Pleasant Valley School Board Minutes 2.4.2002

Board approves $1.6 million Pleasant View Elementary classroom addition and $236,000 Junior High instrumental music addition

Pleasant Valley School Board Minutes 2.4.02

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by
President Phyllis Ahlstrand. Members present: Ahlstrand, Barsness,
Coon, Dayman, O'Hara, Thornton. Absent: Romans. Also present: Dale
Barber, Jim Spelhaug, Mike Clingingsmith, Keith Osborn, Don Dehner,
Cyndy Behrer, Jim Wichman, Randy Teymer, Ray LaFrentz, Steve Zbylicki,
Lynda Kruss, Trish Bondi, Mary Louise Speer, and Chris Harvey.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Thornton, second by Barsness that the
Board hold a closed session as provided in Section 21.5(1)(i) of the
Open Meetings Law to evaluate the professional competency of an
individual whose performance is being considered to prevent needless and
irreparable injury to that individual's reputation, and that individual
has requested a closed session. Roll call vote. Ayes - Thornton,
Ahlstrand, Barsness, Coon, Dayman, O'Hara, Thornton. Nays - none.
Motion carried.

AGENDA APPROVED: Motion by O'Hara, second by Dayman that the Agenda be
approved as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS: District parent Lynda Kruss spoke to the Board
regarding the student information system and meeting college deadlines
for grade point averages and class ranks. Dr. Barber replied that the
district has been meeting with staff and the AEA to rectify the problem.
Director Coon stated that the new release to the computer program should
be updated for Pleasant Valley on Tuesday.

Director Barsness congratulated Wrestling Coach Royce Duncan for his
300th dual win. Dr. Barber added that Mr. Duncan has done an
outstanding job of building the wrestling program to its present level.

Director O'Hara asked Dr. Barber to comment on recent legislative
issues. Dr. Barber stated that legislative news regarding education has
not been good. Allowable growth has been estimated to be in a range
from -1% to +1%. He encouraged Board members, parents and employees to
share their concerns regarding the inadequacy of State funding support
for education with the Governor and legislators.

Director Dayman asked if the district's website could provide forms such
as the athletic physical form required for students to participate in
sports. Dr. Barber will follow up on this request with the technology
staff.

Dr. Barber told the Board that an interest based bargaining training session had been held on January 29 and 30. Eighteen
teachers and six administrators were trained in the process by Chris
Rembold, Lynette Claeys and himself.

Director Districts will be redistricted based on the 2000 census data.
This process is underway and preliminary maps should be received by the
end of the month.

Dr. Spelhaug provided the Board with some positive comments from parents
regarding the All Day Kindergarten informational meetings being held at
each elementary school.

He thanked the Jake Littrel Benefit committee for their efforts in
raising close to $9,000 for Jake and his family. Jake is a high school
student being treated for cancer.


Linda Noble, Kay Kaiser, Chad
Houseman, Steve Ingelby, Kari Conger, Hannah Bland, Katie Sutherland,
Stephanie McFarland, Maureen Gordon, Charles Reyburn, Marta Brooks,
Melinda Varner, Patty Guilfoyle, Sue Eby, Peg Claussen, Carolyn Stampe,
Pam Cinadr, Jenny Smith, Eric Swanson, Kristen Derhaag, Adrienne Brewer,
Derek Otte, Jessica Wagoner, Jean Mattson and Hela Kotob.

Dr. Spelhaug thanked Mr. Pat Thornton and the 3M Company for their
donation of an analytic balance scale to the High School Science
Department.

CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by O'Hara second by Thornton that the Consent
Agenda be approved as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


The
Consent Agenda consists of the following:


approval of the minutes of the
January 21, 2002, Regular Board meeting and Executive Session;


the
resignations of Theresa Barber as a high school math/science teacher
effective the end of the 2001-02 school year. At her request, Jane
Beckman has submitted her resignation as full-time art teacher effective
the end of the 2001-02 school year and has requested that the Board
approve her contract for the 2002-03 school year as 4/5 time. At her
request, Ruthann Freund has submitted her resignation as full-time music
teacher effective the end of the 2001-02 school year and has requested
that the Board approve her contract for the 2002-03 school year as 4/5
time.


Patricia Bondi will be moved from 7/10 time to full-time music
teacher for the 2002-03 school year.


Marisa McClain has submitted her
resignation as a high school Spanish teacher at the end of the 2001-02
school year.


Also approved is the probationary employment of Mary
Johnson as a special education aide at PVCHS and Mary Noack as a library
aide at Bridgeview;


the extra-curricular assignment of Rusty Van
Wetzinga as 9th grade wrestling coach,


and the resignation of Theresa
Barber as Spartan Assembly advisor and Jamey Fah as 9th grade wrestling
coach;


fifteen open enrollment applications - seven in for 2001-02 from
Bettendorf Schools and one out for 2001-02 to Bettendorf Schools and
seven in for 2002-03, six from Bettendorf Schools and one from North
Scott Schools.

EXPENSES APPROVED: Motion by Thornton, second by O'Hara that General
Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $123,339.05 in payment of
invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Barsness, second by Coon that Nutrition Fund warrants be
issued in the total amount of $7,923.82 in payment of invoices
presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Dayman, second by O'Hara that Elementary/Junior High School
Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $2,035.88 in
payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by O'Hara, second by Thornton that High School Activity Fund
warrants be issued in the total amount of $7,100.74 in payment of
invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

ELEMENTARY SPECIALS RECOMMENDATION: Elementary principals Cyndy Behrer,
Don Dehner, Keith Osborn, and Jim Wichman presented a variety of changes
in the staffing and scheduling of elementary level special area teachers
due to the increased staffing provided by the passage of the
Instructional Support Levy.


The goals of the recommended changes are:
1) to maximize instructional time; 2) provide continuity and consistency
in the curriculum; and 3) provide support for collegial interaction and
planning.


One of the major recommendations is to provide common
schedules (25/50 minutes) and a common amount of music and art time
across the K-6 experience.


This would be a significant benefit to
scheduling efficiency.


Other recommendations are to provide for
full-time reading teachers in each building; a full-time librarian and
full-time ELP (Extended Learning Program) teacher at both Pleasant View
and Riverdale Heights and one full-time librarian and one full-time ELP
teacher shared between Cody and Bridgeview.


The staffing pattern
recommended in art and music will be a full-time teacher of each area at
Riverdale Heights, a 4/5-time teacher of each at Pleasant View; and a
full-time teacher of each shared between Bridgeview and Cody.


Besides
the personnel changes indicated on the consent agenda, the district will
be seeking one new full-time art teacher. In wellness, there will be a
full-time person in each Bridgeview and Cody; 1.5 FTE at Pleasant View;
and 1.7 FTE at Riverdale Heights. There will be no travel between
buildings.

Motion by Barsness, second by Thornton that the Board approve the
changes to the elementary specials program as presented. Roll call
vote. Ayes - Barsness, Coon, Dayman, O'Hara, Thornton, Ahlstrand. Nays
- none. Motion carried.

PLEASANT VIEW CLASSROOM ADDITION: Steve Zbylicki of Frevert Ramsey
Kobes Architects was present and shared preliminary conceptual plans,
schedules, and costs for a classroom addition at Pleasant View
Elementary School.


The addition provides for two additional
kindergarten classrooms, five regular classrooms, two special education
classrooms, a reading room, a guidance counselor office, and restroom
facilities. The estimated cost is $1,605,000.

Motion by Thornton, second by O'Hara that the Board approve the Pleasant
View Elementary classroom addition conceptual plans and authorization
for Frevert Ramsey Kobes Architects to proceed with preparation of
bidding documents as recommended. Roll call vote. Ayes - Thornton,
Ahlstrand, Barsness, Coon, O'Hara. Nays - Dayman. Motion carried.

JUNIOR HIGH INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC ADDITION: Mr. Zbylicki also presented
the junior high music addition conceptual plans, schedules, and costs.
The addition would add 1,008 square feet of space to the existing
instrumental area at the junior high and would be utilized for
offices/practice areas, a music library, and an exit corridor. The
estimated cost is $236,000.

Motion by Barsness, second by Dayman that the Board approve the junior
high instrumental music room addition conceptual plan and authorization
for Frevert Ramsey Kobes Architects to proceed with preparation of
bidding documents as recommended. Roll call vote. Ayes - Barsness,
Coon, Dayman, O'Hara, Thornton, Ahlstrand. Nays - none. Motion
carried.

CAPITAL PROJECTS PLAN UPDATE: Dr. Barber, Ray LaFrentz, and Mike
Clingingsmith presented the Capital Projects Five Year Plan.


The Board
discussed the major recommendations for 2002-2003 which includes the
following: upgrading the high school's second floor math, science, and
business areas to digital HVAC controls, updating high school hallway
fire door closures, repainting the swimming pool, installing tennis
court lighting at the high school, adding power drives and guard rails
to the junior high gymnasium bleachers, adding a new fire alarm system
at Pleasant View, replacing the HVAC dampers in the Pleasant View media
center, replacing the blacktop sidewalk at Pleasant View, adding a new
fire alarm system at Cody, replacing restroom partitions at Cody, adding
a new water heater for the office area at Bridgeview, adding a new fire
alarm system at Bridgeview, re-roofing several roof sections at
Bridgeview, blacktopping the bus parking area at the Maintenance Center
and expanding the Maintenance Center parking lot.


Estimated cost of
these projects is $670,850, including the junior high instrumental music
addition. Funding sources for the capital improvements are the Physical
Plant and Equipment Levy and the Local Option Sales Tax.

Motion by O'Hara, second by Thornton that the Board approve the Five
Year Capital Projects Plan update as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes -
O'Hara, Thornton, Ahlstrand, Barsness, Coon, Dayman. Nays - none.
Motion carried.

MOVE FEBRUARY 18 MEETING TO FEBRUARY 19: Due to the fact that the
February 18 Board Meeting falls on Presidents Day which is a
district-wide holiday, Dr. Barber recommended that the second Board
meeting in February be moved to Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Motion by Coon, second by Dayman that the February 18 Board meeting be
moved to Tuesday, February 19 at 7:00 p.m. due to the President's Day
Holiday falling on February 18. All ayes. Motion carried.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: The Board met in executive session from 9:20 p.m. to
9:32 p.m.

APPOINTMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL/ACTIVITIES: In open
session, motion by Barsness, second by O'Hara that the Board appoint
Randy Teymer as High School Associate Principal/Activities for the
2002-2003 school year. Roll call vote. Ayes - Barsness, Coon, Dayman,
O'Hara, Thornton, Ahlstrand. Nays - none. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.