SPECIAL MEETING Sioux City Community School District Education Service Center Minutes April 13, 2015 5:15 p.m. I. Call to Order 1 II. Roll Call of Members 1 III. Approval of Agenda 1 IV. Approval of Closed Session / Adjourn to Closed Session 1 V. Adjourn Closed Session / Return to Open Session 1 VI. Adjourn 1
SPECIAL MEETING Sioux City Community School District Educational Service Center Minutes April 13, 2015 5:15 p.m. I. Call to Order President Krysl called the special meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. II. Roll Call of Members Present: Directors Alarcon-Flory, Krysl, Speidel, and Warnstadt. Absent: Directors Gorski, Johnson, and McTaggart. III. Approval of Agenda Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried 4 to 0. IV. Approval of Closed Session / Adjourn to Closed Session Director Speidel moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to go into closed session to discuss the purchase of particular real estate where premature disclosure could be reasonably expected to increase the price the Board and the School District would have to pay for that property, pursuant to section 21.5(1)(j) of the Iowa Code. The motion carried 4 to 0, and the Board retired to closed session at 5:16 p.m. V. Adjourn Closed Session / Return to Open Session Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to adjourn the closed session and return to open session. The motion carried 7 to 0, and the Board returned to open session at 5:35 p.m. VI. Adjourn Director Speidel moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to adjourn the special meeting. The motion carried 7 to 0, and the special meeting adjourned at 5:36 p.m. Michael J. Krysl, President SCCSD Board of Directors Cynthia A. Lloyd, Secretary SCCSD Board of Directors - 1 -
REGULAR MEETING Sioux City Community School District Educational Service Center Minutes April 13, 2015 6:00 p.m. I. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance 1 II. Roll Call of Members 1 III. Approval of Agenda 1 IV. Good News Report(s): 1 A. North High School V. Citizen Input 1 VI. Consent Action Item(s) 2 A. Board Meeting Minutes from March 26, 2015 and April 6, 2015 B. Human Resources Report C. Finance Report(s) D. Lease Between the Sioux City Community School District and Western Iowa Tech Community College VII. Hearing(s) 2-3 A. District s Asphalt Maintenance and Repair Project B. Annual Roof Repairs, Maintenance, and Replacement Project C. District Middle Schools Exploratory Classroom Projects D. District AFJROTC Classroom Project VIII. Board Member Reports / Future Meetings 3 IX. Superintendent s Report 3 X. Items of Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action 4-6 A. Second and Final Reading of Board Policies B. Elementary School Science and High School Social Studies Curriculum and Material Adoption C. 2015-16 School Calendar D. FY2015-2016 Budget Adoption E. Grading AR681.10 XI. Adjourn 6
REGULAR MEETING Sioux City Community School District Educational Service Center Minutes April 13, 2015 6:00 p.m. I. Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance President Krysl called the regular meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. II. Roll Call of Members Present: Directors Alarcon-Flory, Gorski, Johnson, Krysl, McTaggart, Speidel, and Warnstadt. Absent: None III. Approval of Agenda Director Speidel moved and Director Alarcon-Flory seconded the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried 7 to 0. IV. Good News Report(s) North High School Ryan Dumkrieger (Principal), Megan Powers (English Teacher), Chris Tomlinson (Media Specialist), and Shawn Meth (Social Studies Teacher), shared a brief presentation highlighting North High s unique team-taught, American Studies, which is a blended class of American History and English III. Students; Connor O Dell, Trevell Shupe, Areisy Murguia, Humberto Sanchez, Francesca Giugno, shared their thoughts of how this class is different from the traditional in its organization, engagement, and assessment. Students showcased their class project, an E-magazine focused on issues surrounding the unit of study, power, and disenfranchisement. V. Citizen Input None. VI. Consent Action Item(s) Director Speidel moved and Director McTaggart seconded the motion to approve all consent action items. The motion carried 7 to 0. A. Board Meeting Minutes from March 26, 2015 and April 6, 2015 B. Human Resources Report Dr. Rita Vannatta C. Finance Report(s) Jodi Ryan D. Lease Between the Sioux City Community School District and Western Iowa Tech Community College Jean Peters 1
VII. Hearing(s) A. District s Asphalt Maintenance and Repair Project - Brian Fahrendholz President Krysl stated that notice was provided that a hearing would be held at 6:00 p.m. local time, at the Educational Service Center, 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, on the 13 th day of April, 2015, for the purpose to approve the plans, specifications, and estimated cost of $175,000.00 for the District s Asphalt Maintenance and Repair Project. He stated that any interested party may appear and file objections and any information for or against same will be heard on the above-named project with the final decision of the Board of Education a matter of record. Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the District s Asphalt Maintenance and Repair Project. The motion carried 7 to 0. B. Annual Roof Repairs, Maintenance, and Replacement Project - Brian Fahrendholz President Krysl stated that notice was provided that a hearing would be held at 6:00 p.m. local time, at the Educational Service Center, 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, on the 13 th day of April, 2015, for the purpose to approve the plans, specifications, and estimated total cost of $525,000.00 for the District s Annual Roof Repairs, Maintenance, and Replacement Project. He stated that any interested party may appear and file objections and any information for or against same will be heard on the above-named project with the final decision of the Board of Education a matter of record. Director McTaggart moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to approve the Annual Roof Repairs, Maintenance, and Replacement Project. The motion carried 7 to 0. C. District Middle Schools Exploratory Classroom Projects - Brian Fahrendholz President Krysl stated that notice was provided that a hearing would be held at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the Educational Service Center, 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, on the 13 th day of April, 2015, for the purpose to approve the plans, specifications, and estimated cost of $250,000.00 for the District Middle Schools Exploratory Classroom Projects. He stated that any interested party may appear and file objections and any information for or against same will be heard on the above-named project with the final decision of the Board of Education a matter of record. Director Speidel moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the District Middle Schools Exploratory Classroom Projects. The motion carried 6 to 1, with Director Gorski voting no. - 2 -
D. District AFJROTC Classroom Project - Brian Fahrendholz President Krysl state that notice was provided that a hearing would be held at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the Educational Service Center, 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, on the 13 th day of April, 2015, for the purpose to approve the plans, specifications, and estimated cost of $560,000.00 for the District AFJROTC Classroom Project. He stated that any interested party may appear and file objections and any information for or against same will be heard on the above-named project with the final decision of the Board of Education a matter of record. Director Speidel moved and Director Alarcon-Flory seconded the motion to approve the District AFJROTC Classroom Project. The motion carried 6 to 0 (Director McTaggart had stepped out). VII. Board Member Reports / Future Meetings Director Johnson: He thanked the citizens who have shared their concerns and insights with the Board, and encouraged them to keep their active involvement. Future Meetings are as follows: Educational Equity Committee 11:30 a.m., April 14, 2015, in ESC #105. Siouxland Chamber Washington Conference & Steak Reception All Day Event, April 14-17, 2015, in Washington, DC Preschool Oversight Committee - 1:30 p.m., April 16, 2015, at Irving Preschool. Board Policy Committee 4:00 p.m., April 20, 2015, 2014, in ESC #326. Board Finance & Facilities Committee 12:00 p.m., April 21, 2015, in ESC #312. Student Achievement Committee 12:00 p.m., April 24, 2015, in ESC #326. Education Legislative Forum 8:30 a.m., April 25, 2015, in ESC Board Room. Sales Tax Finance Oversight Committee 8:00 a.m., April 27, 2015, in ESC #103. Regular School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m., April 27, 2015, in ESC Board Room. Regular School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m., May 11, 2015, in ESC Board Room. VIII. Superintendent s Report Dr. Gausman: He will travel to Washington, DC this week with Directors Gorski and Speidel for the Chamber s Annual Washington Conference and Steak Reception. He acknowledged Jean Peters who is retiring at the end of June, and presented her with the District of Distinction award from District Administration Magazine for her work on the Preschool Initiative program. He announced that Neil Schroeder will be leaving our District in July to become the Commander of the 426 Network Warfare Squadron. He thanked Neil for his great service to the District. He acknowledged student teachers who were in attendance. - 3 -
IX. Items of Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action A. Second and Final Reading of Board Policies Dr. Paul Gausman 405.3 Access to Buildings 504.5 Student-Driven Vehicles, Motorcycles, Mopeds, Skateboards, Bicycles, Roller Skates, In-Line Skates, Scooters 504.11 Health and Immunization Certificates 602.8 Curriculum Review, Development and Assessment 604.1 Student Guidance and Counseling Program 604.4 Career Education 802 Cash or Equivalent in School Buildings 802.1 Local-State-Federal-Miscellaneous Revenue Director Speidel moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the above Board policies for second and final reading. The motion carried 7 to 0. B. Elementary School Science and High School Social Studies Curriculum and Material Adoption Dr. Kim Buryanek, April Tidwell, and Kathy Bottaro Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the curriculum and material adoption for Elementary School Science and High School Social Studies, pending the availability of funding. The Board shared their support to do everything necessary to see this through, and encouraged the public to contact their legislators and Governor about setting Supplemental State Aid. The motion carried 7 to 0. C. 2015-16 School Calendar Dr. Rita Vannatta Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to set a public hearing for April 27, 2015, at 6:00 p.m., local time, at the Educational Service Center, 627 4 th Street, Sioux City, Iowa, to receive public input on the District s proposed 2015-16 School Calendar. The motion carried 7 to 0. D. FY2015-2016 Budget Adoption Jodi Ryan, Interim CFO, reviewed each fund budget before asking the Board to approve a tax levy rate decrease of $.75 from $16.52 to $15.77, and approve a total expenditure budget of $200,158,499. Director Krysl stated that without knowing what our Supplemental State Aid is, this is the single biggest crisis facing this District and is hurting kids. Sioux City is the most property poor District in the state of Iowa. Director McTaggart moved and Director Alarcon-Flory seconded the motion to approve a tax levy rate of $15.77 and total expenditures of $200,158,499. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 6 to 1 with Director Gorski voting no. - 4 -
E. Grading AR681.10 Dr. Paul Gausman and Dr. Kim Buryanek Dr. Gausman and Dr. Buryanek shared a comprehensive presentation highlighting the revisions to AR681.10 for an improved Standards-Based Grading system. Director Speidel moved and Director Alarcon-Flory seconded the motion to approve the revised AR681.10 which has a 1-5 qualifier system to be used in grades TK-6 and letter grades associated with percentages for grades 6-12 beginning in 2015-2016. Director Johnson moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to amend the recommendation to read: That the Board of Directors approves the 1-6 qualifier system, 90, 80, 70, 60 percent grid, to be used in grades TK-6. Dan Greenwell, 11 West Kings Hwy, shared a presentation with data and information to support a 6-point grid. Mike Hesse (22807 C80), Dr. Angela Stokes (3115 Country Club), Elisa Davenport (4739 Perry Way), and Namon Jones (2500 Dupont) shared their support for a 6- point grid. Larry Schmitz, 3616 Cheyenne Blvd., shared his frustrations with the current grading system when trying to understand what his son is doing. Jodi Speidel, 2119 South Clinton, shared concern with voting on a 6-point grid without involving other parents. If the grading system changes again, this will be the third grading system her daughter will experience since 3 rd grade, and the fourth grading system when she moves into 7 th grade. We need to give the current system a chance to work. It is hard to know if a system works when you keep changing it. This Country is moving in a different direction and do we really want our kids being non-comparable to students in other states? After a roll call vote, the motion carried 5 to 2, to approve the 1-6 qualifier system to be used in grades TK-6, with Directors Alarcon-Flory and Speidel voting no. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0, to approve the revised AR681.10 which was amended to a 1-6 qualifier system to be used in grades TK-6 (with the associated percentage: a 6 = 90% to 100%, a 5 = 80% to 89%, a 4 = 70 % to 79%, a 3 = 60% to 69%, a 2 = 34% to 59% and a 1 = less than 34%) and letter grades associated with percentages for grades 6-12 beginning in 2015-2016. - 5
X. Adjourn Bruce Lear, SCEA, stated teachers will work together to make whatever grading system work if given clear and timely direction and the time to do it. He shared concern with double grading (standards-based and percentages) and adding another layer on things to do for 6 th grade teachers. 6 th grade teachers have more student responsibility than an elementary teacher. A prior Board of Education voted to make 6 th grade a part of the middle school, so do we really want to single out the 6 th grade for SBG and letter grades? Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion carried 7 to 0, and the regular meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m. Michael J. Krysl, President SCCSD Board of Directors Cynthia A. Lloyd, Secretary SCCSD Board of Directors - 6 -