Board of Education Regular School Board Meeting
Southeast Webster-Grand Community School District Prairie Valley Community School District Wednesday, June 16 2021
Southeast Valley Middle School
The joint regular meeting of the Boards of Education of Prairie Valley and Southeast Webster-Grand met in regular session. President Wicklein called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM.
Roll Call: SWG: Alan Wicklein, Sean Stewart, Alison Swanson and Lindsay Eslick. Absent: Chad Lambert, Katie VanSickle, AJ Blair
Roll Call: PV: Shannon Miller, Jim Carlson, Heidi McGuire and Gary Welter attended electronically. Absent: Kathy Carlson, Joni Hefley, Jeff Ackerson
SWG: Motion by Stewart, seconded by Swanson, to approve the consent agenda items, including the agenda, minutes and bills.
Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick Nays: None
Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by McGuire, seconded by J. Carlson to approve the consent agenda items, including the agenda, minutes and bills.
Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter Nays: None
Motion carries 4-0
Facilities and Grounds – Summer maintenance is going well in all buildings. Next project is the security door at the Middle School entrance.
Public Relations – Nothing to report at this time
SIAC – Nothing to report at this time.
Finance and Negotiations – Nothing to report at this time.
SWG: Motion by Stewart, seconded by Eslick, to approve the financials as presented. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by Welter, seconded by McGuire to approve the financials as presented. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
Farnhamville Elementary – Principal Jim Duncan
In addition to our overall reading achievement scores on our Spring Fast Reading Assessments, PVE had 11 students in Title I Reading and 25 students participating in AmeriCorps Reading, score above benchmark on the Spring Fast Reading Assessments! GO JAGS! I would like to thank the school board members, our communities, and our school staff for their support and teamwork throughout this very unique last year and the last thirteen years overall. There have been many challenges and many triumphs over that several year period. Those that have witnessed that time frame are aware of the truly astounding progress that has been made. It has been my honor to have served as elementary principal and I look forward to my new role at our middle school.
Teamwork has been and will continue to be the source of our success. GO JAGS! 4-Year-Old Preschool Registration remains open. Students must be 4 years old by Sept. 15th, 2021 to register for Four-Year-Old Preschool. As of this time, the seeding of the PVE Prairie Project will most likely have to wait until this late fall. The seed remains stored in the building and will be ready to go when seeding can be done. As I have shared in the past, the project will be on the former football field area and should have flowering prairie grasses that can be used as an outdoor natural classroom. The surrounding ditches will have wet prairie grasses. Once completed, this will be beneficial for education, natural habitat, and should also help to reduce some mowing, etc. costs. I have been working to close the current school year and prepare for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year. Some of the tasks include:
staff checkout, facilities, reports data, documentation/records, meetings, personnel, schedules, planning, supplies - orders, etc. I have also been conferring/meeting with Ms. Kastendieck and other staff for the preparation for the upcoming school year and to help make a smooth transition for Mrs. Kastendieck.
Southeast Valley Middle School – Principal Greg Slininger
Summer maintenance projects are happening.
Painting in several rooms, demo in 7th and 8th grade science rooms, shop being cleaned up, doors in both entryways (south and east) being replaced and secured, floors in multiple rooms being refinished, calming room being created, and of course, all of the normal room cleaning, stripping and waxing of floors, etc. are
happening. Lots going on!
Southeast Valley High School – Principal Kerry Ketcham
Cleaning and maintenance are going well at the high school. And the gym floor is in the process of being refinished. Things are looking good and the crews seem to be taking pride in their work. A few rooms are being rotated around to account for changes in staffing. We are in the process of looking for a new nurse and a new interventionist at the high school. The best news there is that we have been getting really high-quality candidates applying for our positions. Although we will be replacing people we know and respect, we should be able to add some great people to our staff. We have had several students decide to come to SV this fall from other districts – FD, St. Ed’s, and West Des Moines. They’re looking for a better school experience and our reputation is getting out there. That’s a lot to be proud of!
Student scheduling for 2021-2022 is almost completed and will probably be done by the end of the week. As always there are students with incomplete schedules because they did not request sufficient electives. Students who have not requested required classes have already had those added to their courses. We will begin contacting students with incomplete schedules in August.
A quick look at the NWEA MAP assessment results on the next pages will show you that about 75% our high school students are scoring in the proficient range for math and reading (average or above). The 9th and 10th grade results included all students. The 11th grade results are a little deceptive because any student who scored proficient on all 4 areas of the test in the fall was not required to test again in the spring. I expect that we will be doing a lot of intervention in reading and math over the next 2-3 years to fill gaps created by the missed school days and I would be surprised to see these ranges improve for at least another year. We are putting a new reading intervention class in place at the high school for grades 9 and 10 and we will be re-working the math 9 class to account for the retirement of Mrs. Jaeschke who ran the class solo.
Curriculum Report– Dr. Linda Hunecke
As we wrap up another school year, I would like to thank the board and the administration for the opportunities we were given this year for support and time to decompress as we made our way through the COVID challenges. I have heard many times from teachers how much they appreciated the additional hour on Wednesdays as they planned for and supported those students who were working in a hybrid model, the grace given during our early dismissals to be focused on building concerns as they arose, and the work hours forgiven at various times. I would also like to publicly thank the teachers and staff of every building for their commitment to education during this difficult year. We have had anxious days, tragedies, trauma and uncertainty. It has been heartwarming to witness the additional steps individuals have taken to help and support each other as well as our students so that their burdens could become lighter. We know that some of our data points reflect the impact that COVID has had on student achievement. We put a high priority on the social emotional aspects of l earning this year. According to Hattie, “the greatest influence on student progression is having highly expert, inspired and passionate teachers and school leaders working together to maximize the effect of their teaching on all students in their care. (2015b, p. 2) The research is there. Our collaborative leadership work along with all teachers’ realizing that together we can help students produce whatever we set out to achieve will be especially important i n the upcoming school year. In closing, I wish all of our staff and our board members a truly restful, enjoyable and safe summer!
Superintendent Report – Brian Johnson
Board elections are in November. Anyone wanting to run can get the paperwork from Lisa in the Central Office. Petitions for reorganization are available. They are due in August. We may move the August meeting back to the 25th or 26th.
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to approve Josh Dyer as Student Council advisor. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick, to approve Scott Kelley to fill in as Middle School Softball coach. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick, to approve hiring Cierra Fors as School Social Worker. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Stewart to approve the resignation of Jill Rasmussen from Dayton Elementary, with thanks for her service in both SWG and Prairie Valley.
Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick Nays: None
Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to approve the IPSIP insurance renewal for 2021-2022 as presented. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
SWG: Motion by Eslick, seconded by Swanson to approve the renewal of the District Crisis plan. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by McGuire, seconded by Welter to approve the renewal of the District Crisis plan. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
Board Member Sean Stewart moved that the form of Tax Exemption Certificate be placed on file and approved. Board Member Alison Swanson seconded the motion. The roll was called, and the vote was:
AYES:
A.Wicklein, S. Stewart, A. Swanson, L. Esclick
NAYS:
None
The President declared the Motion adopted.
Board Member Sean Stewart introduced the following Resolution entitled "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND PROVIDING FOR THE TERMS OF ISSUANCE AND SECURING THE PAYMENT OF $2,457,000 SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE SALES, SERVICES AND USE TAX REVENUE REFUNDING BONDS, SERIES 2021, OF THE SOUTHEAST WEBSTER-GRAND COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, STATE OF IOWA, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTERS 423E AND 423F OF THE CODE OF IOWA, AND PROVIDING FOR A
METHOD OF PAYMENT OF SAID BONDS," and moved its adoption. Board Member Alison Swanson seconded the motion to adopt. The roll was called, and the vote was:
AYES:
A.Wicklein, S. Stewart, A. Swanson, L. Esclick
NAYS:
None
The President declared the Motion adopted.
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to approve the all change orders for the gym project to date. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to approve Pay App #9 for $39,536.56. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
SWG: Motion by Stewart, seconded by Eslick to approve the Classified Staff Handbook for the 2021-2022 school year. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by Welter, seconded by McGuire to approve the Classified Staff Handbook for the 2021-2022 school year. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
A public hearing was set for July 21, 2021 at 6:25 PM for the Flexibility Waiver and ESSER III expenses.
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick to approve the fee schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by McGuire, seconded by J. Carlson to approve the fee schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick to approve the extension of the lease for the Boxholm Bus Garage to Scott Amusements.
Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick Nays: None
Motion carried 4-0
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick to approve the milk bid from Kemps for the 2021-2022 school year. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to approve the milk bid from Kemps for the 2021-2022 school year Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by McGuire, seconded by J. Carlson to approve the eligibility waiver to waive the 90-day waiting period for athletes in accordance to the new legislation passed.
Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter Nays: None
Motion carries 4-0
The next meeting will be held July 21, 2021 at 6:30 PM, following the public hearing at 6:25 PM.
SWG: Motion by Swanson, seconded by Eslick to adjourn. Ayes:, Wicklein, Stewart, Swanson, Eslick
Nays: None Motion carried 4-0
Prairie Valley: Motion by J. Carlson, seconded by McGuire to adjourn. Ayes: Miller, J. Carlson, McGuire, Welter
Nays: None Motion carries 4-0
Meeting Adjourned