sharon said there was sent them to them in email. There were no paper copies.
Additions: Table of contents will change. Content still the same. Grading practice and credit recovery process added. Bross asked if this is appropriate for the employee handbook.
Steps, credit recovery, and grading practice are not complete and will be added later.
Expectations were sent out to a certain group - k-3 literacy. These are mandated by the state and spelled out the expectations to teachers in letters previously and will be now part of it.
Appendices: Language for evaluation the same form. The labeling has changed.
They added a few things to the appendices.
Specific language from the safety article from the old contract. Blood borne pathogens.?
Section in red - nuts/bolts. Negotiations team gave feedback and so did the staff.
Sharon asked those present to peruse and give suggestions to her before the next board meeting. When the feedback comes in for anyone, Sharon makes copies and adds it to a binder referencing each section. When she gets a lot of feedback, she takes it to the cabinet to review.
The total thing will be at 100 pages.
Every teacher gets one next year and it will be online. After next year, only new teachers get it and put it on a three year cycle to get a new paper copy. The newest version will always be online.
Kendell - Can they opt out of a printed copy? Sharon - Sure. But new teachers need a paper copy. Bross concerned about the cost of printing this thing. AEA is reasonable and Coen suggested the prison printing system is cheaper.
Bross - Final suggestions done?
Sharon - They should be available before the next board meeting. It will just be revisions after that.
Sharon said the biggest responses were on the sick days (150 vs 190) and the funeral leave issue. Coen said that he was approached by people in the district who were so grateful that the handbook is very similar to the contract. He said there was misinformation being presented by a group in the district that wanted to create dissension.
Vickstrom - Will seniority be honored? Coen - It will be a priority Vickstrom- How much of a priority? Coen - something vague about its level of importance. Vickstrom - Administrators fell down on the job keeping unqualified people that had seniority. Administration didn’t do evaluative process right. Coen - He blamed this on bid day. Vickstrom - Seniority generates loyalty.
Sharon - Referenced the rubric for transfers and the weighting for each of the categories for evaluation for transfer. Sharon will get a committee of teachers to help with the rubric. The rubric will be refined and explained to all the teachers. She understands there are cycles where you are less active due to parental and other responsibility.
Vickstrom - How often are the evaluators evaluated? Coen/Sharon - every year.
Vickstrom - By whom? Coen/Dentlinger.
Coen - Used an example of a 20 year teacher who didn’t get an advanced degree when it wasn’t a requirement. They would not be penalized by this process. In five years they might.
Bross - Didn’t see an employee manual that didn’t change yearly. He expects changes each year.
Hatteberg: Are we all finished with Bid day? Sharon: Done.
BCSDS Board Minutes 4-24-17
The mission of the Burlington Community School District is:
Inspiring and challenging students through diverse opportunities
I. Call to Order – Welcome 7:00 p.m.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Adoption of Agenda- moved by Garwood, 2nded by Hatteberg
IV. Public Comments- The Board encourages citizens to attend its meetings. Citizens have this opportunity to comment on issues and concerns (Policy 210.9 & 213)- none.
V. Consent Agenda
2. Minutes, Bills, Financial Reports, Human Resources Report, and Gifts- moved by Bross
VI. District Positive Accomplishments-Family & Consumer Sciences (FCCLA)at BHS
3 students accomplishments-Baylee Howell, Mathew Earhart and Brandi McAlister- Mrs. Smith introduced Matt E. and Brandi McAlister- Baylee Howell unable to attend- went to des moines to attend state leadership conference- were in a competition- culinary star event- scored 92.5/100- go to nationals in nashville in july- had to make an appetizer and main plate in 60 minutes- main plate was steak medallions, app was apple gorganzala salad. They were the only team who competed. Most schools aren’t occupational schools, there were only going to be two teams, but the other team dropped. Team was judged individually. Kendell impressed with group’s performance. Garwood- this makes Burlington stand out. Knows Mrs. Smith has worked very hard to have this program. Mrs. Smith said kids had to work solo for much of the time, and teachers aren’t able to watch the competition. Mrs. Smith thanked the board for their support in all they do.
VII. Student Representative Report- Hound Town days a huge success. Some stayed at school to do their projects- painted speed hounds and paw prints around building. Exciting to see. Other classes went to parks and the Y Camp, picked up garbage, picked up the lodge, grilled out for lunch. Students look forward to it because it’s kind of a break but a chance to give back to the community.
Spring sports teams are doing great.
Choir pops concert was this weekend, always so fun to watch. AP testing coming up- AP students are getting nervous and excited- teachers are putting in extra time. Students are so thankful for all the work the teachers put in. AP Psych and APUSH in early May.
Dragon Boats May 7.
VIII. Superintendent’s Report- spring break and easter- attended city council meeting to talk about TIF with deere Run. worked with Loebsack staff for meeting later in week. Busy week with the Hawk Eye, great press coming from them. Hound Town editorial, James Madison article. 3 days training with VersaTrans completed- cautioned board about 201 kindergartners, seniors 262. 61 kids down for next year- need to be working on that now. Generally find around 30 students, so can’t count our eggs yet, but that would be a big hit on money. Met with Loebsack- talked about Title II funds, Club M. Lose 4 teachers, Mrs. Gerst, and before and after programming. Teachers did a great job- Heidi Torrance- soft spoken, loving, nurturing teacher. Asked Loebsack about his kids and grandkids losing teachers. Urged Loebsack to fight for us. Coen arguing to cut PD- save the jobs and programs. James Madison walk through- great article in paper showing. Contention boiling up with guidance counselors- Brenda Mitchell recieved letter from BOEE- we are violating some rules by a job posting on teach iowa. Someone called her and talked to her? (don’t understand this). District talked to Department of Ed. Don’t want to lose teachers. Blackhawk teacher came over and spent time with Mrs. Mitchell and Coen about bullying. Y board meeting- Coen went. Pool bubble came up. BHS needs a 2nd gym- change the pool into a gym. If the bubble’s not solvent, where does that leave us- Coen says. We are on the fringe looking in on this process, but if we can benefit.
Associate principal interviews- #2 person they liked not gonna get him- he’s getting a job in CR.
City of Burlington- meeting about disc golf course. People play all the time. We have made an agreement to let them use our land. Coen trying to work out a land trade with city so we can build early childhood center- trade james madison land for land in perkins area.
Ryan Weiss meeting went great. Keane and Dentlinger went to dinner at Coen’s house with Weiss. School rating discussion with Weiss- do you put on the school rating that districts might be property poor. Coen cites 7 period day and how we are managing the school- we have a more challenging mission than other districts. Other districts have less challenge than we do. Weiss was not too hot on that idea. He gave vanilla answers.
Drastically underperforming school paradigm- taking a copy back to Des Moines. Stop the madness- every year teachers come in, there are differences from the state. Teachers overwhelmed with state mandates. Diminishing skill set. Money that could be saved if we had a blackout period for PD from AEA. J schedule- extra math while science teachers were out getting training. Sharon may be going to des moines to talk about those things.
Hound Town days a great success. 3500 kids 6 hours- we gave our community 150k in labor in one day. It’s not about the money- it’s about being civically minded. People in community were very appreciative of what the students were doing. Students were so enthusiastic about their work. “Hats off to our kids”. Coen- toured battle of bulge with Army. Hound Town days- our teachers came up with fantastic ideas- “hats off to our teachers”
Case- 25,000 grant.
Pops concert- girl with ukelele. Like a Don Rickles.
Young man- letter to board members about beautifying high school- Coen called him and asked him to come up with a plan to do it and maintain it.
Student rep- are you saying pool will be a gym- Coen saying it may be an option to have swim team practice at Y and change the HS pool. Coen- maybe we could have an auditorium. Coen- we don’t want to get rid of pool too early.
Penny tax is expiring 2029.
West Burlington could offer Nagrocki land- he could take those tax dollars out of our district.
IX. Items for Discussion
3. Registration Fees 2017-18- Reynolds- follow up to march 13 board meeting. Raising pathfinder, instrumental music, drivers ed fees are out for bid. Hatteberg moves approval, Garwood 2nded. Unanimously passed.
4. New Wide Area Network Fiber Contract- Will Brackett- 6 years ago entered agreement- fiber optic cable- expires end of june. Set up new RFP for lit service- dark fiber equipment- UPN gave a good price. Recommending a 10 year contract- gives better price point. Garwood moves, Bross 2nded. Unanimously passed.
5. James Madison Educational Center Disc Golf Course Agreement with City of Burlington- Kesterke- met with Tysland a year and a half ago. Have been meeting regularly. The only change is paragraph 2 if there was a need for either party to reduce lease. City will clean the area up. City wants harder holes on the land. Coen wants to be able to barter for the land. It’s mainly for the wooded area at JMEC. Garwood motioned approval, Hatteberg 2nded, unanimously approved.
6. Swimming 28E Agreements with Notre Dame- Shay not here- Coen discussed it. 6 and 7 are the same as what they were last year. Coen suggests we continue. Bubble might lead to increase in swimmers- we need to get as much help as we can to fill the teams. Our swim team beat PV this past year. Hatteberg moved approval, Vickstrom 2nded. Passed unanimously.
7. Swimming 28E Agreement with Other Districts- Coen again. Nothing has changed. Notre Dame pays less because their tax money comes to BCSD. Numbers are fair for other districts. Bross moves for approval, Hatteberg 2nded, passed unanimously.
X. Board Communications
The members will have the opportunity to share items and events.
Vickstrom- property poor places and auditoriums- dance program at Bettendorf. It was something to aspire to- Coen says that’s exactly why we need a challenge index. Help people see what they measure people against isn’t equitable. Wouldn’t have teachers getting beat down all the time- they would be respected for their tough job.
Hatteberg- thanks to the Hawk Eye for the wonderful coverage.
Bross- Pat, I appreciate your vision, and taking the long view on our community. The board sees Coen’s vision of that. Appreciates that Coen educated the director of education. Bross thanks Will Brackett for all of his work. Mr. Branch for his years in transportation.
Garwood- personal note- houndtown days- had a group of students work over at Player’s Workshop- it’s never looked so good.
Kendell- Hound Town days- this is some really good stuff, last year was first year, it was lumpy. It got a whole lot better from last year. You have to keep after it. We’re going to do it again, it was a lot better than last year. Beautiful day. Coen we appreciate you networking with Loebsack and Weiss. A lot of times the ability to pick up the phone to contact someone you have talked to before. Weiss is coming here so he can see what it is like outside of Des Moines. Pops concert was outstanding, culinary arts. Band, Orchestra, choir great in all buildings. So many opportunities for students to bond with a teacher and make a connection. Boys soccer team record- extremely proud of those boys.
Talked about moving next meeting.- sorry, my attention was divided because the Handbook draft was released during Board comments and I was looking at both.
XI. Adjournment
Adjourned at 7:54.
XII. Exempt Session-Negotiation
