PV Board member to resign; board eyes tax levy

PV Board Minutes 2.20.07

MEMBERS PRESENT: Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Dayman. Members present: Adams, Dayman, Huegel, Messman, Paulsen, and Witters. Absent: Schurr. Also present: Jim Spelhaug, Cyndy Behrer, Mike Clingingsmith, Ladonna Czachowski, Ray LaFrentz, Mari Redington, Gavin Sutherland, Michelle Redington, Tom Redington, Chris Harvey, and others.

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

COMMUNICATIONS: President Dayman welcomed visitors to the meeting.

Director Messman announced she will be leaving the board at the end of March when she and her family will be moving from the area.

The Board and administration expressed appreciation for her service to the children of the district. The district will announce timelines for the naming of a replacement at the next board meeting. Citizens residing in Director District # 7 interested in this seat should contact Chris Harvey at harveychris@pleasval.k12.ia.us or (563)332-5550 X1018.

Director Paulsen reported she had attended the Scott County Conference Board meeting on February 15, 2007. At the meeting the conference board discussed a change in how farm land is assessed. The conference board will reconvene on March 5.

Mike Clingingsmith announced that the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating the groundbreaking of the construction of the shelter that will protect and preserve the historic LoneStar Steamer on the levee in LeClaire, Iowa at 2:00 p.m. on February 25. The Buffalo Bill Museum will also be open from 12-5 in celebration of Buffalo Bill’s 161st birthday.

The secretary reported that the Auditor’s Office has completed its canvas of the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy renewal referendum. There were 586 Yes votes and 20 No votes.

Dr. Spelhaug thanked the Board and the community for their support of the Physical Plant and Equipment renewal referendum.

Cyndy Behrer congratulated the Spartan Competition Cheer Squad and the all girl-stunt group on their first place finishes at the Grand Finale; the boys swim team on its 6th place finish at the State meet; Zach Bartholomew who was named State Champion (for the second time) in the 100 Butterfly and was named All American for the third consecutive year; and PVCHS wrestler Mike Hemming for qualifying for state.

Ms. Behrer introduced members of Webelo Den #1 of LeClaire, Keanu Haessler, Jared Esparza, and Jacob Hintze and their leader Anna Haessler. The Cubscouts were in attendance to earn their scholarship badge.

CONSENT AGENDA: Motion by Adams, second by Witters 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 February 5 Regular Board Meeting; Brenda Chapman’s Letter of Assignment as a food service worker is recommended to be increased from 3.0 hours per day to 3.75 hours per day; the extra-duty additions of Nicole Murray as head girls tennis coach, Eric Crawford as assistant (co-ed) tennis coach, Page Grubb as drama accompanist; the extra-duty drop of Audra Bailey as drama accompanist; the resignation of Brooke Terry as PVCHS business clerk; and five open enrollment applications-in for 2007-08 – three from Bettendorf , one from Central DeWitt, and one from North Scott schools.

EXPENSES APPROVED: Motion by Adams, second by Paulsen that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $134,077.46 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Paulsen, second by Huegel that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $17,201.69 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Messman, second by Adams that Elementary/Junior High Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $1,691.23 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Adams that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $20,931.81.

Motion by Huegel, second by Paulsen that PPEL Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $74,641.02 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Witters, second by Adams that Capital Projects Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $191,275.50 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

PARENT STUDENT SURVEY FOLLOW-UP: As a result of the Board’s discussion at its January 22 meeting regarding the declining number of parents participating in the district’s annual Parent/Student Survey, Cyndy Behrer and Ladonna Czachowski shared with the board the results of their research into various electronic survey providers and provided a sample survey. To date the district has about 70% of its households subscribed to e-news and able to complete an electronic survey. Households that cannot complete the survey electronically would be encouraged to request or pick up a paper copy of the survey.

Motion by Adams, second by Witters that the Board approve Zoomerang as the survey delivery mechanism for the 2006-07 Parent Survey. Roll call vote. Ayes – Adams, Dayman, Huegel, Messman, Paulsen, Witters. Nays – none. Motion carried.

CARGO VAN BID: As a part of its normal replacement cycle, the district received five bids for a new cargo van. This year’s replacement is to cycle out the highest mileage vehicle (128,668 miles). The low bid after trade-in was received from Lindquist Ford for $29,415.

Motion by Paulsen, second by Huegel that the Board accept the low bid of $29,415.00 from Lindquist Ford for a one ton long cutaway van chassis with cargo body. Roll call vote. Ayes – Paulsen, Witters, Adams, Dayman, Huegel, Messman. Nays – none. Motion carried.

IP PHONE SYSTEM UPDATE: The district is entering the final phases of its district wide phone system replacement. IP telephones have been installed at the Administration Center, Bridgeview, Cody, High School, Junior High, Maintenance Center and Pleasant View Schools. Equipment is now being replaced at Riverdale Heights and the final phase will be to move Junior High, Bridgeview, and Cody from the current analog telephone company lines, to the digital trunked line located at the Administration Center. Moving these buildings to the digital trunked system will require a change from the current 289 prefix phone numbers to 332 prefix numbers. For example, currently the Junior High’s main phone number is 289-4507.

Once this project is completed, the main phone number will be 332-0200. All of these new numbers will be extensively published. The final transition date will be July 1, 2007. This IP system has not only freed up existing phone lines for calls to and from outside of the district, but has also allowed a reduction in the number of phone lines in the district while still having greater phone line availability for both incoming and outgoing calls. This system also adds voicemail for all staff. Savings from using this system amount to over $13,000 annually.

PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY RATES DISCUSSION

Dr. Spelhaug and Mike Clingingsmith presented several preliminary property tax scenarios to the Board. A key variable in the next several years is to begin financial preparations for the possibility of building a new elementary school on Hopewell Road. The scenarios presented ranged from no increase to a $ .13 increase.

This topic will be an agenda item again on March 5. The budget hearing and adoption will be on the April 9th meeting.

MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS: Mr. Clingingsmith presented the monthly financial reports for January. Through January, general fund revenue totaled $13,007,400 and expenses totaled $12,039,377. The fund balance in the General Fund at January 31, 2007 was $2,888,047. He also presented reports on the Management, PPEL, Capital Projects, Debt Service, Nutrition, Internal Service, and Activity Funds. There were no significant variances from projections in the January financial reports.

Motion by Witters, second by Adams that the Board accept the monthly financial reports for January as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes – Witters, Adams, Dayman, Huegel, Messman, Paulsen. Nays – none. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 8:56 p.m.