SIDNEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
SIDNEY, IOWA
STRATEGY SESSION 7:00 P.M. APRIL 21, 2008
President Jeff Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Directors present were Jeff Jorgenson, Randy Bishop, Heidi Lowthorp, Janet Teten and Mike Daly. Also present were Superintendent/ Secondary Principal Gregg Cruickshank, Elementary Principal Carolyn Maher and Board Secretary/Treasurer Joyce Morgan.
EXEMPT SESSION
The Board went into an exempt strategy session.
At 7:30 p.m. the board adjourned from the Exempt Strategy Session.
REGULAR MEETING 7:30P.M. APRIL 21, 2008
President Jeff Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Directors present were Jeff Jorgenson, Randy Bishop, Heidi Lowthorp, Janet Teten and Mike Daly. Also present were Superintendent/ Secondary Principal Gregg Cruickshank, Elementary Principal Carolyn Maher and Board Secretary/Treasurer Joyce Morgan.
RECOGNITION OF GUESTS
Debora Whipple, Donna Walker, Teresa Jamison, and Janet Lemrick.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS AMENDED
J. Teten moved to approve the agenda as amended. M. Daly seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM MEETINGS OF MARCH 17 REGULAR, APRIL 9 SPECIAL MEETING, APRIL 9 WORK SESSION, APRIL 9 STRATEGY SESSION AND APRIL 13 STRATEGY SESSION.
J. Teten moved to approve the minutes from the meetings of March 17, April 9 and April 13. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
CONSIDER BILLS TO PAY
H. Lowthorp moved to approve the vendor bills for the month of April 2008. J. Teten seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
FINANCIAL REPORTS
J. Teten moved to approve the financial reports for the month ending March 2008. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
ADMINISTRATORS’ REPORTS
Mrs. Maher presented the Elementary Principal’s Report.
Mr. Cruickshank presented the Superintendent’s/Secondary Principal’s Report.
REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
Teresa Jamison addressed the Board concerning 2008-09 salaries and benefits for the classified staff.
ACTION ITEMS
Employment of Personnel
H. Lowthorp moved to approve Abbey Eason as 5-12 Instrumental Music Instructor. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
R. Bishop moved to approve Kelli Myers as Pre-School Instructor. J. Teten seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
H. Lowthorp moved to approve Jason Holt as Assistant Softball Coach. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
H. Lowthorp moved to approve Shawn Thompson as Assistant High School Football Coach and Head Junior High Football Coach. J. Teten seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
H. Lowthorp moved to approve Erik Grudle as Assistant High School Football Coach. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
J. Teten moved to approve Lynda Cruickshank as Head High School Volleyball Coach. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
J. Teten moved to approve Kent Larsen as Assistant High School Volleyball Coach. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Open Enrollment for 2008-09
J. Teten moved to approve the open enrollment in of Christopher Osborn, 7th grade, from Hamburg Community Schools. H. Lowthorp seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
J. Teten moved to approve the open enrollment in of Conner Nennemann, 7th grade, from Hamburg Community Schools. M. Daly seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
R. Bishop moved to approve the open enrollment in of Rylee Mills - Kindergarten, from Farragut Community Schools. M. Daly seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Graduation Candidates for 2008
J. Teten moved to approve the graduating seniors for the class of 2008 pending completion of all requirements and obligations. M. Daly seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
School Calendar 2008 2009
H. Lowthorp moved to approve the 2008-2009 school calendar as presented. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5. Nays 0. Motion passed.
Severance Agreement
H. Lowthorp moved to approve the two year severance agreement with Susan Dyke. J. Teten seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Negotiated Agreement with the Certified Teaching Staff at a 3.24% package increase.
M. Daly moved to approve the negotiated agreement with the certified staff. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
ISCAP
BE IT RESOLVED that director H. Lowthorp moved to approve the Supplemental Resolution authorizing and providing for the issuance and authorizing and directing the final terms and conditions of the sale and delivery of Warrants evidence by Warrant Certificates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009 and amending the Master Resolution. R. Bishop seconded. J. Jorgenson aye, R. Bishop aye, H. Lowthorp aye, J. Teten aye, and M. Daly aye. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Approval of Maintenance Vehicle
R. Bishop moved to approve the purchase of a maintenance vehicle from the LOSST funds in the $5000 - $8000 price range. M Daly seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
Policy Review 507.1 through 508.2
J. Teten moved to approve the board polices 507.1 through 508.2 as reviewed. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
Superintendent Evaluation
Evaluations will be turned into Director Jorgenson by May 12. The evaluations will be compiled into one evaluation to be reviewed with Mr. Cruickshank at the May Board meeting.
Hot Lunch/Breakfast Fees for 2008-09
Hot lunch and breakfast fees will increase for 2008-09. Mr. Cruickshank will compile data from area schools and make a recommendation to the Board at the May meeting.
Substitute Teacher Pay
The Board reviewed compared substitute teacher pay at Sidney with area districts. A recommendation on substitute teacher pay will be made at the May Board meeting.
Technology – Director Lowthorp shared her thoughts on the 1-2-1 laptop program at Arnold, Nebraska. Mrs. Clayton and a systems engineer from Apple are studying infrastructure capabilities and needs. Financing options are also being considered for a possible 2009-10 implementation. The Board authorized the purchase of additional laptops for the staff, so each teacher has their own laptop. The laptops will be purchased from the REAP grant, which is a federal rural education grant.
Classified Staff Salary and Benefits for 2008-09 – there was discussion on classified staff salaries and benefits for the 2008-09 fiscal year.
Facilities Study –Directors Bishop and Daly will study the proposals from the facilities study presented by Kurcirek Engineering and report back to the Board sometime in the near future..
Building and Grounds Security – There was a break in at the high school earlier this month. Security systems were discussed.
April 23 Meeting with the Fremont-Mills Board – This is a work session and an open meeting. The meeting will be held in the commons and begin at 7:30 p.m. The focus of the meeting will be on student learning, achievement, and opportunity; discussion about sharing options; how those options might look (i.e. facilities, curriculum and co-curricular programs); and how to involve our communities in the discussion.
CELEBRATIONS
Congratulations to Sloan Killion for qualifying for the State Woodmen Speech Contest.
ADJOURNMENT
M. Daly moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:07 p.m. R. Bishop seconded. Ayes 5, Nays 0. Motion passed.
THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19, 2008 AT 7:30 P.M. AT 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.