Bettendorf Board of Education Minutes- Febuary 20

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BETTENDORF COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Official Minutes of the February 20, 2001, Regular Meeting

1. Call to Order



The Board of Directors of the Bettendorf Community School District, in the County of Scott, state of Iowa, met in open session according to Iowa law for their regular meeting at the Ray Stensvad Administration Center, 3311 Central Avenue, Bettendorf, Iowa, on February 20, 2001. President Roski called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. and members recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Lynne Lindstrom, Board Secretary, verified that the meeting notice had been posted and mailed to the media as required by law.



Members present: Directors Anderson, Arney, Castro, Luton, Roski, Wahlstrand, Weigle.

Members absent: None.

Other officials present: John Perdue, Superintendent; Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Paul Bobek, Executive Director of Business Affairs, Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Ron Egger, BEA Representative; Leigh Taylor, Student Representative; Patrick VanNevel, Board Treasurer; Lynne Lindstrom, Board Secretary.



2. Agenda Approval.



Director Roski suggested action item ì7.01 Second Reading of Board Policies 400 Seriesî be placed prior to item ì6. Discussion Items.î



Motion by Director Anderson, seconded by Director Castro, to approve the agenda with the suggested amendment.



Ayes: 7 Directors Anderson, Arney, Castro, Luton, Roski, Wahlstrand, Weigle.

Nays: 0 Motion carried 7-0.



3. Comments and Suggestions from Audience.



3.01 President's Statement. On behalf of fellow Board members, at this time I would like to invite any member of the audience to step to the microphone with comments about items of interest or concern that do not appear on the agenda this evening. Please begin by stating your name and address. It would be most appreciated if you would limit your comments to three minutes so that we can keep the meeting moving in a timely fashion and allow others an opportunity to speak. We ask that you remember that Iowa law prohibits us from discussing specific employees or their job performance. If you have thoughts to share about items that are included as topics for tonight's meeting, we would invite those comments when we reach that point in the meeting. Thank you for your support of our school district.



There were no comments from the audience.



4. Commendations & Special Invited Guests.

4.01 Student Spotlight on Bettendorf High School. Ms. Barbara Jacobsen introduced Bettendorf High School student, Lindsey Negaard, who made a presentation on a recent project regarding ìdreamsî she completed in her honors biology class.

4.02 The Bettendorf High School Cheerleaders received 1st place for Dance Team and were also selected as Grand Champions for Dance Team last weekend in State competition in Iowa City. †Their sponsor is Tanya Spalla.

4.03 5th grade students at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School participated in the Bettendorf Lions Club poster contest promoting peace. The following winners were selected at a Lions Club meeting by members: †1st place - Allison Miller Honorable mention - Alyssa Curtis and Kelcy Johnson.

The Districtís Volunteer Program has instituted a quarterly recognition of its building volunteers. Congratulations and thank you to Volunteers of the Quarter for first quarter 2000/01:

Armstrong Bettie Mueller

Hoover Julie Fee

Jefferson Jan Robinson

Paul Norton All Norton Night Volunteers

Mark Twain Karen Brown

Grant Wood Jeannine Crocket

Middle School Julie Redington and Emma Stader (co-chairs of fall festival)

High School Nellie Fisher

4.05 Bettendorf High School students, Andrew Seitz and Mark Baldwin, recently won Gold and Bronze medals respectively, in the Intermediate Pairs event at the 2001 Upper Great Lakes Regional Figure Skating Championships. † In so doing, Andy and Mark have qualified to compete at the 2001 U.S. Junior National Figure Skating Championships. †These annual championships are the first steps toward participation in the Olympics. †

4.06 Congratulations to Molly Quinn and Kyra Olds, who qualified for the National Forensic League National Tournament in Policy Debate. Kaysha Ballentine and Casey Boland also qualified for the tournament in duo interpretation of literature. The National Tournament will be held in Norman, Oklahoma, in June.

5. Consent Agenda



Motion by Director Anderson, seconded by Director Weigle, to approve the consent agenda as presented.



Ayes: 7 Directors Arney, Castro, Luton, Roski, Wahlstrand, Weigle, Anderson.

Nays: 0 Motion carried 7-0.



5.01 Approval of Febuary 5, 2001, Regular Board Meeting Minutes.

5.02 Approval of February 20, 2001 Bills Recommended for Payment.

5.03 Approval of Administrative Recommendations--Personnel.

Early Retirement

Donna Flanigan/GW/Kindergarten/Effective 6/30/01

Certified Approval to Hire

Joan Kuraitis/RSAC/Interim Curriculum Facilitator/Salary $14,950, Mileage Allowance $240/Replacing Caroline Olson/Effective 2/6/01

Schedule D Approval to Hire

Kevin Wojkiewicz/BHS/Work Differential/$720/Replacing Steve Ebersole/Effective 1/3/01

Classified Approval to Employ

Mary Ann Bruno/BMS/Food Service-Regular Part-Time/$6.56/$7.34 after 90 days/3 hours per day/Replacing Cheri Bessenecker /Effective 1/29/01

Classified Letter of Assignment Modification

Jacque Krause/BHS/Add 2 hour Inventory Control position to 6 hour Baker Assistant/$8.19 for 6 hours and $7.34 for 2 hours /Replacing Dora Eastwood/Effective 2/5/01

Classified Resignation

Susan David/BHS/Food Service-Regular Part-Time/Effective 2/20/01

Karen Dodd/BHS/Food Service-Regular Part-Time/Effective 2/21/01

Classified Retirement

Nancy Pingel/BHS/Food Service-Regular Part-Time/6/7/01

5.04 Approval of Cooperative Agreement with St. Katherineís/St. Markís.

5.05 Approval of Requests for Open Enrollment.

Into Bettendorf, 2000/01

Mary Harmon, grade 3, from Davenport, good cause related to change in residence

Out of Bettendorf, 2000/01

Chad Fairchild, grade 1, to Pleasant Valley, continuation due to change in residence

Jessica Musgrow, grade 8, to Pleasant Valley, continuation due to change in residence

Joshua Musgrow, grade 3, to Pleasant Valley, continuation due to change in residence

Out of Bettendorf, 2001/02

Cameron Fairchild, kindergarten (as of 2001/02), to Pleasant Valley



7. Action Items.



Second Reading of Board Policy 400 Series.



Directors conducted a second reading of suggested revisions to the Board Policy 400 series.



Motion by Director Wahlstrand, seconded by Director Luton, to approve the second reading of the Board Policy 400 Series.



Ayes: 7 Directors Castro, Luton, Roski, Wahlstrand, Weigle, Anderson, Arney.

Nays: 0 Motion carried 7-0.



6. Discussion Items.



Shared Communications.



Director Arney reported on the February 15 meeting of the Scott County Conference Board, where their budget was reviewed and approved and assessment timeline discussed.



Director Weigle recently observed Hoover Elementaryís kindergarten and second grade core reading time and spoke positively regarding this curriculum. She participated as a panelist at the Bettendorf Leadership Conference, where topics of discussion included boardmanship and volunteerism, specifically the orientation process, mentoring, and consensus building. Director Weigle also attended and enjoyed the BHS play ìYouíre a Good Man, Charlie Brown.î



Future Financial Planning and Budget Models.



Director Richard Wahlstrand and Paul Bobek lead directors in a strategic discussion regarding future financial planning considerations and the use of budgeting models to accomplish these needs. Main topics of discussion included examination of current budgeting techniques and exploration of alternative models and expiration of the Instructional Support Level (ISL) and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).



In summary, Superintendent Perdue and directors shared the following comments on this strategic discussion topic:

General fund categories

* track expenses versus budget

* improve monitoring process

* readability and understandable format

* program budget

Build budget with annual financial benchmarks

* Program costs versus actual budget comparison

Set financial goals

* communicate financial info to public

* Solvency ratio, spending authority level (establish a policy)

* set a cycle of program budget reviews

* PPEL, ISL, and LOSS renewals

Determine appropriate budgeting process for fund and/or combination models

Establish replacement cycles

*i.e. computers, HVAC

Administration to review and return with recommendations to the Board of Education



Administration will target May or June to present their recommendations on future financial planning.



Instructional Support Levy Rate Participation.



Paul Bobek, Executive Director of Business Affairs, outlined the districtís participation in the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) from 1991 to date. The current participation level for the district is 8 percent, and administration recommended this rate be increased to 10 percent for the 2001/02 school year. Following a review of the districtís participation level and property tax rate detail, directors indicated their interest in increasing the ISL to 10 percent, specifically earmarked for the initiatives of all-day kindergarten, reducing class size and targeted programs to improve student achievement. The approval of this proposed increase will be put on the agenda as an action item at the March 5 Board meeting.



The Board recessed at 8:40 p.m. and reconvened at 8:50 p.m.



Administrative Team Report and Recommendations.



Superintendent Perdue and Paul Bobek presented a draft of the 2001-02 Spending Plan. Preliminary budget recommendations regarding technology, Instructional Support Levy (ISL), all-day kindergarten and class size reduction, and the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) were outlined. These recommendations included reassignment of funds from budgets in an effort to balance the spending plan for 2001/02. Superintendent Perdue requested the Boardís input on strategic topics in order to move forward with educational programming.



Regarding the topic of technology budget, directors requested presentation of a technology plan for BOE review at a future meeting. Directors authorized administrative staff to pursue the concept of all-day kindergarten. By consensus of the Board, the Pilot Program Policy Code No. 602.29 would be waived ìin conceptî because all-day kindergarten was not viewed as an ìinnovativeî program but rather one that is being widely utilized across the state. However, Board members requested development and clarity on issues addressed in the pilot program policy, i.e. goals and objectives, timeline, curriculum and instruction implications, etc. Directors also recommended a survey be developed and completed by parents at kindergarten roundup this spring, attempting to obtain an 80 percent approval rating on the all-day kindergarten concept.



In summary, the administrative staff was directed to further refine the all-day kindergarten concept, review the middle school looping concept, address lowering class size at the high school level, specify usage of the 9-10 percent ISL and report back to the Board in two to four weeks with an updated spending plan. Superintendent Perdue stressed the concept of this being a ìpreliminaryî spending plan and one that will evolve as more data is available.



8. Superintendentís Report.

Budget Certification Timelines. Directors reviewed the budget certification timelines for certifying and adopting the 2001-02 budget.

8.02 Insurance Committee Update. Paul Bobek updated directors on recent discussions with health insurance companies. Bid specifications were sent to nine insurance companies, and eight bids were received. The committee interviewed representatives with the top four proposals and will be meeting in the near future to further review and evaluate the data presented.

8.03 Schedule D Report. Director Weigle summarized the Schedule D Committee recommendations, particularly as it related to accountability in the areas of clubs and workpools.

Next Agenda Planning. Superintendent Perdue reviewed agenda items for the upcoming

March 5 meeting, with a welcome reception scheduled at 6:45 p.m. for the Cramlington, England, exchange teachers.



9. Future Events and Informational Items.

Monday, March 5, Board of Education, 7:00 p.m., RSAC



10. Adjournment.



Motion by Director Weigle to adjourn the meeting at 10:03 p.m.