SPECIAL MEETING Sioux City Community School District Education Service Center Minutes January 27, 2014 5:00 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 January 27, 2014 5:00 p.m. I. Call to Order President Krysl called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. II. Roll Call of Members Present: Directors Alarcon-Flory (5:08 p.m.), Gorski, Johnson, Krysl, McTaggart, Speidel, and Warnstadt. Absent: None. III. Approval of Agenda Director Gorski moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried 6 to 0. IV. Approval of Closed Session / Adjourn to Closed Session Director McTaggart moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to go into a 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 6 to 0, and the Board retired to closed session at 5:02 p.m. V. Adjourn Closed Session / Return to Open Session Director Warnstadt moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to adjourn the closed session and return to open session. The motion carried 6 to 0, and the Board returned to open session at 5:34 p.m. VI. Adjourn Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to adjourn the special meeting. The motion carried 6 to 0, and the special meeting adjourned at 5:35 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 January 27, 2014 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. Clark Elementary School V. Citizen Input 1 VI. Consent Action Item(s) 2 A. Board Meeting Minutes from January 13, 2014 and January 16, 2014 B. Human Resources Report C. Finance Report VII. Hearing(s) A. Sale of District Property (Former Joy Elementary School) 2 VIII. Board Member Reports / Future Meetings 2-3 IX. Superintendent s Report 4 X. Items of Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action 4-6 A. Hoover Elementary School Site Reconstruction Project / Bid Package #2 B. Hoover Elementary School Site Geothermal Well Project / Bid Package #3 C. Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4 D. Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4 / Alternate #1 Wind Reinforcement Structure E. Amendment #1 to the 28E Agreement Between the Sioux City Community School District and the City of Sioux City for the Hoover Elementary School Project F. Clark Elementary School Parking Lot Project G. Board Policies for Second and Final Reading H. School Calendars I. FAFSA Completion Pilot Project J. Open Enrollment Study XI. Adjourn 6
REGULAR MEETING Sioux City Community School District Educational Service Center Minutes January 27, 2014 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 Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Speidel seconded the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried 7 to 0. IV. Good News Report(s) Clark Elementary School Sandy Reed (First Grade Teacher) stated they are thankful for their PTA s support on this project. Lego We Do Robotics Club gives students the opportunity to experience very basic programming, and supports the skills they are teaching through reading, math, science, and technology. Students work together to build robots with LEGO s and write programs for the motors they build, and then keep a journal of their learnings and experiments. They are thankful for the parent volunteers who facilitate student groups after school. Mickey Nelson, PTA Treasurer and Coordinator, stated the PTA strongly supports this project and the learning taking place at Clark Elementary School. They are able to assist with a number of projects, groups, and activities through volunteer and fundraising efforts. She read the mission of the M.G. Clark Elementary PTA, stating they exist to partner with the School District in order to bring forth and facilitate the best educational resources, guidance, and opportunities for students. Through their volunteer work, they hope to bridge and form a partnership between families, students, teachers, and our community. Students - Delaney Saulsbury, Noah Reed, Christian Nelson, Derek Folchert, Cora Swan, and Jada Yezdimer shared data about their LEGO project and demonstrated how they were able to program their robots to move through the use of technology. V. Citizen Input None - 1
VI. Consent Action Item(s) Director Speidel moved and Director Gorski seconded the motion to approve the consent action items. Dr. Gausman noted Dr. Linda Madison s retirement which is included in the HR Report. The motion carried 7 to 0. A. Board Meeting Minutes from January 13, 2014 and January 16, 2014 B. Human Resources Report Dr. Rita Vannatta C. Finance Report Gordon Winterlin VII. Hearing(s) A. Sale of District Property (Former Joy Elementary School) Mel McKern President Krysl stated 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 27 th day of January, 2014, for the purpose to sell real property owned by the District located at 3409 Indiana Avenue. He stated any interested party may appear and file objections and any information for or against same will be heard on the above-named sale with the final decision of the Board of Education a matter of record. Director McTaggart moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the sale of the former Joy Elementary School located at 3409 Indiana Avenue to Old School Properties, LLC, Sioux City, Iowa, in the amount of $70,000. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. VIII. Board Member Reports / Future Meetings Director Johnson shared the following concerns, comments, and replies to a recent opinion article printed in the Sioux City Journal on Early Retirement: Comments made were based on opinion and not facts. The Board has discussed this topic publically during Board meetings and also in publically noticed Board committee meetings. The Board is still in the discussion phase of an Early Retirement Plan to employees potentially 62-65 years of age, but has not yet settled on anything at this time. An Early Retirement Plan could potentially save the District and taxpayers significant dollars, and enhance academic achievement. The Board s responsibility is to use taxpayer dollars wisely and produce the well-educated student. He provided printed research to the Sioux City Journal representative in attendance on the benefits of implementing an Early Retirement Plan. He has been on the Board for 10 years and is here for a reason. It is inexcusable what the Sioux City Journal reported. - 2
Director Speidel agreed with Director Johnson of potentially implementing an Early Retirement Plan, noting that it will help add staff diversity in our schools. He stated when the Board makes a decision, it is the Board s decision as a whole. The Board bases their decisions on data, and creating that welleducated student. He looks forward to their work of implementing an Early Retirement Plan if the Board chooses to do so. Director Alarcon-Flory stated that when she first arrived in the District, statistics showed a high Latino dropout rate. In the last 5 years, WITCC has seen growth in the Latino population at the college level. She stated she enjoys sitting on the Board, it is a full-time job, and they do not get paid. She recently learned that East High Speech will be sending 14 of their 22 teams to state. Director McTaggart stated he has spent 45 years in providing a quality education to a number of students. He stated that no one does it for the money, we care about kids, and will do the best we can for kids. He stated that our Latino community has made Sioux City a better city. Director Warnstadt stated what a marvelous job the North High Multi-Cultural Club did in producing a video in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. She shared how fortunate the Board is to have local legislators who are willing to meet with them, hear their concerns, and thanked them for joining them at Saturday s legislative forum. She stated how disrespectful the Sioux City Journal was for questioning the Board s integrity on two separate occasions in the past month. She stated that the Board s decisions are made based on data. Director Krysl received Board consensus to begin working with the UEN and State Legislators to schedule Sioux City s Day at the Capitol for Wednesday, March 12, 2014. Future Meetings are as follows: Bryant Elementary School Community Meeting 6:00 p.m., January 28, 2014, at Bryant Elementary School. Board Finance & Facilities Committee 12:00 p.m., February 4, 2014, in ESC #312. School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m., February 10, 2014, in ESC Board Room. Educational Equity Committee 11:30 a.m., February 11, 2014, in ESC #105. Student Achievement Committee 12:00 p.m., February 14, 2014, in ESC #326. Communications Committee 4:00 p.m., February 18, 2014, in ESC Board Room. Board Work Session / Early Retirement Benefits 4:30 p.m., February 20, 2014, in ESC Board Room. Legislative Forum 8:30 a.m., February 22, 2014, in ESC Board Room. Sales Tax Finance Oversight Committee 8:00 a.m., February 24, 2014, in ESC #103. School Board Meeting 6:00 p.m., February 24, 2014, in ESC Board Room. District Advisory Committee 5:15 p.m., February 27, 2014, in ESC Board Room. Preschool Initiative Committee 1:30 p.m., March 19, 2014, at Irving Preschool. - 3
IX. Superintendent s Report Dr. Gausman: The City Council approved rezoning Joy Elementary School, so the sale of that property will move forward. He thanked all who were involved in the District s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities, and is particularly thankful for their partnership with the NAACP. Activities were designed for all students at all grade levels, and the students did such a fantastic job with the video that was presented. He will travel with Board members to Des Moines on Wednesday of this week for the Siouxland Chamber s Legislative Day at the Capitol. We will work to schedule Sioux City s Day at the Capitol on March 12, 2014. The TLC Grant will be submitted this week, and he thanked Dr. Buryanek for her great work to make this happen. He honored student teachers who were in attendance. X. Items of Presentation, Discussion, and/or Action A. Hoover Elementary School Site Reconstruction Project / Bid Package #2 Mel McKern Director Gorski moved and Director McTaggart seconded the motion to accept the low bid from Lessard Contracting Inc., Sioux City, Iowa, and awards them the contract in the amount of $2,049,179.35 for the Hoover Elementary School Site Reconstruction Project / Bid Package #2. Dr. Gausman noted this project includes the additional egress. Dr. Gausman gained Board consensus to work with the City to add a median for the Hoover Elementary School construction project for the safety of students. Dan Dykstra, Heidman Law Firm, 1128 Historic 4 th Street, spoke on behalf of the Country Club Boulevard Association. He gave their full support on all agenda items related to the Hoover project this evening. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. B. Hoover Elementary School Site Geothermal Well Project / Bid Package #3 Mel McKern Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to accept the low bid from Thorpe Water Development Company, Ankeny, Iowa, and awards them the contract in the amount of $503,564.00 for the Hoover Elementary School Site Geothermal Well Project / Bid Package #3. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. - 4
C. Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4 Mel McKern Director Gorski moved and Director Alarcon-Flory seconded the motion to accept the low bid for Base Bid #1, which includes Alternate #2, Alternate #3, and Alternate #5 from H&R Construction, South Sioux City, NE., and award them the contract in the amount of $14,199,000, and accept the low bid for Base Bid #3 from Olympus Lockers and Storage Products Inc., Eden Prairie, MN., and award them the contract in the amount of $99,498, totaling $14,298,498 for the Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. D. Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4 / Alternate #1 Wind Reinforcement Structure Mel McKern Director Warnstadt moved and Director Johnson seconded the motion to reject Base Bid #1 / Alternate #1 low bid from H&R Construction, South Sioux City, NE., in the amount of $266,000 for the Hoover Elementary School Site Construction Project / Bid Package #4 Wind Reinforcement Structure. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. E. Amendment #1 to the 28E Agreement Between the Sioux City Community School District and the City of Sioux City for the Hoover Elementary School Project - Mel McKern Dr. Gausman asked the Board to direct him to craft a letter to the City urging them to add a median for the added egress for the Hoover project for the safety of our students. Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director McTaggart seconded the motion to approve Amendment #1 to the 28E Agreement for Developmental Services between the Sioux City Community School District and the City of Sioux City to develop the site located in the vicinity of 3601 Hamilton Boulevard, Sioux City, Iowa, for the new Hoover Elementary School. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. F. Clark Elementary School Parking Lot Project - Mel McKern Director Warnstadt moved and Director Gorski seconded the motion to accept the low bid from TR Harris Construction Inc., Homer, Nebraska, and awards them the contract in the amount of $401,442.03 for the Clark Elementary School Parking Lot Project. After a roll call vote, the motion carried 7 to 0. G. Board Policies for Second and Final Reading Dr. Paul Gausman 602.10 Talented and Gifted Education Director Speidel moved and Director Gorski seconded the motion to approve the above Board policy for second and final reading. The motion carried 7 to 0. - 5
XI. Adjourn H. School Calendars Dr. Rita Vannatta Dr. Rita Vannatta shared a brief presentation explaining the District s work to move our calendar from reporting days to hours for the Iowa Department of Education for the upcoming school year. Director Speidel moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to approve the District move to days versus hours for the upcoming School Calendar, approve the 2014-15 school calendar, and acknowledge the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school calendars. The motion carried 7 to 0. I. FAFSA Completion Pilot Project Jim Vanderloo and Jennifer Gomez Jim Vanderloo (Director of Secondary Education) and Jennifer Gomez (Head Counselor) shared data regarding the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Federal Aid) Completion Pilot Project. Project is an initiative to increase the number of students who complete the FAFSA. EduCash is an in-kind service grant to help low and moderate income schools increase FAFSA completion rates, increase scholarships, and build a college going culture. We are in our third year of participation. We submit a list of seniors to the federal government, and they inform us how many students actually completed the FAFSA. This year, volunteers from Morningside College, Briar Cliff University, and Western Iowa Tech Community College will assist parents and students in completing the FAFSA application, and file their income taxes. Notification regarding this project was announced during high school activities, is noted on our District website, and postcards were sent to parents explaining the process. J. Open Enrollment Study Alison Benson Alison Benson (Director of Communications) shared results of the Open Enrollment Study performed in partnership with K12 Insight: Why study open enrollment? Open enrollment 5-year comparison data. Comparison data against the 10 largest districts in Iowa. Why parents choose to open enroll their students out of our District. Potential reasons given for leaving and/or staying. Survey data regarding staff engagement and open enrollment. Actions moving forward. Director Alarcon-Flory moved and Director Warnstadt seconded the motion to adjourn the regular meeting. The motion carried 7 to 0, and the regular meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m. Michael J. Krysl, President SCCSD Board of Directors Cynthia A. Lloyd, Secretary SCCSD Board of Directors - 6 -