COLO-NESCO COMMUNITY SCHOOL
BOARD OF EDUCATION
A regular monthly board meeting was held by the Colo-NESCO Board of Education on Monday, November 21, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. in the Zearing Conference Room located at 407 North Center Street. Present: Joel Neimeyer, Jon Cutler, John Fuller, Justin Jedlicka, Justin Walker, Katy McKinney, Brad Kohlwes; Staff: Marc Snavely, Rita Foley, Sherri Ruzek (virtual), Bill Lytle, Travis Owens (7:41); Guests: Todd Frohwein, Callie Kohlwes, Katie Rouse, Jadyn Niemeyer, Kaleb Gray, Jackson Wonders
REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AGENDA
1. Call to Order Niemeyer called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Roll Call Roll call was held
3. Approval of Agenda Fuller moved to approve the agenda, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
4. Public Comments: There were no public comments
5. Approval of Board Minutes (October 17th, 2022) Fuller moved to approve the minutes from 10/17/22, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Minutes approved 7-0
6. Adjournment of Retiring Board Cutler moved to adjourn the meeting, Kohlwes second. Meeting adjourned at 6:31.
7. Call to Order Secretary Foley called the meeting to order at 6:31
8. Roll Call roll call was held
9. Board Organization
9.1 Election of Board President & Oath Joel Niemeyer was nominated for president by McKinney, second Cutler. Ayes: ALL 7-0 Secretary Foley issued the oath of office to Niemeyer.
9.2 Election of Board Vice-President & Oath Jon Cutler was nominated by McKinney, Walker second. Ayes: ALL 7-0 Secretary Foley issued the oath of office to Cutler
9.3 Establish Board Calendar & Meeting Dates There was discussion that McCallsburg is not handicap accessible. Cutler moved to continue having meetings on the 3rd Monday of the month with 6 months (October – March) in Zearing and 6 months (April – September), Fuller second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
9.4 Approve Appointment of Board Members to Committees There was discussion regarding the committees, McKinney was added to Vocational Ag Fuller moved to approve committee assignments as submitted, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
9.5 Approve Bank Depository Cutler moved to approve State Bank & Trust Co for up to $5,000,000 Walker second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
9.6 Approve Appointment of Legal Counsel Cutler moved to approve Ahler’s & Cooney for the District Law Firm, Fuller second. Ayes: 6 No: Jedlicka Motion approved 6-1
9.7 Approve Appointment of Newspaper Publication Cutler moved to appoint Mid Iowa Enterprise as the newspaper of record for the District, Kohlwes second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
10. Information/Discussion
10.1 FFA National Convention Update FFA students gave a short recap of the experience they had at the National Convention in Indianapolis.
10.2 Discussion on FFA & FCCLA Fundraiser Requests FFA & FCCLA students explained the fundraiser requests to sell ice cream, bake sale items at basketball games and Music Concerts and to have Chuck A Duck at Basketball games. There was discussion on needing a gambling license and how to obtain one.
10.3 Construction Progress Update Snavely gave a construction progress update, there is very little happening at this time.
10.4 Discussion/Update on Colo Roof Snavely gave an update on the Colo roof. The roof is now secure until the next rain that tests it.
10.5 Discussion/Update on Flooring in the Zearing Entrance Area Snavely gave an update on the Zearing entrance where water had leaked in. The leak is believed to have come from the windows, Orning claims to have caulked, but will not know until the next hard rain. Niemeyer discussed how the entry floor looks unfinished. It has been measured for carpet to cover up the tile.
10.6 Discussion/Update on Cost Estimate for Track in Colo Snavely reported on the cost estimate for the Track in Colo as provided by ISG which is just about $1.2 million. This is probably beyond fundraising and will need to wait until SAVE money is freed up or another Bond Issue. Jedlicka asked if it was possible to get a bond through for a track, concession stand and press box. This would probably double the amount needed for the project. The Board does not want this project to die and wants to keep pushing forward with the project.
10.7 Discussion on Purchasing a New Car Snavely discussed purchasing a Malibu to transport students to Ft Dodge/Woodward from George White Chevrolet for $20,543.
10.8 Discussion on SBRC Application (Open Enrollment Out) Snavely presented the SBRC application regarding students that were open enrolled out for the amount of $130,808.70.
10.9 Discussion on SBRC Application (LEP Instruction Beyond 5 Years) Snavely presented the SBRC application for Limited English Proficient students beyond 5 years for the amount of $3,113.46.
10.10 Discussion on Offering Stipend for ESL Services Snavely discussed changing our process of paying the English Second Language Instructor a stipend rather than the current hourly rate being paid. This stipend would be for $6000.
10.11 Discussion on Iowa Local Government Risk Pool FY 24 Participation Agreement Snavely discussed the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool FY25 Participation Agreement to lock in our natural gas prices. This agreement will cost $133,763.50 that will be paid through the Management Fund.
10.12 Discussion on Colo-NESCO Director Redistricting Snavely discussed the need to consider redrawing the electoral districts to equalize population between districts after the decennial census. Since we are within the 10% allowance we are not required to make this change, but we could. The deadline to make this change with the Secretary of State is May 15, 2023.
10.13 Discussion on Not Allowing Buses to Cross District Lines to Pick-Up/Drop-Off Students Snavely discussed that Nevada has been allowed to cross into the Colo-NESCO district for many years to pick up students near Fernald and students at Country Living Trailer Park. Students would need to provide their own transportation to Nevada. There was discussion on when this should be made effective.
10.14 Discussion on Shared Technology Director Agreement w/Collins-Maxwell Snavely updated that Colo-NESCO will be sharing a technology director with Collins-Maxwell beginning January 1, 2023 Colo-NESCO will pay 20% of salary, FICA and IPERS, and other benefits. Collins-Maxwell will hold the contract and provide the benefits. The District will need to contract with BDI for other services such as being sure the server does not fail.
10.15 Discussion on Board Goals Snavely discussed the Board Goals that were set last year and the progress that has been made on these goals. Snavely asked if these goals should be changed. There was discussion about publicizing the goals more. Cutler discussed the possibility of a goal regarding open enrollment and declining enrollment. Niemeyer discussed the need for a goal regarding culture and replacing the communication goal. There was discussion on forming a committee to generate new goals. Culture, staff retention and open enrollment are what the focus should be for goals.
10.16 Discussion on Offering Early Retirement Snavely discussed the possibility of offering early retirement to any teachers that are eligible.
10.17 Discussion on Policy Primers Snavely discussed the Policy Primers that were put out by IASB. There are many new policies in this set that are required by Iowa code. Textbooks will be reviewed every 5 years policy 605.1.
10.18 Discussion on Board Policy-800 Series (2nd Reading) This is the 2nd reading of the 800 series of policies that need to be reviewed. Policy 804.6 will be randomly reviewed and the video recycled every 30 days. Policy 802.2 raising the Superintendent spending authority without Board approval to $7,000.
11. Action Agenda
11.1 Approval of FFA & FCCLA Fundraiser Requests Fuller moved to approve the FFA & FCCLA fundraiser requests as presented, McKinney second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.2 Approval of Purchasing a New Car Kohlwes moved to approve a car from George White for $20,543, Walker second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.3 Approval of SBRC Application (Open-Enrollment Out) Fuller moved to approve the SBRC Application of Open Enrollment for $130,808.70, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.4 Approval of SBRC Application (LEP Instruction Beyond 5 Years) Fuller moved to approve the SBRC Application for LEP Instruction beyond 5 years for $3113.46, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.5 Approval of Offering a Stipend for ESL Services Kohlwes moved to approve offering a stipend for ESL Services for $6000/year, Cutler second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.6 Approval of Iowa Local Government Risk Pool FY 24 Participation Agreement Cutler moved to approve the participation agreement with Iowa Local Government Risk Pool at a cost of $133,763.50 to be paid through the Management fund, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.7 Approval of Colo-NESCO Director Redistricting no motion
11.8 Approval of Not Allowing Buses to Cross District Lines to Pick-Up/Drop Off Students Kohlwes moved to approve closing down the district boarders and not allow other district buses to cross into the Colo-NESCO district effective January 1, 2023, Fuller second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.9 Approval of Shared Technology Agreement w/Collins-Maxwell Jedlicka moved to approve the sharing agreement with Collins Maxwell regarding Technology, McKinney second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved
11.10 Approval of Board Goals No motion
11.11 Approval of Offering Early Retirement Cutler moved to approve offering early retirement to teachers who qualify with the same benefit as previous years, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.12 Approval of Policy Primers Fuller moved to approve the policy primer as presented noting textbooks will be reviewed every 5 years, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
11.13 Approval of Board Policy-800 Series (2nd Reading) Fuller moved to approve the 2nd reading of the 800 series noting that video will be reviewed as necessary on school buses and recycled every 30 days, and increasing Supt. Spending authority to $7,000, Jedlicka second. Ayes: ALL Motion approved 7-0
12. Consent Agenda Cutler moved to approve the consent agenda with the additional resignation, Fuller second. Ayes: ALL Consent Agenda approved 7-0
12.1 Personnel
12.2 Bills
12.3 Financials Ruzek discussed the financial reports.
13. Board Items
13.1 Superintendent Comments
13.2 Board Comments Walker thanked Snavely for all his work on the Day Care Grant.
13.3 Board Calendar Next meeting will be held in Zearing on December 19, 2022
14. Adjourn Kohlwes moved to adjourn, Jedlicka second. Meeting adjourned 8:53 p.m.
