Regular Meeting March 21, 2022
The Board of Directors of the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District met in for their regular meeting in the Colesburg Music Room, on Monday, March 21. President Venteicher called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Directors Present: Dan Venteicher, Tammy Kirby, Matt Elliot, & Brad Bockenstedt: Absent: Jeff Hoeger.
Also present: Secondary Principal Dawn Voss, Elementary Principal Patty Briggs, Superintendent Rob Busch & District Administrative Assistant, Barb Bolsinger.
Visitors: Alex Hanna, Nic Stelken, Bristol Kulper, Kalyssa Reimer, Addy Schmelzer, Kristy Mather, Carston Calderwood, Cassie & David Phelps, Kari Pierschbacher
Director Kirby moved to approve the agenda. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
The following students/staff received recognition for their achievements:
FFA Sub-districts - Ava Kerns for Ag Sales 2nd Gold Advanced to Districts, Nathaniel Gaul for Job Interview, Silver, Zoe Walz for Greenhand Quiz – Bronze.
State Speech -Emma Saddoris for After Dinner Speaking Overall 2, Megan Pierchbacher for Acting Overall 1, Brianna VanGroll-Acting Overall 2, and Lydia Hemann-Prose Overall 1.
TRC All Conference Basketball First Team All-Conference: Ella Aulwes and Mason Ashline (Unanimous) Second Team All-Conference: Audrie Helmrichs, Jack Wiskus, Korey Putz, Konnor Putz
Honorable Mention: Addy Kirby and Westin Rowcliffe
Elementary teacher Kattie Schulte received a Discover Discover grant.
Excellent music concerts in the past month
Director Elliot moved to approve recognition of commendations. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Elementary Student Council members Addison Schmelzer, Bristol Kulper, and Kalyssa Reimer presented on Leader in Me goals and topics. Kari Pierschbacher and Carston Calderwood presented on Band and Vocal Music Programs.
Director Kirby moved to approve the Audit Extension Letter for FY22 Audit. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Kirby moved to approve the following resolution: The Board hereby authorizes the Superintendent to facilitate a one-time retention incentive payment in the amount of $1,000.00 to identified certified staff who have not previously been identified as qualifying for the $1,000 Governor bonus. Employees not considered full-time will receive a proportional retention incentive based on hours worked. Director Elliot seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the Business Associate Agreement with Iowa Department of Education.
Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the district’s administration to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for funding related to FY22 SWVPP increased enrollment in the amount of $3,613.50. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Discussion on building projects, district goals and 2022-23 budget.
Director Elliot moved to approve the Agreement with Central School for Shared Transportation Director. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the Agreement with Central School for Shared Business Manager. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the Agreement with Central School for Shared HR Manager. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Postponed action on sharing with Keystone AEA for Social Worker
Postponed action on sharing with Keystone AEA for technology services
Director Bockenstedt moved to approve agreements with Mercer to provide health insurance coverage through Blue Cross/Blue Shield with the Iowa Educators Trust. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Kirby moved to approve hiring summer custodial help for 1 person at $10.75 for 20-30 hours a week. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0
Director Kirby moved to approve the 2022-2023 Certified Staff Agreement. Director Elliot seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Elliot moved to approve the 2022-2023 Certified Staff Contracts. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Kirby moved to approve the 2022-2023 ECA Contracts. Director Elliot seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Bockenstedt moved to approve Participation in Iowa Rural Teacher & Paraeducator Grant Program with Western Governor’s University. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Heard Reports from Administrators and Board Members
Director Elliot moved to approve the consent agenda. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Director Kirby moved to go into Closed session pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(a) for the purpose of review or discussion of confidential student record at 6:47pm. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Roll Call: Ayes-Bockenstedt, Kirby, Venteicher, Elliott: Nays: None: Motion carried 4-0
Director Elliot moved to return to open session. Director Bockenstedt seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
The Board came back into open session at 8:42p.m.
Director Venteicher stated that after reviewing and listening to the comments tonight, the board has reached a decision but they are deeply concerned regarding the pattern of truancy they have seen. It hasn’t been present just this year, but has been a repeated offense. As a board who is entrusted to ensure our students are receiving an education, they are deeply concerned about the number of days that the student has missed. There is a dangerous precedent being set that will affect the student in their future academic career and their employment beyond that.
That being said, the inconsistencies in the stories, notes, and reasons, make the board feel that we would be enabling more truant behavior by letting the student receive credit for last semester. BUT as a board, they feel that they are not in a position to undermine the authority of a physician's note excusing these absences. They feel the doctor's note leaves their hands tied and puts the student in a position where their absences listed in the note from the physician are excused.
Director Kirby moved to approve the student’s credits for the first semester for the classes the student passed. This approval is based on the following stipulations. Per our board policy, moving forward all absent or tardy days must be reported to the school the day of the absence or tardiness. This communication will be via email and will be sent to THREE individuals: Dawn, Rob, and Dan. One or all will acknowledge the receipt of the email.
Stipulation TWO. Per board policy, any absences over 3 days must be accompanied by a Doctors' note for those specific absences. We will not accept posted-dated doctor notes for absences that are over two weeks old.
Stipulation THREE. Any deviance from these two stipulations will result in our original motion being rescinded.
Therefore, our original motion, based on the stipulations listed above, will read Director Kirby moved to approve the students’ credits for first semester for the classes the student passed assuming the aforementioned stipulations are followed. The motion was seconded by Elliot. Motion carried 4-0.
With no further business to come before the board for consideration at this time, Director Elliot moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:47p.m. Director Kirby seconded the movement. Motion carried 4-0.
Held Exempt Session for Preparation for Collective Bargaining per Iowa Code 20.17(3)
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Dan Venteicher, President Barbara Bolsinger, District Administrative Assistant
