Board Minutes - 2021.08.16

COLO-NESCO COMMUNITY
BOARD OF EDUCATION

A regular meeting was held by the Colo-NESCO Board of Education on Monday, August 16, 2021 at 6:30 pm in the Colo Community Center at Colo, Iowa. The Board toured  Zearing Elementary from 5:00-5:30 p.m. and the Colo Building from 5:45-6:15 p.m. The tour was closed to the public for safety reasons.   In attendance: Joel Niemeyer, Jon Cutler, Brad Kohwles, Levi Bappe, John Fuller, Traci Nessa, Justin Jedlicka.  Staff: Marc Snavely, Rita Foley, Bill Lytle, Bandon Kelley, Travis Owens Guest: Peter von Qualen, ISG.
                
BOARD AGENDA REGULAR BOARD MEETING

1.    Call to Order:  Niemeyer called the meeting to order at 6:30

2.    Approval of Agenda   Fuller moved to approve the agenda, Nessa seconded.  Ayes: ALL Agenda approved
        
3.    Public Comments:  There were no public comments
    
4.    Information/Discussion

4.1    Memorial Bench Donation A community member spoke on behalf of a graduating class donating a bench in honor of a former student  

4.2    Construction Project Update Today’s construction meeting was not very productive.  Things are moving slow.  Furniture will be moved into the 5/6 wing on Friday and next week the HS wing.  The Fire inspection will be Thursday August 19.  The ceiling tile people aren’t willing to drop all the tiles until Graphite guarantees that they are not responsible for any damage to the tiles due roof damage.  Block layers are not showing up to lay the block, but they guarantee that it will be done by Thursday.  The goal right now is to get the school open for students and having functional locker rooms.  There was concern for the safety of the students with the workers still completing the project.

4.3    Board Goals Snavely discussed that the Board would normally set the goals in August, but with construction he asked the Board to review and they would discuss at a later meeting. Cutler suggested giving Snavely time to get acclimated with his staff before assessing the goals.  Niemeyer said we have done great with the goals so far but we should focus more on student learning and communicating this to the community

4.4    Activities Director Report-2020-2021 Participation Survey Owens reported on participation levels that he reports to the Union and the Association and Fine Arts.

4.5    Terracon Change to Scope of Services and Fees Snavely reported that there is a change order for $26,467.  Terracon has had to make multiple trips to do the inspections due to sites not being ready.  This will be the District’s responsibility but will be part of the liquidated damages.

4.6    VPPEL Resolution ordering Election on the Question of Continuing to Levy a Voter Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax.  This is Pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21 and the Rules of the School District. Snavely reported that Ahler’s & Cooney has prepared the information to put this PPEL vote on the ballot.

4.7    Return to Learn Plan Snavely discussed the 21-22 Return to Learn plan.  This is a very fluid document.  In June when this plan was reviewed it was based on the status of things in June.  The concern is masking on busses.  CDC is stating that masks must be worn on busses.  Iowa Department of Public Health states that schools cannot enforce wearing a mask on school property.  Many local districts are enforcing the CDC guidelines.  Ahler’s & Cooney gave 3 options for dealing with the contradiction between State & Federal laws all three options carry risks.  

4.8    Additional Sharing with Nevada for 2021-2022 (.125 FTE Art Teacher) Snavely discussed there has been no one to hire so are looking to contract with Nevada for their MS and HS teachers to plan the courses and grade the work.  They will hire an associate who is very active with art to be in the classroom to help with the instructions.

4.9    YSS Commitment for Teen Outreach Program Snavely discussed the renewal of the agreement with YSS.

4.10   Summer School Rental Fee to Methodist Church in Colo Snavely reported that the Board had requested we pay the church $800 custodial fee.

4.11   Request to Host Foreign Exchange Student for 2021-2022 School Year Snavely reported that a family is requesting to host a foreign exchange student.

4.12   Discuss Using Electronic Signatures to Sign Checks There was much discussion on how unsure the Board felt going forward with the electronic signature given the past history of the District.  The feeling of the Board is to continue with the manual signature.

4.13   Discuss Open Enrollment Request Out of the District Snavely discussed an open enrollment request for a student who attended in Zearing last year, but had attended in Ames prior to that.  

    
5.    Action Agenda:

5.1    Approval of Pay App #8 for Construction Project (Graphite Construction) Cutler moved to approve Pay App #8, Fuller seconded. Ayes:  All  Motion approved

5.2    Approval of Terracon Change to Scope of Services and Fees  Fuller moved to approve Terracon Change of scope or services and fees,  Jedlicka seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved

5.3    Approval of VPPEL Resolution Ordering Election on the Question of Continuing to Levy a Voter Approved Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax.  This is Pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 21 and the Rules of the School District.   Kohlwes moved to approve the resolution ordering the Election to continue to Levy voter approved PPEL, Cutler seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved

5.4    Approval of Return to Learn Plan  Cutler moved to approve the Return to Learn Plan as amended, Nessa seconded.  Ayes: 6 Nayes: Fuller  Motion approved

5.5    Approval of Additional Sharing with Nevada for 2021-2022 (.125 FTE Art Teacher)  Bappe moved to approve additional sharing for Art with Nevada,  Fuller seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved.

5.6    Approval of YSS Commitment for Teen Outreach Program Fuller moved to approve the YSS Commitment for Teen Outreach Program, Jedlicka seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved

5.7    Approval of School Rental Fee to the Methodist Church in Colo  Nessa moved to approve $800 rental fee for summer school,  Bappe seconded.  Ayes: ALL.  Motion approved

5.8    Approval of Hosting Foreign Exchange Student for the 2021-2022 School Year  Jedlicka moved to approve hosting Foreign Exchange Student for 21-22 school year,  Nessa seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved

5.9    Approval of Using Electronic Signatures to Sign Checks   No motion

5.10  Approval/Denial of Open Enrollment Request Out of the District  Fuller moved to approve open enrollment request, Cutler  seconded. Ayes:  None Nays: ALL Motion failed.

6.    Consent Agenda: Cutler moved to approve the consent agenda,  Nessa seconded.  Ayes:  ALL  Motion approved

6.1    Minutes (July 19, 2021) (August 2, 2021) (August 9, 2021)

6.2    Bills

6.3    Personnel

7.    Board Items   

7.1    Superintendent Comments Snavely commented on the District website and how it needs updating. He has asked other Districts and found someone who has done other Districts websites for a very reasonable price.  This is a great tool for communication.  

        Finance work session will be September 27.

        Memo will go out to families regarding back to school nights and update on masks.

        We are still in need of at least 2 more associates to be hired.

7.2    Board Comments Fuller commented on IASB priorities, Mental Health, Supplemental Aid, Teacher recruitment, Preschool.  Fuller was going to invite Deyoe and Sweeney to a board meeting in the fall.

7.3    Board Calendar Next meeting September 20, 2021 in Colo.

8.    Adjourn   Kohlwes moved to adjourn the meeting, Nessa seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 8:33.