Pleasant Valley School Board Minutes 1.3.05

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Deborah Dayman. Members present: Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann, Kaminski, Messman, Schurr. Absent: OíHara. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Mike Clingingsmith, Chris Harvey, Joe Ambrose, Glen Naber, Keith Cavanagh, Brian Strusz, Ladonna Czachowski, Julie Ward, Brittany Carpio, Anna Aquino, Will Horvat, Kelsey Weindruch, Alexandra Saklar, Michael Newman, Thomas McGee, Tim Martinez, John Schneider, and others.

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

COMMUNICATIONS: President Dayman welcomed visitors to the meeting.

Junior High Principal Brian Strusz introduced Mr. John Schneider, PVJH Student Council sponsor, who presented members of the Student Council and shared a presentation of the groupís work at the Junior High. This work includes painting projects, fund raising for special causes, the Hunger Drive, and hosting new students. Dr. Spelhaug thanked the students on behalf of the Board for their work in promoting school spirit, helping others, and for being good leaders. Student Council members present at the meeting were: Brittany Carpio, Anna Aquino, Will Horvat, Kelsey Weindruch, Alexandra Saklar, Michael Newman, Thomas McGee, and Tim Martinez.

CONSENT AGENDA APPROVED: Motion by Schurr, second by Kaminski 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 December 20, 2004, regular board meeting; the retirement of Michele Barnes as Principal of Bridgeview Elementary School effective the end of the 2004-05 school year when she will have completed 35 years as an educator in Iowa; and one 2004-05 open enrollment-in application from Bettendorf schools and eight 2005-06 open enrollment-in applications from Bettendorf schools.

EXPENSES APPROVED: Motion by Schurr, second by Barsness that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $260,262.38 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Messman, second by Schurr that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $1,173.86 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Barsness, second by Kaminski that Elementary/Junior High Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $334.70 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Kaminski, second by Schurr that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $22,088.08 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Hoffmann, second by Messman that PPEL Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $963.64 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMMING FOR ALL STUDENTS: Pleasant Valley School District has had a long history of providing an extensive continuum of support and numerous interventions to advance the academic achievement and development of all students. This support takes the form of alternative or ìat-riskî programming and services and relies upon the expertise of many staff members and community providers. Keith Cavanagh, Elementary Counselor, Glen Naber, Junior High At-Risk teacher, and Joe Ambrose, PVCHS Flex Program teacher highlighted various programs that provide opportunities for all students at their respective levels of need.

The board expressed its appreciation to the committee for their work.

Motion by Schurr, second by Barsness that the Board approve the Alternative Programming for All Students as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes - Schurr, Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann, Kaminski, Messman. Nays - none. Motion carried.

E-NEWS UPDATE: The district has been sending out newsletters and other news electronically for over a year. One of the major problems in the system is the districtís ability to update e-mail addresses. Ladonna Czachowski, Technology Facilitator, and Julie Ward, Technology Trainer, reviewed a new service to manage the districtís e-news data base. The board reached a consensus that the district will target the beginning of the 2005-06 school year when electronic distribution of newsletters, announcements, and flyers will be the primary means of distribution. Dr. Spelhaug added that besides paper costs, there is a non-trivial amount of time spent by teachers and support staff distributing such material. The Board also discussed the possibility of distributing the Last Weekís Board Meeting publication by electronic means.

FINAL READING AND APPROVAL OF UPDATES TO BOARD POLICIES 409.1, ìEARLY RETIREMENT - TEACHERSî, 409.2, ìEARLY RETIREMENT - ADMINISTRATORSî, 409.3, ìEARLY RETIREMENT - CLASSIFIED PERSONNELî: Dr. Spelhaug presented the early retirement board policies for their second reading and approval. The main reason for the update at this time is to take advantage of a new provision in the Internal Revenue Service code which allows districts to make early retirement payments into 403(b) accounts on behalf of the employee. This allows the gross amount to be deposited into the account (without taxes being deducted...the employee pays state and federal when they withdraw the money). This mechanism also exempts the district and employee from paying FICA. This amounts to a 7.65% saving for both the district and the employee. Relative to payments scheduled to be paid in January by the district, this amounts to a $8,390 savings for the Management Fund. Approximately forty school districts in Iowa have participated in this for a year or more.

Motion by Kaminski, second by Schurr that the Board approve the updates to Board Policies 409.1, ìEarly Retirement - Teachersî, 409.2, ìEarly Retirement - Administratorsî, 409.3, ìEarly Retirement - Classified Personnelî as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes - Kaminski, Messman, Schurr, Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann. Nays - none. Motion carried.

2005-06 SCHOOL FEES: The district has traditionally charged registration fees and various course fees at the secondary level. Dr. Spelhaug proposed adopting an increased annual registration fee in 2005-06 ($75 at the High School; $70 at the Junior High; and $65 at the Elementary levels) and eliminating the course fees. The proposed change would be comparable to North Scott Schools. He pointed out that these levels will not keep the district entirely revenue neutral (less will be collected by the new registration fee than by existing registration and course fees) but will put the district at a level consistent with similarly situated schools. Students would still pay fees for drivers education, life guarding, band instrument rental (if they rent), and band, choir, and orchestra uniforms. Elective fees for yearbooks and activity passes would also remain. This proposal will be discussed again and voted on at the January 17, 2005 board meeting.

FINAL ACCEPTANCE OF TENNIS COURT LIGHTING PROJECT: Mr. Clingingsmith asked the Board to approve final acceptance of the High School Tennis Court Lighting Project. All of the work on the project has been completed. Per Section 573 of the Iowa Code, this will begin the thirty day time line required for subcontractors to make claims against Davenport Electric Contract Company. The district knows of no claims pending. At the end of the thirty day period, the district will process the check to make final payment of money retained for completion of the project.

Motion by Barsness, second by Hoffmann that the Board approve final acceptance of the High School Tennis Court Lighting Project and approve making final payment of retainage in the amount of $5,150.65 to Davenport Electric Contract Company if there are no claims from subcontractors or other pending issues at the end of the thirty day period. Roll call vote. Ayes - Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann, Kaminski, Messman, Schurr. Nays - none. Motion carried.

BRIDGEVIEW CLASSROOM ADDITION CHANGE ORDER #3: Dr. Spelhaug presented a change order for the Bridgeview Elementary project in the amount of $3,241.00. This cost was a result of removal of the water tower footing and providing a manhole lid for the city observation well.

Motion by Kaminski, second by Messman that the Board approve change order # 3 for the Bridgeview Classroom Addition in the amount not previously approved of $3,241.00. Roll call vote. Ayes - Kaminski, Messman, Schurr, Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann. Nays - none. Motion carried.

HIGH SCHOOL WELLNESS AND MUSIC ADDITION CHANGE ORDER #2: He also presented a change order for the High School Wellness and Music addition. The change order is a total of four different changes: 1) lowering the existing water line at the wellness addition ($12,000); 2) reinsulation of piping above the music area ($1,452.00); 3) addition of asphalt at the wellness entry ($9,675.00); 4) addition to resolve over excavation and recompaction issues at the concrete drive area ($6,545.00) for a total of $29,672.00.

Motion by Messman, second by Schurr that the Board approve change order # 2 for the High School Wellness and Music Addition in the amount not previously approved of $29,672.00. Roll call vote. Ayes - Messman, Schurr, Barsness, Dayman, Hoffmann, Kaminski. Nays - none. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m.

PV Schools 10th Annual ìSweet Successî

Cake Auction

FEBRUARY 8, 2005 at PVCHS

The PV Athletic Boosters need your support at the Varsity Girls and Boys Basketball game against Burlington. Do you have a favorite cake or dessert? We welcome homemade cakes and desserts, simple or elaborate. There is a size limit . . . . 36î X 36î. We need to be able to get through the door!

Who can enter? All PV school district teams, clubs, coaches, teachers, and associations K-12 are eligible to enter. Categories are: 1) Best Use of Blue and Gray; 2) Best Representation of a Sport/Organization; 3) Funniest; 4) Best of Show-Student; 5) Best of Show - Coaches/Teachers. How does it work? The five winning cakes plus the Booster Club entry will be auctioned at half time of the boyís basketball game. All other cakes will be sold by silent auction during the girls and boys games, with the auction ending at the end of the third quarter. All money raised will be used to support athletic programs throughout the district.

Questions?? Mary Stolze - 332-6146, Becky Considine - 332-7184 or considinet@aol.com, Michele Hemming - 332-6591 or pvspartanfamily@mchsi.com, Carol Pearson - 289-4345 or pearsoncarol@johndeere.com.

To enter a cake/dessert, fill out the form and return it to the Attendance office or email your name, organization, phone and email to Mary Stolze maryesrd@msn.com by February 1, 2005.

Organization

Contact Person

Phone

E-Mail

Deliver cakes to the PVCHS Pool Lobby on 2/8/05 between 2:30-4:00.

OPEN ENROLLMENT NOTICE

Parents/Guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their child or children in another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware of the following dates:

JANUARY 1, 2005 - Last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2005-06 school year.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2005 - Last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students for the 2005-06 school year.

Parents/guardians of open enrolled students whose income falls below 160% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance. This may be in the form of actual transportation or a cash stipend.

Parents should be aware that open enrollment may result in the loss of athletic eligibility.

For further details, contact 332-5550.

CPR SATURDAY

Eastern Iowa Community College District and committee present CPR Saturday, February 19, 2005 at the Isle of Capri Convention Center in Bettendorf. Bring your family and take advantage of this opportunity to learn CPR for just $5. Pediatric CPR will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and Adult CPR: 12 noon to 1 p.m. A brunch presentation: ìCPR - What you need to know todayî will be given from 10:30 a.m. to noon by Dr. Bradley, Trinity Medical Center Emergency Room physician. The CPR Saturday committee: American Heart Assn, American Red Cross, Davenport Fire Dept., Eastern Iowa Community College District, Genesis Health System, Medic EMS, Palmer Chiropractic Clinics, and Trinity Medical Center. Accommodations are limited, so please call ahead to register: 441-4100. Use course number 131620A.

The Pleasant Valley Schools Educational Foundationís New Leaders Scholarship ($1,000) has been presented to 144 PVCHS seniors over the past thirteen years. The Foundation is a non-profit organization and contributions to it are tax deductible. For more information on how funds can be directed to scholarships, contact Jim Spelhaug, Superintendent, at 332-5550 or spelhaugjim@pleasval.k12.ia.us.

Pleasant Valley Schools

Foundation

Alumni Data Base

If you are a graduate of Pleasant Valley Community Schools, weíd like to hear from you. We are developing an alumni data base and will make this available for class reunions. Please let us know your address and phone number and year of graduation so you can be kept informed of your class events. Call (563)332-5550 or e-mail harveychris@pleasval.k12.ia.us.