BCSD Board of Directors Meeting March, 2019
Attending: Dean Vickstrom, Marlis Robberts, Darven Kendell, Deb Hatteberg, Heather Brueck
Absent: Courtney
Late: Bross
I. Call to Order - 7:01
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Adoption of Agenda - Robberts moved, Hatteberg seconded. Passed.
IV. Public Comments - None
V. Consent Agenda - Robberts moved, Brueck second. Passed.
VI. District Positive Accomplishments - None. Mr. Craddock was sick.
VII. Student Representative Report - none.
VIII. Superintendent’s Report - He will be in training Tues, Wednesday. Cabinet meeting happened. Weather was a slight problem at the beginning of the week. He sent a document about hound time days and digital learning. Attended GPAEA superintendent meeting. Dedicated to concerns about Waukee community school district where misappropriation of public property occured. We must be always be prepared to explain expenditures. Good enough is good enough. Lavish is not ok. Must be oversight on expenditures. Reynolds does a good job of doing this. He talked about whistleblower protection. It can’t be handled in a negative way. Admin must follow policy. This is in response to something that happened in another district. Talked to head of GPAEA about right sizing. GPAEA has lost 1000 students and will shrink and lay off people. It’s not just Burlington. 80% districts in Iowa have declining enrollment. Attended a meeting a GRMC concerning medical services. There may be telemedical services in our schools. Attended to normal flow of issues. He spent a lot of time out in the buildings. Angie Butler is doing a great job attending to matters. Friday, he attended Joseph’s college visit . Attached to the report was a article from new ISEA president. It was about mental health and schools. He said that our district is way ahead of this with our after school programs and other stuff. He thanked people for their work. There was a document that was sent to legislature to encouraging them to not support vouchers in Iowa. He believes it would cause segregation. He asked Wingate about information about a study (not sure what he was talking about).
IX. Items for Discussion
Poggemiller production service contract for sound/lighting for graduation presented by Reynolds.
Hatteberg moved, Robberts seconded. Approved.
Reynolds presented budget guarantee resolution. It is for district’s with declining enrollment like ours. It’s a one year funding. It’s less than we have gotten before. Brueck moved, Robberts seconded. Roll call vote and all voted yes.
The audit review was presented by Reynolds. He gave the highlights of the report.
This was the first year that GASBE(?) had to be 75. ( No idea what this is.) He talked about IPERS liability. We have 70+ retirees on our insurance. We have a lot of employee benefits that must be funded. The audit for 2018 was the best that we can get. $59, 942,692 revenue for 2018. This was a .88% decrease from the previous year. The general fund increased by 1.3 million. Some of this will be pulled out because of SPED. Capital projects balance increased from 820,040 to 5,826,826. We are projected to lose enrollment which will negatively impact our revenues. State supplemental aid was set at 1.0% for FY19. Solvency ratio 23.5% increased from 19.7% but we will have to return about $1 million. Continued revenue projections negative. Brueck asked if there a recommended solvency ratio. Reynolds 10%. Total revenues $50,429,441 for 2018. Total expenses $49,245,583 for 2018. Salaries are trending down, benefits somewhat trending down. Student activity fund declined others increased. School nutrition fund is down. It was recommended to continue to review board policies as we have been doing. Kendell asked to look at general fund expenses. He pointed out that the drop in benefits was “negligible” and that Chapter 20 didn’t really impact it. He was saying that the admin worked to protect benefits and they haven’t gone after it but they could in the future if necessary. Robberts said that the auditors speak very highly of Reynolds work. Our district is lucky to have Reynolds. Brueck asked about the decline in the student activity fund. Reynolds said that most of it is sports related, gates receipts and fundraising. There was a decline in a music trip that impacted it. Coen then talked about not being able to bargain insurance. Becker Insurance Services will meet with BEA and ISEA to keep transparency. Robberts moved, Hatteberg seconded. Passed.
The Iowa Children's Museum Ladders Americorps Program Agreement was presented by Reynolds. This will provide two members to assist with summer school and freshman bootcamp. There is a slight cost. Each staff works 300 hours. There is a cost of $1481 for each person. Should be able to reduce staff (teacher) requirements. Coen said Cassie has brought in about $1 million to BCSD. Vickstrom talked about how restrictive the agreement was. Brueck moved, Hatteberg seconded. Hatteberg asked if this was an enhancement and they agreed. Who will be in charge? Administrators will be in charge. Bross joined meeting at 7:38.
Branding information was presented by David Ruehs. He saw a presentation of it. It was about controlling our message. He showed business icons that people recognize. Quoted a book about branding. Okoboji went through the process. Okoboji developed a mastermark and then derived icons from it. Gave another example, Charles City. Apparel is trademarked. The final example, West Des Moines Valley. They created subicons for all the buildings. Then he showed how many different icons we have for our district. Waukee and Okoboji got in trouble for using other people’s brands. Our speed hound looks like University of Indianapolis. Since we are in the middle of changing everything, maybe we should rebrand. He suggested hiring an outside entity to do this and presented pros/cons. He also suggested using an inhouse committee. Presented pros/cons. He had more cons for this proposal. The third option was to do nothing. Robberts asked what fund would this come out . Ruehs said it come out of the activity fund or maybe Purple and Gray might do it. Reynolds said it would probably be a general fund expenditure. We would replace old icons with new as they needed to be. Vickstrom asked why you couldn’t start with community involvement first. Vickstrom suggested a prize for it. Kendell said it was exciting and interesting idea but a little concerned that it will hinder access to our logo and materials here locally. The discount stores have clothing with logos. He would want that to still be accessible. He likes the idea of the uniform message but not hung up on making money about. Bross then explained what a mastermark gives us. Hatteberg is concerned about taking this out of the general fund. She wants teachers in the classroom. She suggested get some outside groups to fund this. She wants an estimate of the cost of this. Coen said you can’t encumber a future board. Coen didn’t think the expenditure is very big. Bross said a couple of thousand is ok for this. Robberts said the marketing thing is bigger than they realize. Trademarking should be done by a professional depending on the cost. Ruehs said the company didn’t want to say the price but “its a fraction of a teacher”. Bross said its nothing they can act on tonight. They need community input. This company has community involvement. Coen had Lacy if she met with the PR person for Greater Burlington and suggested she ask them what they do. Bross knows alumni would be interested in this. The board asked for more information. Ruehs will start RFPs.
Board meeting start time was brought up. Coen talked about moving it to 5:00. He said that it should be set once a year. He suggested it be 5:30 to be accommodating to the public. Brueck then said that the meetings are now on YouTube. Kendell said that there would be time for feedback and he thought they can be flexible about times and places. He asked Coen what he was hearing about it. Coen then talked about phases of children (sports etc) and how nothing will be perfect. Vickstrom said that they should have the meetings different places. Coen said people didn’t really come when moved to the auditorium Brueck suggested moving it monthly. Kendell suggested they make a decision this year. Robberts requested 5:30 not 5:00. Bross is concerned about moving it and makes longer meetings. Hatteberg suggested get some community feedback and not do anything until next year. Brueck wants to do it this year. Bross said to poll the staff. Kendell said to make it available for the community as well. Robberts asked about what city council does. Hawkeye addressed the schedule for the city council. Bross said gather information and throw on April board meeting agenda. Coen will put it on as an action item.
X. Board Communications
Hatteberg went to Aldo and viewed 8th grade national history day projects. Some are going to regional competition. Congratulations to the kids. She also $2800 was given to Sunnyside in memory of Jack Wehrle. She asked on the status of the handbook. Coen said that very few people volunteered. Keane got input on some. Coen he only saw one kid with a hat when in the high school. Asked his wife to watch for hats. She has seen some. Coen said the handbook should be in time. Ruehs then went to the mic to address it. He said there were two parents that attended and were employees in the district. They didn’t get a cross section of the population. Coen then said 99% of the people didn’t show up for right sizing stuff. Hatteberg asked about polling students. Coen said that two students asked to be on the committee.
Vickstrom commended Ryan Osbourne’s op ed piece in the Hawkeye. It was well written. He was very appreciative of what he wrote. Robberts agreed and wished to thank him and other staff who do stuff for the district. Mentioned the festival of bands coming up in the spring play is coming up as well. Hatteberg mentioned the spring fling and vocal concerts. Brueck had nothing. Kendell impressed by Coen sending stuff to legislature. The voucher program is not a good idea. Coen then said that Rep Kerr has already spoken to head of house education committee and they don’t think it has enough votes to pass. Kendell then said something about the nurse's situation. He said there was misinformation about it and that Coen sent the facts out about. He thinks the issue has calmed down. It’s all about communicating. Bross the mentioned that we have started the 3rd trimester. He thanked the staff for what they do. I appreciate the board working together as well. Kendell then praised Coen about doing the my community (something) training. Coen then said that Lacy met with nurses and did all the work. Cory has assumed command and have enabled him to be able to go to the class. Vickstrom asked if we will look at worked and didn’t worked with the trimester system. Coen then said something about organisms and growth model. Vickstrom said something about confusion. Bross then praised Coen again about making virtual days work. BEA was recognized as helping.
XI. Adjournment - 8:27
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