January 8, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Education of the Centerville Community School District was held
January 8, 2024 at 5:30 pm in the board room of the Administration Office, 634 North Main,
Centerville.  

Regular Board Meeting

Call to order and roll call
President Kevin Wiskus called the regular meeting to order at 5:30 pm.  Roll call to determine quorum:
   Present:  Tim Burger, Derek Carter, Carol Heffron, Tom Johnson, Mike Moore, Mike Thomas, Kevin Wiskus
   Absent:  None
Also present were Superintendent Mark Taylor and Chief Financial Officer Lisa Swarts.

Welcome Visitors
Kevin Wiskus welcomed visitors.

Public Forum
There were no public comments.

Approve Agenda
It was moved by Mike Moore and seconded by Tim Burger to approve the agenda as stated.  Motion
passed unanimously.

Approve minutes of previous meetings
It was moved by Mike Moore and seconded by Tom Johnson to approve the December 11, 2023
minutes as stated.  Motion passed unanimously.

Closed Session “Discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation where disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.  Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c).  Roll call. 
It was moved by Mike Moore and seconded by Derek Carter to go into closed session under Iowa Code
Section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation where
disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the District in that litigation.  Roll 
call:
   Ayes:  Tim Burger, Derek Carter, Carol Heffron, Tom Johnson, Mike Moore, Mike Thomas, Kevin Wiskus
   Nays:  None
Motion carried unanimously.  The board moved into closed session at 5:34 pm.
Other persons present for the closed session were:
Mark Taylor, Superintendent
Lisa Swarts, Chief Financial Officer
Kris Shondel, Previous Board Member
Bob Thomas, Previous Board Member
Doug Phillips, Attorney, Klass Law Firm

It was a consensus of the board to move out of closed session and return to open session at 6:53 pm.  

The Board took a recess at 6:54 pm and returned at 6:59 pm.

Closed Session “Discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation where disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the governmental body in that litigation.  Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c).  Roll call. 
It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Mike Moore to go into closed session under Iowa Code
Section 21.5(1)(c) to discuss strategy with counsel in matters that are presently in litigation where
disclosure would be likely to prejudice or disadvantage the position of the District in that litigation.  Roll 
call:
   Ayes:  Tim Burger, Derek Carter, Carol Heffron, Tom Johnson, Mike Moore, Mike Thomas, Kevin Wiskus
   Nays:  None
Motion carried unanimously.  The board moved into closed session at 7:02 pm.
Other persons present for the closed session were:
Mark Taylor, Superintendent
Lisa Swarts, Chief Financial Officer
Doug Phillips, Attorney, Klass Law Firm

It was a consensus of the board to move out of closed session and return to open session at 7:33 pm.  

The Board took a recess at 7:33 pm and returned at 7:35 pm.

Old Business
There were no old business items.

New Business

Approval of Official District Newspaper
It was moved by Mike Thomas and seconded by Tom Johnson to approve the continuation of the Appanoose Weekly as the District’s newspaper for legal publications.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approval of Powerschool Contract
It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Mike Thomas to approve the 2023-24 Powerschool contract as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approve Second Reading of Board Policies 401.01, 503.01, 503.01R1, 503.02, 503.08R1
It was moved by Mike Moore and seconded by Derek Carter to approve the second reading of board policies 401.01, 503.01, 503.01R1, 503.02, 503.08R1 with corrections as stated.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approve Second Reading of Board Policies 900 Series  
It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Carol Heffron to approve the second reading of board policies 900 Series with corrections as stated.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approve At-Risk/Dropout Grant Application for 2024-2025
It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Mike Thomas to approve submitting to the Department of Education the At-Risk/Dropout Grant application for 2024-25 for requested modified supplemental amount of $509,515.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approve Summer Project Bids
Summer project bids presented for approval:
1. Lewellen Mowing and Painting LLC – painting project - $14,600
2. Factory Direct Carpet – VCT tile Howar project - $31,750
3. Décor Cabinets – Howar art room cabinet project - $7,182.53
4. School Lockers.com – Howar locker project - $47,085.85
5. ESCO Electric – smoke detector/pull station/speaker project - $23,323.00

It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Tom Johnson to approve the summer project bids as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.

Approve Personnel Business Procedures

Resignations
1. Mekca Wallace-Spurgin – Resigning from Family Consumer Science Teacher, FCCLA Sponsor, Yearbook Sponsor, HS Robotics Sponsor, effective January 12, 2024.
2. Mekca Wallace-Spurgin – Resigning from Content Specialist for Virtual School effective at the end of the 2023-2024 contract year.
3. Rhonda Senter – Resigned from preschool aide effective August 21, 2023.

Employment/Contracts
1. Makinzey Bates – Study Hall/Library Aide, Level IV, Step 3, $14.72 per hour, 7.5 hours per day, effective January 4, 2024, replacing Mindy Novotny.
2. Jakob Bauer – Sp. Ed. Aide Specific at Lakeview, Level 2, Step 1, $12.17 per hour, 7.75 hours per day, replacing Kayley Davis, effective January 3, 2024.
3. Addison Westercamp – FCCLA Sponsor, Step 1, pro-rated for 93 of 188 days, $678.92, replacing Mekca Wallace-Spurgin.
4. Alicia Grunig - Sp. Ed. Aide Specific at Lakeview, Level 2, Step 4, $13.07 per hour, 7.75 hours per day, replacing Corinna Salisbury, effective December 18, 2023.
5. Debra Colwell – Substitute Bus Driver, Level III, Step 1, $17.50 per hour, as needed, effective January 8, 2024.

Sports Officials Contracts – as listed

It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Tim Burger to approve all personnel items as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.

Financial Reports
It was moved by Derek Carter and seconded by Mike Moore to approve all prepaids, list of bills, additional bills on the table, financial reports, and pay per diem as presented.  Motion passed unanimously.  

Superintendent Report
The Superintendent report this month focused on the recent school shooting incident in Perry, Iowa.  Mr. Taylor reported out and the board joined in on a brief discussion about school safety and prevention.

Boardsmanship Awards Update
It was a consensus of the board that the recent “Team Achievement” award plaque given by the Iowa Association of School Boards should be placed at Simon Estes.
Mike Moore gave information on how important professional development is for board members and how the board is doing so far for this year.

Board Member Takeaways
Takeaway items included: appreciation for the Boardsmanship awards information and content from sessions already attended, appreciation for Mekca Wallace-Spurgin’s work in the district, appreciation for discussion on safety, appreciation for managing the snowstorm and virtual days, appreciation for acronym list included in the packet, and further discussion on school safety.

Adjourn
It was moved by Mike Moore and seconded by Derek Carter to adjourn the regular meeting at 8:32 pm.  Motion passed unanimously.

_________________________                       		 ___________________________________
Board President, Kevin Wiskus				 Board Secretary, Lisa Swarts