BEA notes from 8-14-17 BCSD Board Meeting

6:00 Work Session

Superintendent Evaluation

At 6:06 Marliss Roberts called the meeting to order.  Mrs. Brueck was not present.  Coen handed the board some sort of packet that I didn’t get.  Linda Garwood also provided a letter to the board that I didn’t get.  Marliss asked Pat whether he wanted an open forum or not.  He said the cabinet was welcome but not the public.  They then went into closed session.

I. Call to Order – Welcome 7:20 p.m.

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Adoption of Agenda

Kendel motioned to accept.  Garwood seconded.  Agenda approved.

IV. Public Comments

Debra Gibbs spoke in support of the rehab of 1309 South 10th property.  She’s really excited about the rehab of the property.  Betty ?  also spoke about approving of the property being rehabbed by the BHS construction class.  She likes that the brush has been removed.

V. Public Hearing

2. BHS Chiller Replacement

No one from the public spoke.  The hearing was therefore closed.

VI. Presentation of Investment

3. Great Western Bank-Jim Olson

He presented a check of $15,000 for the building and trades program.  He commended Mr. Coen and his team on making this happen.  If the program is a success, Great Western will provide funds again in the future. Coen thanked Great Western Bank.

VII. Consent Agenda

4. Minutes, Bills, Human Resources Report, and Gifts

Garwood moved the bills be paid.  Hatteberg seconded.  Kendell clarified that the special board meeting minutes were not provided in this board packet but will be loaded on line with other minutes.  Approved.  Bross abstained.

VIII. District Positive Accomplishments- TSA National Competition-Scott Thorne

Hannah and Spencer Brown spoke about going to TSA National Competition.  Hannah brought her rubber band powered airplane.  She described the events in which the team competed.  Spencer made a bridge and placed 2nd at State and made semi-finals at National.  They thanked the board for the financial support. TSA - technology student association.  Bross asked him what he learned at nationals.  Spencer said he learned to plan well and use materials and time wisely.  Coen asked how the experience plays into the college plans.  Hannah said she is in the engineering program at the high school and this gives her insight into engineering.  Spencer wasn’t sure about what he wanted to do yet but he thinks this experience may have influenced him to choose engineering.

IX. Superintendent’s Report

He worked with late registration at the admin center.  This will continue through September.  He emceed the public library reading awards this summer.  He enjoys this a lot.  Its nice to be around kids who like to read.  He completed explanation and expectations meetings with new employees and the SAM.  He attended the Monday night Burlington City Council meeting about construction project.  The City Council was behind it.  He promptly made Joseph (son) go cut down trees on the property.  He  worked with parents about issues.  He conducted a home visit.  They held an administrative retreat which Sharon planned and implemented.  He met the new teachers. He spoke to person from dept. of ed and confirmed that BCSD is not disproportionate.  He credited Brenda Mitchell for the turn around.  He worked with two students in regards to the upcoming welcome back at the auditorium.  Anikka Cook will be a speaker at the welcome back at the auditorium.  The other student , Cody ?,  will be working at this too.  The office was closed Friday due to an electrical issue at Admin.  He sent the staff home.  The football team will work at construction house to clean it for construction trades class.  He let a student into Bracewell so he could get his senior pictures taken.  Transitional kindergarten has low numbers.  The class size may be too small to exist. They are going to get more students for this class. He encouraged voters to get involved and vote so somebody can’t sneak in as a write in.   Parking at the auditorium for the welcome back will be limited.

X. Items for Discussion

5. BHS Chiller Replacement Bids

Kesterke presented info on this.  He brought the bids in for the project.  Six contractors for the pre bid meeting.  They received four bids.  Home Town Plumbing and Heating was the low bid.  They did the boiler project at JMEC about a year ago.  It went well.  Garwood motioned to accept the low bid.  Bross seconded,  Kendell asked about the second lowest bid being from a local company.  Kendell asked if we had experience with this company before.  Kesterke used them when he worked with a different district.  He said they were ok.  Alliant is working on getting BCSD rebate on the system.  Passed with Kendell voting against.

6. Special Education Delivery Plan

Brenda Mitchell presented.  It’s a five year plan and must be turned in by the end of September per the state.  It was devised by two different committees in different years.  The only new addition on one page is adding info on early childhood education.  We are moving to a co-taught preschool program.  State of Iowa said we must provide the least restrictive environment for all grade levels even preschool.  Page 4 - caseloads.  Page 5 - no changes in delivery system.  Page 6 - caseload concerns start off with the principal and then goes to Brenda.  She thinks it should go to principal first.  Back to page 4 - caseloads.  This may be an area that may induce conversation.  This has been vetted with se teachers on committee.  Level I,II, III labels havd created communication problems.  There was a confusion between the funding level and the educational level the student was at.  Levels refer to funding more than services.   

Robberts asked whether a student could have different level needs.  The committee wanted to clarify the weighting and program labels.  Licensure - instructional strategist I -can work with students with mild-moderate needs.  Strat II (ID)- moderate to severe.  Strat II (BDLD) - ??

Most students can be served by strat I.  If student requires alternative assessment, teacher must be Strat II.  Committee starting defining by licensure.  The next change was to make more equitable the case loads.  20 students=20 weights.  Previously teachers teaching level 3 students couldn’t have more than six students.  There could actually be as many adults as students. Mitchell said we need to make students who aren’t too dependent on adults.  Stratt II no more than 10 students no more than 27 students on roster.  Strat 1 - 20, not exceed total weight of 27.  Bross said the math doesn’t work.  There was some discussion on this and he finally agreed it did. Brenda thanked people who participated on the committee balancing what is right for students while being fiscally responsible.  They tried to make sure that teachers have what they need to do their job.  Vickstrom asked about how students get into the system and then get out.  Brenda gave examples of students who left special ed.  She is working with BD teachers to keep kids in classes.  They are working on a more inclusive model.  This is not about the IEP but about the delivery model.  It does not supercede what is written in the IEP.  Coen said something about parents dissenting.  He always encourages SE teacher to help the parent write the dissent letter.  Bross moved to accept plan, Vickstrom seconded.

Passed..

7. District Assessment Plan

Sharon Dentlinger presented.  She highlighted some changes on the assessments for the district.  Testing has different purposes. Some are mandated by the state and some are diagnostic.  Smarter Balanced still hasn’t happened.  Its $29/student.  Even the Iowa Assessment is going up because it is going to be an online test in the future.  The one we use currently is cheaper because it is paper.  Second science test will be developed in district and more targeted to the things we are teaching.  This will be done over the course of the year.  Kindergarten test was done five times a year.  This will change because of the trimester system.

The assessment plan was shared with all teachers.  All schools must give IA in the spring this year. Kendell - will the later date impact registration?  Sharon - No.

XI. Board Communications

Garwood - Meeting tonight was loaded with positive info and excited about the new school year and program.  We are following our mission statement and providing an education for all students.  Thanks to all the hard work this summer.

Bross - Time the kids go back to school.  Thanked Coen for diligence making sure that every student  that gets a driving permit gets a warning about distracted driving.  Thankful looks like getting ADA ramp finished at admin building.

Vickstrom - We need to thank everyone from faculty to admin.   Importance of the school systems and get out and vote for the three people.  Need everyone in the community behind the school system.  Making headway with people we haven’t addressed before with construction class and food service classes.  Marketable skills result in good lives.

Hatteberg - Thanks everyone for hard work getting ready for school year and in particular Great Western Bank and Mr. Coen and cabinet in leadership in putting out in innovative situations.  A high school student said to her:  I never lose.  I only win or I learn.  She challenged all to think the way.

Kendell - Thanks for investment by Great Western Bank.  Appreciated the ladies that came and spoke about how much nicer the property looks already.  He received an anonymous phone message complementing how the buildings and properties look.  School will be starting, drive safely.  Thanks to the staff for working over the summer.

Robberts - Thank you for maintenance workers and job they do.  Buildings look great.  Start dates :  August 23rd.  Start times are on the school websites and Facebook.  Congrats on kicking off a great year.  Thanks to Great Western Bank and the ladies that spoke about the house.  Thanks to Mr. Coen and others that set up the police academy this summer.  Thanks for getting tased Mr. Coen. Thans Garwood, Vickstrom, and Kendell for turning in paperwork to run for school board.  They don’t get a monetary award for doing this.    Thanks for expressing a desire to make a four year commitment again.  Garwood - 24 years as board member. Encourage people to get out and vote for other offices and for school board.  People don’t realize how many hours board members put in.

XII. Adjournment

Adjourn 8:28.

BEA notes from 7-27-17 Board meeting

Call to Order – Welcome Noon

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Adoption of Agenda- garwood moved, kendell 2nded.

IV. Public Comments- no TV today- Laura Blanchard- SAM position and proposed salary. Proper comparable salaries been discussed many times, urges board to not be rushed by start of school year- just think about appropriateness of salary. Phoebe McNeese- meeting times at noon- please schedule meetings at night to help parents be able to attend.

The Board encourages citizens to attend its meetings. Citizens have this opportunity

to comment on issues and concerns (Policy 210.9 & 213)

V. Item for Discussion

2. Human Resources Report- motion to approve as presented, 2nded by Kendell. Discussion- Kendell- are we filling an RTC position at the HS- Tabor- it’s inaccurate- Kendell- student achievement center associate.

Aaron Wagner being paid for with at risk, some will be paid out of preschool. 0 general. Was this position posted? Coen said yes- Wagner stepped up.

No discussion on SAM salary.

Human resources report approved unanimously.

3. Consulting Services Agreement-School Administrators of Iowa (SAI)- 6000- 5 days shadowing Keane- how much time he’s spending on management vs. instruction. A coach is established to help Keane and shipp become more effective. 3000 the next year. Will be paid out of at risk. Main thing is to take things off of Keane’s plate so that he can get into the classroom more often.

Shipp will have responsibilities throughout the year. Observer will audit Keane’s time at 5 min intervals.

Motion to approve- Hatteberg, 2nded by Bross. This is a yearly contract, but will want to do 3 years. Approved unanimously.

4. Revised School Start Times- been working for 3 months on transportation. Hub possibility for this year. Wants to be ready since school starts in 3 weeks. Pushing hub back a year. Didn’t feel hub could be effective for this year.

Middle school start times will match the hs, elementaries will be the same as last year.

Coen takes full responsibility- tight timeline- stress on mehaffy’s life. Talking about teacher’s jobs. If we save on transportation, can save teachers’ jobs. Coen has pushed too hard, he says. This will save jobs, we just need to get this first iteration out of the way this year. Will drive toward 75% capacity on buses.

Robberts glad we are auditing. Glad we’re not pushing ahead with possible auditorium maybe happening.

All handbooks need to be updated.

Automatic caller will happen closer to start of school year.

Brueck- is the bus hub still a possibility for next year? Yes, it is. Coen is eating crow and liking it. (?) Motioned by bross, 2nded by Brueck. Approved unanimously.

VI. Adjournment

BEA notes from 7-17-17 BCSD Board meeting

BCSD Board of Directors Meeting July 16, 2017

I. Call to order and welcome 7:00 P.M.

II. Pledge of Allegiance

III. Public Comments

Laura Blanchard had a well prepared statement that addressed concerns with the SAM (School Administrative Manager) at the high school.  She recapped what was said at the last board meeting and expressed surprise that the position was presented again with the same salary. She expressed gratitude to Kendell for his research into SAMS and referenced comments made by Brueck.   Her major concern was a salary of $64,000 for a non administrative position that required only a bachelor’s degree and less than five years experience.  She stated that this was not a personal attack on Mr. Shipp the person the district is trying to hire but on the position itself.    Liz Sanning also spoke on behalf of the BEA Blanchard said. She thanked the board members for their comments and concern about this issue.   She pointed out this salary for this non-administrative position was particularly hard to take since all teachers had salaries frozen for the upcoming school year and had increased in insurance premiums.  Some teachers were actually coming back for less money.  The still chose to come back to BCSD because of their professionalism and dedication to the students.

IV. Public Hearing Bus Hub Project

No one spoke. Public hearing closed.

V.Consent Agenda - 

 Brueck proposed it be accepted and Garwood seconded.  Then Kendell moved to pull the Human Relations report from agenda.  Robberts then asked for clarification and he stated he wanted the SAM position pulled. Brueck seconded to pull item.  Conversation on what the rules were on how to proceed were brought up by Bross.  Roberts made it clear that they were first voting on pulling the SAM.  No discussion on pulling it.   All voted AYE to pull the SAM from the agenda.  

Then a motion,, second, and approval was granted to open discussion on the SAM position. Brueck said she thought it was high salary.  Robberts asked Coen to explain what would happen.  Brueck asked if a lesser salary could be offered.  Bross said he was a little bit in the dark.  He hadn’t reviewed any resumes on the position and then said he shouldn’t make a comment or decision on SAM position.  Bross asked if the the 64000 was appropriate for the revised salary position.  Tabor then came up to address those questions.  Tabor spoke of three models of SAM in Iowa.  The first is secretarial in nature,  the second takes a current position and transfer assoc principal into that position,   third takes current individual in position adds responsibilities to that job.  Greg gave the average of all the models in his salary average.  Robberts asked if the 3rd model takes and associate principal and adds duties. Tabor - no less than a principal and adding to it.   Robberts - SAM has been used by smaller districts that can’t attract associate principals.  Small like high schools  of 200-300.  Tabor - that is correct.  Roberts - What districts like Burlington have it?  Tabor - Davenport.  Coen - Davenport  has 6 SAMS.  Greg - listed a number that have them.   Robberts - How do those roles compare with what we have for this position?  Tabor - wide variance. Didn’t really answer.  Coen - Greg you talked to people..  Greg - got a couple of responses.  Davenport - assistant to elementary principals  Brueck - job experience?  Greg - don’t know.  Davenport salary around $67,000.  Kendell - What are their qualifications, education, position requirements?  Hard to compare with other districts.  Hatteberg - What do they think is a fair salary for this position?   Kendell - Didn’t we throw out some numbers at the last meeting.  Hatteberg - is it the high salary or is it the experience of the person?  Is it too much money period?  Kendell - I understand your question.  I struggle with this a lot.  I like the idea of what this position can do.  I get hung up with the salary.  I regret this brings Mr. Shipp into this discussion.   Teachers have to ma +10 to get to this salary.   Quite surprised to see the agenda posted again with the same salary.  Hired ma 10 special ed teacher recently making less than this position.  That troubles me.  The hs needs this and it saves money.  RTC will not exist next year.  Office referrals will have to be handled.  Hopefully this position defers this from the other admin at the HS,  Brueck - I agree.   We just had such difficult negotiations.  Teachers making less.  The timing is insulting to a lot of teachers.  Hatteberg - position is a good thing.  Can we as a board set a different salary?

Robberts - not board’s position to set a salary.  Can only set salary for superintendent.  Brueck - no vote is for position but against the salary. Robberts - call special session to take care of and not wait to August.  Hatteberg - our job is not to make it more difficult to run the ship.  Brueck - this insulting to a lot of teachers.  Robberts - understand the point of all,  Appreciate the admin trying to come up with something to save money with admin.  Staff don’t realize that there have been admin cuts and admin pay freezes.  Teachers have been hit with insurance and so have admin.  It has not been a good financial year for BCSD. Appreciates that there is no easy position  on this.  If salary too low, not going to get a qualified position.  Coen -Internally - 3 applied.  Interviews were held with all three.  Kendell - Didn’t we think that salary was high in June?  Coen - yes.  You had mentioned $57,000.  Garwood - if we vote no, does it get thrown back to square one?  Coen - throw us back to square 2.  Hatteberg - training time frame?  We have to consider that too.  Kendell - difficult position.  Should and do have ability to get guidance on salaries.  Some people have some good points about it.  It’s a salary problem.  Garwood - necessary position but financially we’ve had a rough year.  We need to diligently look at those numbers for everyone concerned. Robberts - Approve position as listed?  Aye - 2 Opposed 4.  Coen then asked for guidance on salary? Bross - Mudding the water.  This is suggesting that admin and teachers are on the same level.  I’m not going to propose a salary.  Kendell - talked about salary.  Robberts - stopped the conversation because it was not on the agenda.  Look for forward to continuing discussion with Coen at special board meeting.

VI District Positive Accomplishments

Karen Liechty presented her kids at Camp Courageous in May.  Six students went to the camp geared for students with disabilities.  They were there for three days.  They canoed, hiked, were around animals, bowled, swam, etc.  All four associates went with them and volunteered their time.  The kids did crafts for mothers for mother’s day. The  favorite activity was ziplining.  She thanked the donors and said  they have almost enough money leftover to go again.  They are going to take two group next year instead of one. She sent out thank you notes with pictures of the kids.  

VII Superintendent’s Report - July 2-15. 

 Watching baseball.  Great game.  Beat number one team Davenport Assumption.  Referenced Tim Oswald?  July 7 lot of walkins for tech stuff.  Non English speaking family that got scheduled. Tabor helped.  At South Hill 4th July party.  Evaluations are getting done.  Last one to be done is Greg.  Met with new commander with Salvation Army.  Held meeting about auditorium and wants to develop a committee like the Purple and Gray.  Interested in James Madison as a site.  Roger Hatteberg suggest JM since there so many big projects in the community currently.  Also suggested to use bus hub at JM.  Double use of JM then.  Mr. Kesterke looking into it.  Trying to lookout  for taxpayers.  Met with teamster rep.  Talked to admin about expectations.  Tried to remind admin that primary mission is teaching and learning.  Have great people on board.  Attended Oskaloosa girls game.  Really thought we were going to state.  Met with Mr. Wagner about issues with social workers.  Cabinet has good start on attendance.  State said we reduced the drastically absent kids a lot.  Get your twelve is working.  Young man at BHS said algebra is incredibly hard.  Checked on him and found he had bad attendance. Teachers step in and work with kids but can’t if kids not there.  MS principals trained on get your 12.  Took 1.5 days off for family.  Ramping up for 17/18.  Favorite day is when teachers are back teaching with students.  Gave a copy of summative of admin standards, midyear review, and get your twelve initiate to board.  Give you plenty time to review and be ready for super evals next board meeting.  Robberts then suggested starting the next meeting at 6 to go over the superintendent evaluation. Coen then laid a premiliminary drawing of the bus hub at JM on a table for people to look at.

VIII Items for Discussion

Debt Refinancing

Greg explained bond situation and refinancing and 1% sale tax. We borrow money against the sales tax income.   Potential for savings by refinancing of several bonds.  Oswald (I don’t know who he is) sales tax law is expiring soon.    Can get lower bond financing. Oswald - understand that savings is after transaction cost.  1.7 million can be saved in reducing interest payments  Reserve account is usually 10% of the amount borrowed set up at front.  Used as a rainy day fund to pay bonds.  Three bonds 2009, one in 2012 all have reserve accounts.  Reserve is earning 1% but borrowed at higher value.  Suggested getting rid of the reserve accounts and pay off some of the bonds.  He went into a detailed explanation of how the savings occur in the refinancing.  Bross asked question about payment.  Robberts asked about possible problems with refinancing other things.  Greg said it wouldn’t be a problem.  Bross thinks the legislature will extend the date of the sales tax.  How will this affect interest rates on bonds?  Oswald - Not really any effect.  Oswald went over some of the iRS rules about handling this.  Robberts - recommending a refinance of all four or three?  Oswald - All four.   Robberts - Motion?  Hatteberg moved Bross second.  Favor all - Passed.

Bus Hub Proposals -

 Keskerke  received two bids.  Did not open them because of possible JM thing.  We  won’t build bus hub until we examine JM option.  We will begin bus hub program in the parking lot of BHS..  Robberts - Are we getting a report on the feasiblity of JM by August meeting or will it be longer?  Keskerke - maybe a little longer.  Meet with rep next week and Hatteberg and Derrick Murphy and find what they want in an auditorium and what needs to be remodeled at JM.   Coen - Termite problem previously at JM.  Robberts - What has to be done at BHS?  Is a shelter being bult?  Kendell - give us an idea of how it works.  Coen - two lanes at very back nw corner on student parking lot closed off only for buses.  Exact same thing as here (admin location) but now at hs.  Process is identical just a different place.  Haven't measured it out yet.  Brueck - Second student parking lot?  Coen - yes.  Robberts -  Previously mentioned staffing hub with  drivers and white house staff.  Who will be staffing at hs?  Coen - Mr. Mehaffy, still some central office staff, the hs can send people out.  Bross - possible just leave it at the hs?  Coen - possible.  Less students at hs need less parking spaces.  Kendell - quite a bit of room at hs parking lot.  Nothing has changed in bussing requirements?  Coen - correct. Same distance 2 miles etcs.  Bross - we still bus closer than state says,  Alan Mehaffy - We have to have a safe walking path.   No child can walk across a four lane road.  We have to provide transportation. Motion to reject bus bids and not open.  Passed.  Bross abstained (I think).

Shoquoquon Choir Agreement

Mr. Taylor presented and said the agreement is the same with updated names and dates.  Garwood proposed. Bross second - Passed.

Legislative Priorities

Robberts - Sent emails to board members and asked them to choose among the proposals.  She then presented those that got the most votes  Those receiving three votes were:.  Support mental health initiates,  dropout/at risk funding, school funding policy, SAVE extending penny sale tax deadline.  Receiving two votes -  early literacy, spe ed for state,  teacher leader/develop,  supplemental state aid, property tax restructuring. The board needs to give top four to the Iowa Association of School Boards.  Result:  mental health initiate,dropout at risk, SAVE, school funding policy.

Coen - Last year at IASB legislative session, a school proposed that 1% tax money follows students with open enrollment.  Need to be ready to protect district from other district.  Could be additional work done ahead of time before the legislative session. 

Summer School Update

Dentlinger -  Summer school typically staffed by our teachers.  Do hire some outside district.  Pay out of at risk and title one services.  21st century grant pays for some of it.  Carper - Middle school program.  Love the summer school program and working at at risk program.  Took them off site to a camp.  Worked on certain attitudes with the kids.  His daughter helped with an activity on gratitude.  Gave different students different amounts of pop and no students complained.  They demoed the virtues of gratitude and didn’t know it.  Change in behavior of students over the 8 days was great.  Started summer school program  for elementary.  Works well at Corse.  153 different students attended.  Aron Kehoe provided intervention for identified students.  Changed way they hired hs students and focussed the hs students more.  Fewer office referrals this year than ever.  Great teachers.  Two or three hs students help with lunchroom and recess and help with bus duty, copies for teachers, and grunt work. HS students essential part.  Working on building community partners. He listed many organization that have assisted.  Invited board members to go fishing and attend star lab.  He’s trying to add technology to daily lessons.  Goals for next year to improve student nomination process, and how to meet needs of students, more community support  and training for staff.  Mr. Taylor - Tell HS students thank you.  Talked about trying to recruit bright students to become teachers.  Thanked Mr. Carper for his help. Keane - presented HS summer school.  147 unique students, There were 101 online classes taken and 34 did not complete credits.  Probably finish the online classes by working rest of the summer.  Added more face to face classes.  Conservation class - science and pe credits.  32 took history of infrastructure. 13 took applied math and all finished.  Five took construction techniques.    All infrastructure students got credit.  Brueck and Koelker did this class.  Two presenters called and complimented the students on field trip behaviors.  26 applied math got credit? Four of the five construction techniques students got credit.  153 credits earned.  Still have 34 working.  Keane had to do a cartwheel because they met the goal of at least 120 credits.  Few behavioral problems.  Try to expand the face to face classes next summer.  Conservation class - biking, hiking, water sampling, kids water quality same as DNR.  Freshman boot camp started today.  26 kids showed up.  New assistant principal David Rheuse worked on the logistics of summer school this year.  Gave a list of the things that are doing at boot camp each day.   Will send a list of all the people that helped out with summer school.  Dentlinger - 370 students experience at least one of summer school programs.  Tremendously excited about summer school growth and direction.  Garwood commented on enthusiasm.  

Middle School Revised Handbook

Dentlinger -  changed to RTC to RTP.Process still used but no special classroom.  Garwood moved, Hatteberg second.  Approved.

Staff Handbook

Dentlinger - Asking for approval to get printed for new staff.    Bross - thorough and well done.  Looks like it is  focussed on goals and objectives of teaching and nuts and bolts at ends.  Kendell - Expressed appreciation keeping board involved.  Robberts - concurred.  Dentlinger - added coaches evals to manual.  Dentlinger - new teachers doing three days before school.  Take them out into the community and team building activities.  Hatteberg - likes it.  Approved.

SIAC Goals

 Dentlinger - SIAC is composed of meembers of the community not just the school community.  2018 - increase reading proficiency to 66% for 3rd grade elementary students. Hatteberg,  Robberts questioned about goals and that reading is the only one.   Dentlinger explained that the ultimate goal is to produce a grayhound.  Approved.

Job Description for 21st Century Elementary Coordinator 

Tabor/Dentlinger - Got a grant for Grimes, Sunnyside, and Blackhawk for after school program.  All students k-8 have access to after school programs.  Position is for coordinating at the three schools. Funded by a five year grant that gets smaller every year.  

Coen - Every year employee has to sign a document that recognizes that the money could go away and they won’t have a job.  Need to make sure the annual notification goes out to the employees so they know their job is over when the grant it over.  Approved.

Performing Arts Center/Auditorium Task Force

Coen - Leaning towards JM..  Robberts - who should they contact if they want to donate money or time?  Coen - Me and Greg.  

New Athletic Conference

Shay -  Keane, Coen, and Shay have been discussing this.  Shay met in Mt. Pleasant in June  with seven schools.  Shay was chairperson and presented benefits:  1.  Travel less 2. Increased gate revenues 3.  Create more competitive situations in conference..  4.  Time missed for students and staff reduced 5.  Create new rivalries  6.  We compete against these school at middle school already.  There are six schools very interested.  Shay asked MAC to let BHS out  of confernce in one year instead of two years. They are considering.  Having a smaller conference creates some scheduling problems.  MAC willing to help with some nonconference games. Bross - This is new conference?  Shay - existing conference and adds two (ottumwa and us).  Shay asked West Burlington to join but not interested.  Shay still talking to Ottumwa.  Kendell - This is very exciting. Lot of wins for everyone.  Coen - Burlington used to be in a conference like this in the past.  The gates are very important.  It helps fund the athletic department.   Shay wants to talk about co op with WB for bowling

Building and Trades House/Program

Coen - House supplied by city is in horrific condition.  It's a good classroom for the kids.  When it is done it will be turned over to the minister association.  It will be paid for by a Christian organization.  The house should be done by May.  Robberts - Nice to see your (coen) ideas in action.

VIV Board Comments

Bross - Commend the district on online enrollment.  Did it in 5 minutes.

Hatteberg - Thank you for your innovative thinking and looking outside the box.

Brueck -

Gardwood - Appreciated enthusiasm, passion, dedication for district.  Willingness to accept some defeat (Coen).   Likes JM auditorium and construction classes.  

Kendell - Appreciate the summer school presentations, enthusiasm, congrats to baseball and softball, thanks Coen for heading out to Oskaloosa to watch game.  Performing arts task force very exciting idea.    New athletic conference.  Closing - invite legislators to board meeting before they go back to DM.

Robberts - Thank to everyone tonight - so many volunteers in all the different projects.  Online enrollment- use it.  Smooth easy process.  Thanks to Alan Mehaffy jumping into transportation.  Wonderful to see cost saving measures in action.  Welcome to new vp at BHS.  Deadline for school board elections August 3rd at 5 PM.  Three positions up for election. Four year term.  

Adjourn 9:36.

BEA notes from 6-26-17 BCSD Board Meeting

Call to Order – Welcome 7:00 p.m.

II. Pledge of Allegiance-

III. Adoption of Agenda- hatteberg moved and bross 2nd.

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)- no one commented.

V. Item for Discussion

2. Job Description- Coen and Tabor. Tabor- asking board to approve description for new position. Garwood moved, Bross 2nded. Discussion, question. Position to support principals so they can work on assessment of staff- allows them to be leaders. Coen- we’ve had success with 4 admins- this person would take place of 1 of them- it’s a cost savings measure. Brueck- how is the salary determined? Tabor- looked at comparable districts that had this position. Brueck- did those districts require a BA? Brueck- doesn’t really require much experience. Coen- requires 1 year.

Coen- defending pay level- Brueck was questioning pay versus an assistant principal is at middle schools.

Coen claimed that a teacher with 25 years experience and 45 hrs makes more than admins and works less hours.

Tabor- free up time for admins.

Vickstrom- wants management experience for this position.

Sharon- this is a program, not really a person. All of the people at the high school have to go through specialized training- there is 6000 dollars worth of training in the first year, and 3800 the next year. It’s beyond what a person with a BA would have.

Juniors and seniors would have one admin, freshmen and sophs would have their own admin.

This is a multiple year program.

Coen- Wasn’t our intent to have 4 principals at hs forever. Great reduction in D’s at the HS. Things are working, we may not need 4 anymore. Will continuously scale back. May be able to get climate changed so we can drop levels down to 3.

Robberts- 22k less than an asst principal at the hs.

Hatteberg- why is this better than having an associate principal.

Coen- we are late in the game. We didn’t know Vida was going to leave this late in the game. This opens another pathway for us to see who are the best candidates for the job. (allows them to hire someone without an admin degree)

Coen- it is our goal for the asst principals to work themselves out of a job. If kids self discipline, we won’t need as many admins.

This person won’t be doing evaluation- Coen that will be illegal.

They can evaluate non-certified staff.

Hatteberg- this person might not have a lot of educational background. How will the teachers feel about this person guiding them who has less experience. Wants the best person for the job. Someone charismatic that staff will follow.

Coen- bad leaders tell people to work harder, instead of getting rid of things in their way.

Kendell- can you give us an example of other districts? Jeremy- no, I can’t. Were they in iowa. Dentlinger- this is used extensively in iowa. There was a report that was put together- makes sense to us because admins don’t have time to get into classrooms because they are dealing with discipline. This program allows admin 27 more days in the classroom. The idea of this program is to create a climate where kids aren’t roaming in the hall, organizing calendars. Keane has to go through training on this- he knows he can be more effective. Des Moines uses a SAM, Ottumwa might? Take some of the minutae off the principals, and give that to this person so they can get into the classrooms.

Tabor- it worked so well at this other district that they expanded it to the other buildings.

Kendell- it most likely is beneficial. Hates to lose an admin. It is a way to save money. Things that concern- salary- teacher with masters- 18th year to equal salary. This is a very high salary for someone with no master’s.

MS asst principals required to have 3 years experience. HS asst required to have 5.

Bross has trouble with one year experience.

Kendell- doesn’t understand why the salary is so high. These things are everybody’s job. Having trouble with this vision. Understands the time crunch.

Dentlinger- It is an admin position. When you’re talking about working with kids- experience isn’t really a concern. You’re expected to work until the job is done, unlike teachers. (!)

A teacher could apply for this.

Kendell- doesn’t think teachers stop work after 8 hours. Teachers work as hard as admins.

Coen- teachers can apply for this if they want to.

Vickstrom- we’re looking for a literate goon.

Brueck- can we change preferred master’s, preferred years. Feels like the job was written for a person, not the position. Coen- that is true.

Coen- flush this and stick with another principal?

Brueck- if you want this program because it’s good, we don’t want to get rid of it.

Kendell- salary schedule- 42,000 for 5 years experience in education.

Robberts- motion by Brueck, 2nd by Kendell.

Brueck prefers master’s.

Hatteberg- 5 years is a good thing. 1 year is a good thing. Master’s would be great, but wouldn’t be as important.

Kendell- master’s preferred.

Hatteberg- yes

Robberts- vote on amendment- unanimously changed.

Vickstrom- who does this person report to? Coen- principal.

Garwood- does the principal’s job description change?

Tabor- no

Bross- is this position like an executive secretary?

Robberts- this person would be handling a lot of discipline.

Tabor- this is a federal program.

School administrators of iowa.

Bross- are there funds that come with that?

Vickstrom- what authority does this person have?

Coen- iowa code- teachers have authority because of their position, this person would be the same.

Coen- lotta good press coming out of the high school.

Kendell- what is the vision? Would this person handle 50% of the discipline at the high school?  Why not have a dean of discipline? Kendell comes back to salary.

Robberts- the salary comes when we hire. Reynolds- can you pull comparable pay from other districts.

This person would not be paid as much as an associate principal, but doesn’t see as warm and fuzzy as a 1st grade teacher. A job with stressors requires more salary. (!)

Doesn’t want too low of a salary so people aren’t attracted. Can’t pay them less than they would get as a teacher.

Kendall- there was a number out there for the public to see. We may have a 15 year teacher who wants it.

Vickstrom- doesn’t want to see another source of irritation.

46,100 avg salary.

Dentlinger- some of those might be secretaries.

Robberts- some of these don’t require a Bachelor’s. The position will be posted internally first.

Bross- items 6 and 7 should be high on the agenda- important that Keane is out in the classrooms and among the students more than he has been in the past.

Can relieve and make Keane more effective and help the school put out a more positive image. Doesn’t like the word manager. Looks like a coordinator or facilitator.

Robberts- please take note of that. Any other discussion?

Hatteberg- by capitalizing on discipline end, you’re going to get more buy-in from staff.

Coen- it’s a great opportunity for people who are complaining the most. Data will show you that over 85% of kids are doing what we’re supposed to be doing.

This is a chance for a person who complains that there are always kids in the hall, now they can apply for this and fix that.

Kendell- will RTC still be around?

Dentlinger- we weren’t funding RTC correctly- we were using spec ed funds.

Kendell- office referrals may go up without RTC.

Dentlinger- expectation is that this person is the primary outreach for parents. The weight that each of those tasks takes for this person varies.

Robberts- preferred 5 years and master’s degree, passed unanimously.

(The top of our old pay schedule was 75784. Highest you could get without a PhD was 72,000.)

3. Human Resources Report- motion to approve Hatteberg, 2nded by Garwood.

Brueck- some of these positions have already been working- why are these being approved after they’re working. Should’ve been done earlier.

Tabor- it’s a timing issue.

Coen- with some of these positions like science and math we’re going to grab them when we can. Teacher shortage in critical areas. Want to lock people in via iowa code.

Kendell- wish Ms. Long well- wish Mr. Carter well. Didn’t know Schweer. Sad Sherwood is leaving.

Passed with Brueck abstaining.

VI. Adjournment