SIDNEY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

SIDNEY, IOWA

 

REGULAR MEETING                                                                                                        7:30 P.M.                                                                                                   MARCH 17, 2008

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

President Jeff Jorgenson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.

ROLL CALL

Directors present were Jeff Jorgenson, Randy Bishop, Heidi Lowthorp, and Mike Daly.  Also present were Superintendent/ Secondary Principal Gregg Cruickshank, Elementary Principal Carolyn Maher and Board Secretary/Treasurer Joyce Morgan.   Director Janet Teten was absent.

RECOGNITION OF GUESTS

There were no guests

APPROVAL OF AGENDA AS AMENDED

H. Lowthorp moved to approve the agenda as amended.  R. Bishop seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.  Motion passed.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM THE REGULAR MEETING OF FEBRUARY 18 AND THE MARCH 4 COMMUNITY MEETING

M. Daly moved to approve the minutes from the regular board meeting of February 18, 2008 and the March 4, 2008 community meeting.  H. Lowthorp seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.  Motion passed.

CONSIDER BILLS TO PAY

H. Lowthorp moved to approve the vendor bills for the month of March 2008.  H. Lowthorp seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.  Motion passed.

FINANCIAL REPORTS

R. Bishop moved to approve the financial reports for the month ending February 2008.  H. Lowthorp seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.  Motion passed.

ADMINISTRATORS’ REPORTS

Mrs. Maher presented the Elementary Principal’s Report. 

Mr.  Cruickshank presented the Superintendent’s/Secondary Principal’s Report.

ACTION ITEMS

Employment of Personnel

R. Bishop moved to approve Steve Meyer as Junior High Boys Track Coach.  H. Lowthorp seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Athletic sharing agreements for 2008-09

R. Bishop moved to approve sharing wrestling with Fremont-Mills, cross country with Fremont-Mills, golf with Hamburg, and swimming with Lewis Central.  M. Daly seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Audit fiscal year 2007

H. Lowthorp moved to approve the 2007 fiscal year audit.  M. Daly seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Superintendent evaluation

M. Daly moved to approve the evaluation instrument for the superintendent.  R. Bishop seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Driver Education

M. Daly moved to approve driver education fees of $240 per student with $150 per student compensation to the instructor.  H. Lowthorp seconded.  Ayes 4, Nays 0.

Director J. Teten arrived at 8:08 p.m.

Request for Sunday Activity

R. Bishop moved to approve the request by Mr. Sears to host an elementary track meet on Sunday April 27.  J. Teten seconded.  Ayes 5, Nays 0.

Assured Resolution for Sidney CSD participation with Kornerstone Kids Daycare

J. Teten moved to rescind Sidney Community School District’s participation in an assured resolution with Kornerstone Kids Daycare due to a conflict with Iowa Code.  R. Bishop seconded.  Ayes 5, Nays 0.

Closed Session

At 8:11 p.m., pursuant to Section 21.5 (1,i) of the Code of Iowa, J. Teten  moved to go into closed session to review or discuss records which are required or authorized to be kept confidential.  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.  At 8:25 p.m. the Board returned to open session by consensus.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

            Budget 2008 – 09:  The Superintendent discussed a proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 – 09 including the following:

·          An unspent authorized budget report with fiscal year 2008 estimated numbers

·          The fiscal year 2009 aid and levy worksheet

·          Notice of public hearing

·          Budget and Taxes

·          Area schools unspent budget authority and ending fund balances

·          The budget hearing time and date is April 9 at 7 p.m. at the board room.

Calendar – a proposed calendar for 2008-09 was discussed.

Special Education compliance review – the district went through a compliance review in preparation for a comprehensive Department of Education site visit in 2008-09.  Mr. Cruickshank shared a summary of the compliance review.

Facilities study –Gary Cooper and Ed Kucirek from Kucirek Engineering will present a facilities study on April 9 at 7:15 p.m. 

Sharing with area districts/March 4 community meeting – Jeff Jorgensen and Mr. Cruickshank shared their impressions of the March 12 meeting attended by the

Board Presidents and Superintendents of the Fremont County schools.  Their was a consensus among those in attendance to meet every six weeks to two months.

March 4 community meeting – it was the consensus of the Board that the meeting was productive in beginning the conversation about the future educational options for the District.

Bus barn – discussion was held concerning the present bus barn and the offer from Sidney Fire and Rescue to exchange the current fire and rescue station for the bus barn property.  At this time the board believes the current bus barn best meets the needs of the District.

Personnel –  Mrs. Maher and Mr. Cruickshank  have been interviewing for the Band position.  They plan to offer the position before Easter Break.  Mrs. Maher has interviews for the Preschool position lined up beginning this week.

CELEBRATIONS

Congratulations to Raven Shirley for qualifying for the State Individual Speech Festival at the University of Northern Iowa.

Congratulations to Chase Reed and Weston Doty for qualifying for the State Invention Convention.

 

ADJOURNMENT

M. Daly moved to adjourn the meeting at 10:12  p.m.  R. Bishop seconded.  Ayes 5, Nays 0.  Motion passed.

 

A strategy session was held immediately following the regular board meeting to discuss negotiations.

 

THE NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 21, 2008 AT 7:30 P.M. AT THE BOARD ROOM.

 

 

________________________________________                                        _________________________________________

President                                                                                                         Board Secretary/Treasurer