2023/12/18 Regular Board Agenda

Interstate 35 Community School District

Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, December 18, 2023

Regular Board Meeting 6:00 pm

High School Media Center

The Interstate 35 Community School District exists to develop life-long learners and responsible, productive, successful citizens in an ever changing society.

Tentative Agenda

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

1. Opening
   1. Call to Order--Welcome--Roll Call--Pledge of Allegiance
   2. Review of I-35 Mission Statement and District Priorities

Mission Statement

“The Interstate 35 Community School District exists to develop life-long learners and responsible, productive, successful citizens in an ever changing society”

District Priorities

1.  Articulate and support a cohesive, student-centered PK-12 vision for continuous school improvement
2. Engage in effective teaching and relevant learning for the 21st Century
3. Operate with fiscal integrity, efficiency and effectiveness

2. Discuss and/or Approve Agenda  (Action)
3. Open Forum 

“Residents, students, parents/guardians, and staff members of the district may address the Board about relevant topics.  Those who wish to speak must sign up at the beginning of the meeting.  Speaker’s participation is limited to 5 minutes per meeting.  We ask speakers to remember that Iowa law prohibits the Board from discussing specific employees or students or their performance.”

4. Student Representative Report
5. Principal Reports
   1. Mrs. Woods
   2. Mr. Weber
   3. Ms. Whitson
   4. Mr. Beckel
6. Superintendent Report
   1. Insurance Committee Meeting overview
   2. Facilities Update
   3. SIAC Update
   4. Standing Agenda Items
   5. Academic Planning Update (SRG)
   6. Health Curriculum–update board based on parent feedback
7. Discuss and/or Approve Consent Items  (Action)
   1. Past Meeting Minutes
   2. Monthly Bills and Financial Statement
   3. Resignations and Contracts
      1. Denny Meggers hired as high school ag teacher.
      2. Mistie Smith hired as bus driver.
      3. Doyle Jacobs resigns as a bus driver.
      4. Nicole Blackford hired as an associate.
   4. Open Enrollment
8. Items for Discussion
   1. School Resource Officer Update (for information only)  Deputy Chad Hollerud will be at the Board meeting to present data on the first few months of his assignment at I-35.  He will also be available to answer any questions from the Board.
   2. Iowa Performance Profile: Included is a Comparison sheet for overall performance of each building for the past five years.
   3. Discuss and/or Approve Superintendent’s Recommendation on Annual Designations (Action)
      1. Legal Counsel recommend Ahlers and Cooney
      2. Reconsideration Committee: Heather Jelsma, Abbey Mease, Brayton Weber, Jill McDonald, Remington Hutton, Tonya Donahue, Emily Hanna
   4. Board Policy Review (Action)  Third reading of policy 503.1, 503.8, 605.1, 605.1R, 605.2, 605.3, 605.3R1, 605.3E1, 605.3E2, 605.3E3, 605.4, 605.5
      1. Discipline Policy (503.1, 503.8)
         1. Handbook Updates
            1. Secondary
            2. Elementary
      2. Instructional Materials (605.1, 605.1R1, 605.1R2, 605.2, 605.3, 605.3R1, 605.3E1, 605.3E2, 605.3E3, 605.4, 605.5)
   5. Early Retirement for Certified Staff (Action) 
      1.  If the board opts to offer early retirement, I would like to set the following timeline.  Provide all eligible staff the early retirement packet by Wednesday, December 20, 2023.  The deadline to return completed early retirement will be Friday, January 12, 2024.  These will be brought to the board meeting on Monday, January 22, 2024.  The retirement package recommends teachers with 15 (fifteen) years of service be allocated a $50,000 HRA payment.  We have five eligible teachers.
   6. Retirement Package for Support Staff (for information only) Consideration for early retirement options for support staff. Propose consideration for a retirement package for support staff.  Tentatively, the proposed plan would be based on years of service with a payout for unused sick days ( the most employees can bank is 115 days * $25 = $2875. 

For example:

    15 or more years of full time service $3000 and $25/day unused sick leave

    20 or more years of full time service $4000 and $25/day unused sick leave

    25 or more years of full time service $5000 and $25/day unused sick leave

7. At Risk (Action)  To serve our at risk students, we provide services beyond the general education program.  At Risk criteria include multiple absences, poor test scores, failing grades, not connected to school (not involved in school activities) etc.  Students who fall in multiple categories are considered at risk.  
8. At Risk Plan-Modified Allowable Growth–(Action)  The modified allowable growth is supplemental aid for our at risk program.  Attached you will see the proposed recommendations for the 2024-2025 budget. 
9. Calendar Recommendation (For Information Only)  We are presenting the academic calendar recommendation for consideration.  This option requires 172 student days at 1140.4 hours (reminder we need to be at 1080 hours or 180 days).  It reduces the teacher contract days to 190 from 192 (This would need to be discussed and agreed upon during negotiations as it changes the teacher contract.  Depending on the outcome of those meetings, the calendar may need to be amended through Board action.)  It includes a two week break at Christmas and a spring break week.  Students start the Aug 23 and end the Friday before Memorial Day.  

Upcoming Dates

Holiday Open House, Wednesday, December 20 from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tentative–Special Board Meeting, Monday, January 8 at 6 p.m. 

January 10. 2024–Special Board Meeting: Closed Session: Legal Update

Still to schedule Fiscal

Next Board Meeting:  January 22, 2023 at 6 p.m.

Adjourn