SIDNEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
SIDNEY, IOWA
REGULAR MEETING 7:30 P.M. AUGUST 20, 2007
President Jeff Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Directors present were Randy Bishop, Jeff Jorgenson, Heidi Lowthorp, Rusty Monroe and Janet Teten. Also present were Superintendent/ Secondary Principal Gregg Cruickshank, Elementary Principal Carolyn Maher, and Board Secretary/ Treasurer Joyce Morgan.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Mike Daly
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS AMENDED
R. Monroe moved to approve the agenda as amended. H. Lowthorp seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 16, 2007.
J. Teten moved to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting held July 16, 2007. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
CONSIDER BILLS TO PAY
R. Monroe moved to approve the vendor bills for August 2007. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
H. Lowthorp moved to approve the financial reports for the month ending July 2007. J. Teten seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS’ REPORTS
Elementary Principal’s Report –
· Professional Development: The teachers and administration participated in two days of professional development with the training team from Apple on August 14-15. The teachers and administration had the opportunity to review the components of the iLife Suite and experience the iMovie and iDVD portions as they relate to creating podcasts. The training facilitated integrating technology into the curriculum.
· Guided Reading Library: The elementary teachers have been organizing a “Guided Reading Library” to supplement the reading program. Guided Reading will be a component of the professional development this year. The bookshelves being used to house the books were donated to the school from the public library.
· Preschool Screening: A preschool screening, open to all children from birth to age five, is scheduled for August 21. The following screenings will take place: hearing, speech development (AEA and preschool staff), vision (Lion’s Club), dental and fluoride varnish, lead (Fremont County Public Health) and immunization checks (School Nurse).
· Open House: The elementary staff will host an open house on Tuesday, August 28, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
· Enrollment: Enrollment at the elementary on the first day was 168.
Superintendent’s/Secondary Principal’s Report
· School Board candidates: Jeff Jorgenson and Mike Daly have filed for the September 11 election.
· Enrollment: Enrollment at the high school on the first day was 188 students.
· Board Training Opportunities through IASB:
. A legislative advocacy workshop will be held at Glenwood on Wednesday, August 29 from 7 – 9 p.m.
. Self-study workbook on taxes and student achievement
· Milk prices have risen 35%. The impact of the increase on the Nutrition Fund will be monitored.
· Special Education requirements: The District received notification that the Special Education program met all federal and state requirements for 2006-07.
· Electrical rates: Notice of a rate increase was received from Atchison-Holt Electric. This increase will go into effect August 2008. It will cause rates to go up another 10 to 15%. The District received a special rate for 10 years on the new building. The District will be put on the standard rate effective August 2008.
· Seal Coat at the High School Parking Lot: Work has been completed on the high school parking lot.
· Projections for Local Option Sales Tax: The District received a revenue estimate for Local Option Sales and Service Tax for the 2007 – 08 fiscal year. Estimated revenues are $223,827. This number represents 95% of the estimated collections. The estimated collections are $16,216 more than last year.
· IASB Convention 2007: The IASB convention is November 14 – 16 in Des Moines
Carolyn Maher arrived at 7:50 p.m.
Discussion Items
Teacher Quality Legislation – SF 277:
Mr. Cruickshank presented an overview to the Board on the new teacher quality legislation. Because of the structure of the District’s professional development, it will cause minimal change for the District. The major provisions and changes are:
· An increase of $69 million for teacher quality funding from fiscal year 2006-07 to 2007-08. Of that $69 million, $58 million will go towards teacher salaries. For fiscal year 2008-09, there will be another $75 million increase in teacher quality funding. The goal is to raise teacher pay in Iowa from 42nd to 25th in the nation.
· Districts must follow the Iowa Professional Development Model. Sidney has been following the model for the past 5 years.
· The Board of Directors will create a Teacher Quality Committee which:
1. Must be comprised of an equal number of administrators selected by the Board and teachers selected by the Sidney Education Association (SEA). The SEA selected Susy Clayton and Shannon Wehling.
2. Will monitor implementation of the Teacher Quality statute, monitor evaluation requirements for evaluation, develop model criteria for evaluation, determine the use of the District’s share of funding for professional development activities, and monitor professional development activities in each building.
3. Sidney has all of these processes in place and they are monitored through the Professional Development Leadership Team, which is comprised of teachers and administrators.
· Market factor money used to recruit and retain teachers in hard-to-staff subject areas is now a negotiated item. The SEA may make recommendations on how these funds are utilized. Last year the Board and administration had the sole authority to determine the use of the funds.
· Susy Clayton, Shannon Wehling, Mrs. Maher, and Mr. Cruickshank are working on a memorandum of understanding between the Board and the Sidney Education Association, covering the various aspects of this legislation. This information will be shared at the regular September board meeting.
Audit 2006 – 07
The school’s yearly audit was conducted August 1. A summary of the audit included:
· In the Activity Fund the accounts “Class of 2005” and “Library” should be cleared out and moved to other accounts. The pop accounts should be moved to the General Fund, unless they are owned and run by a Student Council.
· The Board President needs to sign athletic official contracts.
· It was recommended we use pre-numbered tickets for all activity gate receipts.
· Citizen Coaches need to keep a time card.
· Iowa Code 554d.114 states “the need to retain checks for 10 years”. The auditor recommends the banks provide both sides of the photographic checks.
Sharing With Area Districts
Mr. Cruickshank shared with the Board some correspondence from Jay Lutt, Farragut Superintendent, about sharing further programs and a facility study. The correspondence said Farragut wants to continue program and teacher sharing, and may be interested in a future facility study.
ACTION ITEMS
Resignation of Personnel
R. Monroe moved to approve the resignation of Connie Starnes, Elementary Special Education Associate. H. Lowthorp seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Employment of Personnel
R. Monroe moved to approve Charlene Brownfield as part-time custodian. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
J. Teten moved to approve Luke Buttry as Head Cross-Country Coach. H. Lowthorp seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
H. Lowthorp moved to approve Kelsey Halsey as Elementary Special Education Associate. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Open Enrollment
H. Lowthorp moved to approve the open enrollment in of Rabecka Rine from the Hamburg Community School District. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
SAI Administrator Mentoring/Induction
Another part of the Teacher Quality Legislation is that every school district must develop a mentoring/induction program for beginning/first-time administrators. Mr. Cruickshank recommended the Board adopt the School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) program to meet the requirements of the Teacher Quality Legislation.
H. Lowthorp moved to adopt the SAI beginning/first-time administrator mentoring program. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Teacher Quality Committee
R. Monroe moved to appoint Mr. Cruickshank and Mrs. Maher to the Teacher Quality Committee. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
J. Teten moved to delegate implementation and oversight of the teacher quality legislation to the Professional Development Leadership Team. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Policy Review
J. Teten moved to approve the reviewed policies 405.1, and 405.3 – 406.6. R. Monroe seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Closed Session
At 8:30 p.m., pursuant to Section 21.5 (1,i) of the Code of Iowa, H. Lowthorp moved to go into closed session to review or discuss records which are required or authorized to be kept confidential. R. Bishop seconded. R. Bishop aye, J. Jorgenson aye, H. Lowthorp aye, R. Monroe aye and J. Teten aye. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed. At 8:40 p.m. the Board returned to open session.
CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to all Sidney students on their participation and accomplishments at the Fremont County Fair.
Congratulations to all Sidney students who were selected to the Two County Dusters Drill Team, which performed at the Sidney Rodeo.
ADJOURNMENT
R. Monroe moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:46 p.m. H. Lowthorp seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING SEPTEMBER 17, 2007 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE BOARD ROOM.
___________________________________________ _________________________________________
President Board Secretary/Treasurer
SIDNEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
This publication of minutes is the unofficial report of action taken. Official minutes are available for review at the Sidney Community School District after approval at the next regular board meeting.