Bettendorf schools finalize 2007-08 calendar

BETTENDORF COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BETTENDORF, IOWA

Unofficial Minutes of the January 8, 2007 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education (pending Board approval)

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 Board meeting at Bettendorf High School, 3333 18th Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, on January 8, 2007. President Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Colleen Skolrood, Board Secretary, verified that the meeting notice had been posted and mailed to the media as required by law.

Members present: Directors Anderson, Crockett, Justis, Tinsman, Weigle. Members absent: Directors Ehrmann, Mayer. Other officials present: Marty Lucas, Superintendent; Dr. Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Maxine McEnany, Director of Business and Financial Services; Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Joe Slavens, Treasurer; Cindy Ferguson, BEA Representative; Jimmy Casas, BHS Principal; Bonnie Fisher, TJ Principal; Colleen Skolrood, Board Secretary.

Motion by Director Crockett, seconded by Director Tinsman, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0-2.

Comments and Suggestions from Audience.

There were no comments from the audience.

Motion by Director Crockett, seconded by Director Weigle, to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried: 5-0-2.

Approval of December 18, 2006 Special Board Meeting Minutes.

Financial Reports:

Financial Reports – December 31, 2006

Unspent Authorized Budget

Food Service Report

Approval of January 8, 2007 Bills Recommended for Payment.

Approval of Administrative Recommendations--Personnel.

Schedule D Approval to Hire

Pam Hughes/BHS/Head Freshman/Assistant Sophomore Softball Coach/$2,550/Replacing Jessica Reece/Effective 1-8-07

Classified - Recommendation for Employment

Jason Negus/BMS/Para Educator/$11.98 per hour/5.5 hours per day/Replacing Kelly Bentley/Effective 1/3/07

Amanda Pickett/PN/Para Educator/$11.98 per hour/5.75 hours per day/New position BD student count/Effective 1/3/07

Classified – Letter of Assignment Modification

Donna Hafner/MT/Para Educator/Same rate of pay/From 5 to 5.5 hours per day/Additio

nal duties required for student IEP/Effective 1/3/07 Susan Poole/HH/Para Educator/Same rate of pay/From 3.5 to 4.5 hours per day/Additional duties required for student IEP/Effective 12/18/06

Susan Zeller/Admin Center/Administrative Assistant/Same rate of pay/From 16 to 20 hours

per week/Replacing Katie Morrow/Effective 1/2/07 Approval of 28-E Agreement with Scott Community College.

Approval of Requests for Open Enrollment.

Into Bettendorf, 2006/07

Jacob Baxter, grade 6, from Pleasant Valley, good cause due to change of residence

Angie Burge, grade 5, from Davenport, continuation

Kimberly Burge, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Eliot Burt, grade 6, from Davenport, continuation

Hannah Burt, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Ethan Clarke, kindergarten, from Davenport, continuation

David Cohrs, grade 5, from Davenport, continuation

Dylan Cohrs, kindergarten, from Davenport, continuation

Jeremy Cohrs, grade 1, from Davenport, continuation

Joseph Cohrs, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Tea Cohrs, grade 4, from Davenport, continuation

Sydni Eliff, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Dominic Freeman, grade 9, from Davenport, continuation

Joseph Freeman, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Annalicia Garnica, grade 4, from Pleasant Valley, continuation

Ian Harris, grade 1, from Davenport, continuation

Caleb Jochmann, kindergarten, from Davenport, continuation

Kaitlin Kiel, grade 5, from Camanche, continuation

Noel Kiel, grade 8, from Camanche, continuation

Hailey Konopka, grade 7, from Camanche, continuation

Nicholas Konopka, grade 7, from Camanche, continuation

Dalton Manley, grade 6, from Davenport, continuation

Brock Swearinger, grade 4, from Davenport, continuation

Felicity Young, kindergarten, from Pleasant Valley, continuation

Into Bettendorf, 2007/08

Brittany Blocker, grade 9, from Muscatine

For information only. The following students have open enrolled out of the Bettendorf Community School District:

Out of Bettendorf, 2006/07

Mariah Cooke, grade 8, to Davenport, continuation

Alex DelVecchio, grade 8, to Davenport, continuation

Brandon Kuhrt, grade 11, to Davenport, continuation

Brittany Kuhrt, grade 12, to Davenport, continuation

Maya Murcia, grade 6, to Davenport, good cause due to change of residence

Out of Bettendorf, 2007/08

Jorg Elias, kindergarten, to Pleasant Valley

Madeline Bowman, grade 5, to Pleasant Valley

Sarah Bowman, grade 4, to Pleasant Valley V Shared Communications.

Directors Justis, Tinsman, Weigle, and Linda Goff, Middle School Principal, toured Walcott Intermediate School’s industrial technology lab for career pathways via their computer model.

Director Justis said it was an interesting educational model and very conducive to helping students learn. Director Tinsman said it helps to get students thinking in more realistic terms and thought the practicality of it was good.

Superintendent Lucas said implementing a technology lab at the middle school will be discussed in conjunction with the pod renovations.

President Anderson thanked the Directors for the report and looks forward to hearing more discussion on this in the future.

2007/08 District Calendar

Superintendent Lucas said the final draft of the 2007/08 district calendar provides equal quarters and a spring break at the end of the 3rd quarter.

He also noted school will begin on a Monday instead of midway through the week, which several parents and teachers had proposed.

This was the only way to equalize all quarters.

The calendar is very similar to the 2006-07 calendar. Director Tinsman asked if there was a way to make the elementary and middle school inservice day in October and the high school inservice day in February on the same day. Superintendent Lucas stated the elementary and middle school inservice day is tied in with conferences.

Jimmy Casas spoke in regard to the high school inservice day and said there are more breaks in the fall, but not many in the spring, so this was just a way to even it out.

Dr. Webb said the high school inservice day is an arbitrary day.

Director Weigle liked having a built in snow day the previous calendar provided and would liked to have seen that continued, however, she feels this is the cleanest calendar she has seen in a long time and felt a lot of time and effort was spent on it.

She is happy to see spring break back in the 3rd quarter.

Director Crockett feels the calendar makes educational sense and everything is justifiable.

President Anderson echoed what had been said and appreciates all the hard work and effort put into the calendar.

Financial Report – Preliminary FY08 Budget.

Maxine McEnany reported that new money for fiscal year 08 is 5.42%.

She presented information on the history of the past ten years, which points out the enrollment trend is down and the general fund expenses have been increasing approximately 3 to 3 ½ percent per year.

The unspent balance has been fluctuating due to GAAP accounting procedures dictated by the state.

The preliminary property tax rate estimate for 2007/2008 is $15.00 per $1000 assessed valuation, which is the same as the current year levy.

Director Weigle asked what percent of the money from the General Fund could be used for middle school pod renovations. Maxine responded saying technology, equipment and those types of things can be paid for out the General Fund, but not a building project, such as bricks and mortar.

Director Tinsman asked Maxine if up to date textbooks come from the General Fund. Maxine said yes they do.

Paul Castro asked Dr. Webb and Superintendent Lucas what particular textbooks are not up to date.

Dr. Webb and Superintendent Lucas were not aware of any that were not up to date.

Director Tinsman referenced an honors Biology course where there were not enough textbooks for every student.

Superintendent Lucas asked if that was still the case, because he informed principals to order textbooks for every student.

Director Tinsman was not sure if that was still the case, but it was the case back in September and October.

Mr. Castro said it sounds like a few isolated incidents. President Anderson asked what the most was that could be levied.

Maxine explained that in addition to the proposed $15.00 levy that an additional $1.28 per $1000 taxable valuation could be levied for cash reserve.

The budget estimate needs to be published by the beginning of April.

Maxine said she would like to keep it the same rate until we get through the Neil Armstrong building project.

However, she said it was up to the Directors to decide what they would like to do.

She noted the funds are in good shape and there are some reserve funds built into the recommended $15.00 levy.

President Anderson concurred with Director Weigle that he would like to keep the cash reserve where it is at, but would like to look at some one-time needs.

Maxine informed the Directors that the Instructional Support Levy is coming up for board approval next year.

Transportation Report.

Maxine McEnany reported the transportation department is doing a great job of finding ways to save money.

She noted a decrease in costs for sub bus drivers, auto repair and equipment over the past three years.

However, gasoline costs have increased substantially.

Director Justis said she had an opportunity to watch the students transfer busses at the middle school and said the transportation system works really well.

Maxine credited Dr. Webb for all her hard work in creating a more functional bus system.

Motion by Director Weigle, seconded by Director Crockett, to approve the open enrollment of Clio McCarthy into the Bettendorf Community School District from the Davenport Community School District for the 2006/07 school year. Motion denied 0-5-2.

Superintendent Lucas reviewed the February 5 meeting agenda which includes calendar approval and bids from the Eagle’s project.

Director Weigle requested a brief presentation from Marcia Hartman, Director of Technology, on the new student information system, Infinite Campus.

Superintendent Lucas said the change from eSIS went extremely well and there have been very few problems with the new system.

He said Marcia Hartman and her staff have done a great job preparing everyone for this change.

Director Tinsman asked why the middle school students were not tested on the ITBS for punctuation and usage.

Dr. Webb said it was a middle school decision based on not finding the information to be useful.

Joe Slavens asked if the test could be made optional.

Director Justis asked if there were other ways to evaluate, because the ITBS is just a snapshot.

Dr. Webb said she will look into it.

Motion by Director Crockett to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 p.m.