Pleasant Valley School Board Minutes of 4/22/2002

Possibility of a traffic light on Belmont Road and Quail Ridge Drive.

PV Board Minutes 4.22.02

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, Romans, Thornton. Absent: None. Also present: Dale Barber, Jim Spelhaug, Mike Clingingsmith, Steve Zbylicki, Ray LaFrentz, Don Dehner, Mary Louise Speer, Chris Harvey, and others.


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


COMMUNICATIONS: President Ahlstrand welcomed PVCHS American Government students.

Director Thornton congratulated the high school band and vocal departments who received many "one ratings" at the state contest.

The Board honored the memory of Dale Hansen who died April 14. Mr. Hansen had taught 36 years for the district, retiring in 1998.

Director Barsness asked for an update on the possibility of getting a traffic light installed on Belmont Road and Quail Ridge Drive. Dr. Barber and Ray LaFrentz have both talked with Bettendorf City officials regarding a traffic light. The City is doing an accident history at this location. Currently, there are areas of the city that are likely more in need of a traffic light and the expense of traffic lights
($125,000 each) is also a major factor. Dr. Barber indicated that he and the high school administration will study the east parking lot to attempt to create a smoother traffic flow.


President Ahlstrand suggested that the Board use part of a meeting in July to look at different superintendent evaluation instruments.


Dr. Barber shared that the new flag pole installed recently in front of the Belmont Administration Center was funded by Stan and Ladonna Czachowski and their family as a memorial to their son Philip. Plans include landscaping and in-ground lighting around the flag pole and in front of the building.


Another flag pole is on order and will be placed at the East end of the football stadium in memory of Charles "Chuck" Murphy, a long-time volunteer to the PVCHS Athletic Department, who died this winter. Dr. Barber is working with the Murphy family on this project.


Dr. Barber thanked Gary and Tana Barsness for organizing a reception for Royce Duncan, PVCHS Head Wrestling Coach, on Sunday, April 21, to honor him for his 300 dual meet wins. Former wrestlers, fans, and family were present to celebrate with him. Retired PVCHS Athletic Director Ted Minnick served as Master of Ceremonies.


Christine Romans, daughter of Karen and Bill Romans, was the recipient of the 2002 Distinguished Alumni Award and was honored at a luncheon and reception on April 17. She was the keynote speaker at the Academic Awards program that evening. Christine, a PVCHS 1989 graduate, is the New York Stock Exchange correspondent for CNNfn and CNN Business News.


The PVCHS Multi-Occupations class invited Board members to attend their annual Spring Recognition Banquet on Thursday, May 2, at the Davenport Country Club. Paul Jones is the Multi-Occupations instructor.


Dr. Spelhaug informed the Board that the annual employee recognition program is going to be changed this year from the end of the year ice cream social to the beginning of the year opening program for all employees. Retirees will be honored at their individual buildings this spring and will also be invited back for the recognition program on August 19. Twenty year employees will also be honored at this event for the first time.


CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by O'Hara, second by Romans 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 April 8, 2002, Regular Board meeting and Executive Session; the employment of Keith McConnell as an elementary art teacher at Bridgeview and Cody Elementary schools for the 2002-03 school year and Jacqueline Wessels as an elementary special education resource teacher at Pleasant View for the 2002-03 school year; the resignations of Jeffrey Crooks as a wellness instructor, assistant varsity wrestling coach, assistant sophomore football coach, and junior high wrestling coach, Tammy Brown and Ron Maday as school bus drivers; and Linda Collins as a special education aide at Riverdale Heights; and the regular employment of Mary
Johnson as a special education aide at PVCHS; two open enrollment applications-in from Bettendorf Schools for the 2001-02 school year and one open enrollment application out to Bettendorf for the 2002-03 school year.


EXPENSES APPROVED: Motion by Dayman, second by Coon that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $133,286.44 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


Motion by Thornton, second by O'Hara that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $20,585.71 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


Motion by Barsness, second by Thornton that Elementary/Junior High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $2,788.90 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


Motion by Coon, second by Dayman that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $13,536.18 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


Motion by Dayman, second by O'Hara that Schoolhouse Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $61,499.08 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


PRESENTATION OF FINAL PLANS FOR PLEASANT VIEW ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM ADDITION: Steve Zbylicki from FRK Architects was in attendance to present the plans and specifications for the Pleasant View Elementary Classroom Addition. If approved, bids will be received on June 6, the Board will award the bid on June 17, and construction would begin June 18 with substantial completion by Spring of 2003.


PUBLIC HEARING FOR PLEASANT VIEW ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM ADDITION: President Ahlstrand opened a public hearing at 7:50 p.m. to allow any interested persons to comment on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract, or cost of the Pleasant View Elementary Classroom Addition. There being no comment from the public, the hearing was closed at 7:51 p.m.


APPROVE FINAL PLANS FOR PLEASANT VIEW CLASSROOM ADDITION: Following Mr. Zbylicki's presentation and discussion with the Board, motion by Romans, second by Thornton that the Board approve the plans and specifications for the Pleasant View Elementary Classroom Addition Project. Roll call vote. Ayes - Romans, Thornton, Ahlstrand, Barsness, Coon, O'Hara. Nays - Dayman. Motion carried.


BRIDGEVIEW CAFETERIA: Due to the implementation of all day every day kindergarten in the fall of 2002 and the need for an additional classroom at Bridgeview, the district has been searching for a place to house the Title I preschool that meets in the afternoons at Bridgeview Elementary. Options explored included leasing a portable classroom, housing the program away from the Bridgeview campus at local church sites, and the option of placing a temporary wall at the south end of the cafeteria to provide space for the preschool program. Bridgeview Principal Don Dehner and preschool teacher Kathy Kinzenbaw are in agreement that the program should remain at Bridgeview if at all possible. After consulting with architect Steve Zbylicki and the state fire marshal's office, it is the administration's recommendation that we construct a temporary wall at the south end of the cafeteria to house this program.


Motion by Thornton, second by Dayman that the Board approve the addition of a temporary wall at the south end of the Bridgeview Elementary cafeteria to house the Title I preschool program. Roll call vote. Ayes - Thornton, Ahlstrand, Barsness, Coon, O'Hara, Romans. Nays - none. Motion carried.


2001-2002 AMENDMENT OF CURRENT BUDGET: Chief Financial Officer Mike Clingingsmith reviewed the proposed amendment to the current budget for 2001-02. That budget was originally adopted by the Board on April 2, 2001. Total expenditures in the amended budget total $ 35,584,339. This amounts to an $ 11,228,930 increase over the 2001-02 certified budget expenditures.


The budget is divided into four expenditure categories (Instruction, Total Support Services, Noninstructional Programs and Total Other Expenditures). The "Instruction" category expenditures show an increase of $6,827,453. The main reasons for this increase include:


· Expenditures associated with grant money received during the year that was not possible to predict when the certified budget was adopted.
· Reallocation among expenditure categories for health insurance expense which was originally allocated entirely to the "Total Support Services" line item when the certified budget was adopted.
· Reclassification of activity fund expenditures from "Total Support Services" in the certified budget to "Instruction" in the amended budget per Iowa Department of Education instructions.
· Expenditures which could be paid out of the beginning year fund balances which were not reflected in the original certified budget.

· These fund balances are contained in the general, management and PPEL funds.


The "Total Support Services" category expenditures show a decrease of $928,886 from the 2001-02 certified budget expenditures. The main reasons for this decrease include:


· Reallocation among expenditure categories for health insurance expense which was originally allocated entirely to the "Total Support Services" line item when the certified budget was adopted.
· Reclassification of activity fund expenditures from "Total Support Services" in the certified budget to "Instruction" in the amended budget per Iowa Department of Education instructions.


The "Non-instructional Programs" category expenditures show an increase of $181,026 over the 2001-02 certified budget expenditures. The main reasons for this increase include:


· Expenditures which could be paid out of the beginning year fund balance which was not reflected in the original certified budget.

· This fund balance is contained in the nutrition fund.


The "Total Other Expenditures" category expenditures show an increase of $5,149,337 over the 2001-02 certified budget expenditures. The main reasons for this increase include:


· Expenditures which could be paid out of the beginning year fund balances which were not reflected in the original certified budget.
· These fund balances are included in the PPEL, High School Brick, Capital Projects and Debt Service Funds. The largest portion ($ 4,141,259) is included in the Capital Projects and Debt Service Funds in which the District has been escrowing money to be able to pay off the District's entire debt in June, 2003, six years ahead of schedule.




There will be no increase in the property tax levy rate for the 2001-02 or 2002-03 year as a result of this budget amendment.


President Ahlstrand opened the Public Hearing for the Amendment of the 2001-02 Budget at 8:10 p.m. There being no one present who wished to address this subject, the hearing was closed at 8:11 p.m.


Motion by Dayman, second by Barsness that the Board amend the 2001-02 budget adopted on April 2, 2001, by changing estimates of expenditures as presented in the Notice of Public Hearing for Amendment of Current Budget for 2001-02. Roll call vote. Ayes - Barsness, Coon, Dayman, O'Hara, Romans, Thornton, Ahlstrand. Nays - none. Motion carried.


RECOMMENDED CHANGE OF BOARD POLICY 802.3R "STUDENT FEE WAIVER & REDUCTION PROCEDURES": Dr. Barber recommended a revision to Board Policy 802.3R, "Student Fee Waiver & Reduction Procedures". The recommended change is to strike "A partial waiver shall be based on the same percentage as the reduced price meals." and adding "The reduction percentage will be forty percent." This change will reflect what the district has been doing in practice and what has been the practice of many other districts when dealing with partial fee waivers. This recommended revision will be on the May 6 Board Agenda as an action item.


MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS: Mr. Clingingsmith presented the monthly financial report for March. Through March, general fund receipts totaled $12,484,526 (64.5%) and expenses totaled $14,205,161 (70.4%). The March target for receipts and expenditures was 75%. He also presented reports on the Management, PPEL, Capital Projects, Debt Service, Hot Lunch, Internal Service, and Activity funds.


Motion by Barsness, second by Coon that the Board accept the monthly financial reports for March as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.


The Board adjourned at 8:22 p.m.