SUMMARY OF THE FEBRUARY 13, 2012 REGULAR BOARD MEETING

OF THE BATTLE CREEK-IDA GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District Board met in regular session with the Odebolt-Arthur Board on February 13, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in the Conference Room at the OA/BCIG Middle School in Odebolt, Iowa.

Battle Creek-Ida Grove Board President, Berny Sohm called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. on behalf of the Battle Creek-Ida Grove board and the meeting was called to order on behalf of the Odebolt-Arthur board by Paul Neumann. A roll call was taken as follows: Mark Bogue, present; Bev Bower, absent; Stephanie Konradi, present; Michael Luft, absent; Jeff Rassmussen, present; Brian Riessen, present. The mission statement of each school was read by Sohm and Neumann.

It was moved by Bogue and seconded by Rasmussen to approve the agenda with addition of payables and the motion carried 5-0. Neumann welcomed visitors. Tony Bennett spoke during the public forum portion of the meeting stating he would like the BCIG board to reconsider how directors are elected to the board.

It was moved by Riessen and seconded by Rasmussen to approve the consent agenda including claims totaling $267,989.85; resignation from Kris Gunderson, elementary teacher and out of state and overnight field trip for SSEP Project Winners, presenting at the Air and Space Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. on July 2^nd and 3^rd. The motion carried 5-0.

Dani Trimble, OA/BCIG superintendent reported on the OA/BCIG high school restroom project and stated the administration will be bringing the board a plan to update all the restrooms on a schedule.

At 6:35 p.m. Sohm opened the public hearing to Participate in an Instructional Support Program. Tony Bennett spoke in favor of the Instructional Support levy but stated he wasn’t happy the board chose to have the public hearing outside the district. No one else spoke for or against the Instructional Support Program. Sohm closed the public hearing at 6:36 p.m.

Trimble continued her report updating the board on the process to explore hiring a food service management program. She stated a survey has been sent to 11 districts who currently outsource their food service department and will share the results when survey results have been compiled. She suggested the board hold a special meeting with school attorney Rick Franck to discuss the process needed to sell the Battle Creek property. She will work with Sohm in setting up the meeting. She asked the board to send comments to her or Sohm regarding the board’s thoughts on the demolition of the Early Childhood Center since the offers to buy have been rescinded.

Dr. Luft arrived at 6:55 p.m. and participated in the remainder of the meeting.

Alan Henderson, BCIG elementary principal, distributed handouts outlining the transition and possible moving schedules due to the closing of the Battle Creek attendance center. Henderson discussed room configurations and classroom space since the elementary addition isn’t scheduled to be completed prior to the 2012-2013 school year. Trimble distributed updated addition plans and elevation drawings due to a slight change in the project. She stated she communicates with the architect frequently as bid documents are being prepared. Trimble discussed the professional development and individual growth plans that were included in the board packets and stated discussions are being held on a possible change to the school calendar regarding professional development days.

Trimble then read the following statement regarding the joint sharing agreement with Odebolt-Arthur for superintendent services:

It is my recommendation that the OA & BCIG Districts not renew the 28E Agreement for Shared Superintendent, possibly until such time as reorganization is approved by the voters of both districts. While the Shared Superintendent position served as a means of transition into whole grade sharing and has provided additional supplemental weighting and associated funding, it is appropriate to re-evaluate if the Shared Superintendent position is still meeting the needs of each district.

Over the course of the last 10 years, the administrators in both districts have worked very hard to absorb positions while minimizing any disruptions to the educational process. A review of this administrative downsizing is attached for your review. While I have high regard for the efforts of the administrators through this process, there are unintended consequences to such decisions, especially those occurring since the most recent downsizing beginning in 2009-10. Most notable would be the demands of Superintendent duties for two districts combined with Curriculum Director duties.

If the 28E Agreement is not renewed, current language in the OA Superintendent contract returns the position to full time at Odebolt-Arthur as Superintendent/Elementary Principal and returns the current Principal position to full time 6-8 Principal. Whether it is myself, or a new Superintendent, I believe it is in the best interest of the OA District to have the full time presence of a Superintendent to attend to the needs of the district and building, and to communicate with the OA community.

Options for the BCIG District include hiring a part-time Superintendent, discussing a shared duty position with the current BCIG administrator that holds the proper Superintendent licensure, or hiring a full-time Superintendent. In any of these three scenarios, it is highly recommended that the BCIG Board work with a hiring consultant to establish a common vision for the leadership style they desire so that a proper fit can be attained. Like the above recommendation for OA, I believe it is in the best interest of the BCIG District and communities to have the presence of a separate Superintendent to attend to the ongoing needs and projects of the district.

In addition, high priority and careful consideration should be made regarding continuity of future professional development and curriculum director duties. Currently, this responsibility is assumed by the Shared Superintendent. It is recommended that a 28E Agreement for Curriculum Director be considered for equal sharing of 25% of the OA Superintendent/Elementary Principal contract. In the event that a new Superintendent is employed by OA in the future, it is strongly recommended that a Curriculum Director position of at least .25 FTE, ideally .5 FTE, be reinstated and shared equally between OA and BCIG.

Finally, the majority of both the OA and BCIG Boards have strongly supported the continuation of whole grade sharing and joint board meetings. You have my highest respect for this commitment, and no part of this recommendation should be perceived as anything less than my full support for continued sharing and joint board work. It is recommended that both boards strive to protect the integrity of this relationship by requiring Superintendents to continue joint board meetings and administrative leadership.

I also want to clarify that my recommendation is not a resignation to the BCIG Board. It is not about work that has been too hard or conversations that have been too difficult. It is, however, a critical review of our current situation as I search for a way to help us all make forward movement. It is certainly not a recommendation that comes easy for me, or one that I have not thought long and hard about.

In addition to the above considerations, I have asked both business managers to prepare an estimation of the financial implications of this recommendation. As you will see as they review this information with you, a balanced decision must be made by each board that takes into account financial repercussions as well as a review of appropriate level of administrative staffing in our two districts.

Trimble then asked the boards if the use of iPads for the paperless board meeting was working and discussed slight adjustments for next month. She discussed the timeline for redistricting due to the 2010 census and how the Whole Grade Sharing agreement currently reads regarding dates of review and timeline for modification(s) if needed.

Patrick Miller, OA/BCIG High School Principal, reported on speech students and wrestlers who recently qualified for state competitions. Tony Spradlin, OA/BCIG Middle School Principal, reported on a recent conference on autism that staff members attended, upcoming Ag Business Career Day to be held February 17 and stated he is applying for a farming grant for up to $25,000.

Henderson distributed playground drawings and cost estimates to install new playground equipment at the elementary. He stated he has received donations for the project and is applying for a grant for up to $10,000 to help offset the cost of the project which could be done in phases in conjunction with the addition.

Joyce Flink, OA Food Service Director and Mary Renze, BCIG Food Service Director, gave reports outlining their duties and the school lunch program.

It was moved by Bogue and seconded by Rasmussen to approve the Resolution of Participation in an Instructional Support Program as follows:

Shall the Board of Directors of the Battle Creek-Ida Grove Community School District in the Counties of Ida, Crawford, and Woodbury, State of Iowa, be authorized for a period of five years, to levy and impose annually, as determined by the Board, an instructional support property tax in an amount (after taking into consideration instructional support state aid) not to exceed ten (10) percent of the total of regular program district cost for the budget year and monies received under Section 257.14 Code of Iowa as a budget adjustment for the budget year, and be authorized annually, in combination, as determined by the Board, to levy a combination of an instructional support property tax upon all taxable property within the school district, commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, and to impose an instructional support income surtax upon the state individual income tax of each individual income tax payer resident in the school district on December 31 for each calendar year commencing with calendar year 2012, or each year thereafter, (the percent of income surtax not to exceed twenty percent (20%) to be determined by the Board for each fiscal year) to be used for instructional services, transportation, and maintenance.

A roll call vote was taken as follows: Bogue-yes; Rasmussen-yes; Sohm-yes; Riessen-yes; Konradi-yes; Luft-yes and the motion carried 6-0.

After discussion of the resources available in the management fund and criteria used when two applications are received with equal years of service, it was moved by Rasmussen and seconded by Konradi to approve the early retirement applications from Jane Hamann and Joan Wiese. The motion carried 6-0. Sohm thanked both employees for their years of service to the district and their dedication to the students.

It was moved by Bogue and seconded by Luft to approve the resignations of Jane Hamann and Joan Wiese effective June 30, 2012. The motion carried 6-0.

After discussion of fees and services offered, it was moved by Bogue and seconded by Luft to approve authorizing the Board Secretary to Sign Agreement with Piper Jaffray & Co., for Underwriting Services Provided for the Proposed Issuance of School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds. The motion carried 6-0.

A motion was passed 5-0 by the Odebolt Arthur board to drop the First Reading of New Board Policies 208.2 and 208.2E Committee for Design Approval. A motion was made by Rasmussen for BCIG to drop the First Reading of New Board Policies 208.2 and 208.2E Committee for Design Approval and ask for a written procedure from the administration. The motion died for lack of a second.

It was moved by Luft and seconded by Riessen to approve advertising for sealed bids for the following obsolete equipment: Whitney table saw, Buffalo drill press and kitchen exhaust hood. The motion carried 6-0.

It was moved by Bogue and seconded by Luft to approve the purchase of 18 new doors and hardware from Burke Engineering Sales Co for $15,374 which includes $993 of labor to Klemmensen Commercial Door and Frame to remove and replace the old frame bottoms in the high school locker rooms. This should complete the project. The motion carried 6-0.

Bogue asked when the Revenue Purpose Statement could be brought to a public vote again. Discussion was held on the election and costs involved. He asked that it be put on a future agenda for consideration.

The next regular joint meeting will be held March 12, 2012 in the Board Room at the OA/BCIG High School in Ida Grove.

There being no further business before the board, it was moved by Rasmussen and seconded by Luft to adjourn. The motion carried 6-0 and the meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.

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Kathy A. Leonard, Board Secretary