The Board of Directors of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District met in a special meeting in the Edgewood Board Room, on Tuesday, November 23, 2021. President Venteicher called the meeting to order at 7:33 a.m.
Directors Present: Dan Venteicher-via phone, Brad Bockenstedt-via phone, Matt Elliot-via phone, Jeff Hoeger-via phone, & Tammy Kirby-via phone.
Directors Absent: None.
Also present: Superintendent Rob Busch, Principal Dawn Voss, & Board Secretary Melissa Conner.
Visitors: Daniel Charland & Kari Pierschbacher.
Director Hoeger moved to approve the agenda as presented. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 5-0.
Director Hoeger moved to approve the following resignations: Ed Bolsinger, Emily Wiedner, & Christina Harbaugh. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 5-0.
Director Kirby moved to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress included the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund in the CARES Act passed in March 2020; additional ESSER funds were allocated at the end of 2020. In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act was signed into law and provided additional ESSER funding to be distributed to school districts through each state education agency (SEA); and
WHEREAS, the use of ESSER funds must be necessary and reasonable to accomplish a specified and authorized purpose, and is subject to reporting, monitoring, and audit; and
WHEREAS, the law provides that school district may use ESSER funds to address the individual needs of the District necessary in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District recognizes that licensed staff members have taken on additional duties outside of their contracted hours and contracted job description in order to assist the District’s response and management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, professional development, training and/or curriculum development for on-line programming, addressing learning loss for students absent due to illness, and covering the duties of absent employees made necessary because of staffing shortages; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors wishes to utilize ESSER funds to compensate licensed staff for work in excess of their contracted hours that is necessary and reasonable to assist in the District’s response to COVID-19.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EDEGEWOOD-COLESBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT:
1. The Board hereby authorizes the Superintendent to utilize ESSER funds to compensate licensed staff $100/hour for up to ten hours of approved reasonable and necessary work completed to further the District’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the 2021-2022 school year. Such work must be documented in sufficient detail by the employee.
Director Elliot seconded the movement. Motion carried 5-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the following resolution:
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District recognizes that many school districts across the state are experiencing staffing shortages during the 2021-2022 school year, and that staffing shortages have also impacted the operations of the Edgewood-Colesburg District; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District believes maintaining adequate staffing levels of all positions is essential to its educational mission and that when positions go unfilled it is a detriment to all students as well as other personnel; and
WHEREAS, the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District believes that, in light of staffing shortages and the coinciding impact upon District operations, it is appropriate to provide a retention incentive to staff to remain employed with the District; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EDEGEWOOD-COLESBURG COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT:
1. The Board hereby authorizes the Superintendent to facilitate a one-time retention payment to classified staff in the following amounts:
· Paraprofessionals: $500.00
· Bus Drivers: $500.00
· Nutrition: $400.00
· Custodial: $700.00
· Expeditions: $300.00
· Administrative Assistants: $600.00
In the event any employee receiving such a retention incentive is terminated or resigns from the District prior to June 30, 2022, the employee shall be obligated to return the entire payment to the District in full.
Director Hoeger seconded the movement. Motion carried 5-0.
With no further business to come before the board for consideration at this time, Director Bockenstedt moved to adjourn the meeting at 7:38 a.m. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 5-0.
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Dan Venteicher, President Melissa Conner, Secretary
