PLEASANT VALLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
PLEASANT VALLEY, IOWA
UNOFFICIAL MINUTES

BOARD OF EDUCATION, REGULAR MEETING, BELMONT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE
Monday, June 7, 1999, 7:00 P.M. C.S.T.

Regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Phyllis Ahlstrand. Members present: Adam, Ahlstrand, Dayman, O’Hara, Romans, Thornton. Absent: Barsness. Also present: Dale Barber, Jim Spelhaug, Terry Haut, Keith Osborn, Cyndy Behrer, Don Dehner, David Fairweather, Linda Guyer, Glen Erickson, Tom Parker, Dennis Conard, Sheriff Bladel, Chris Harvey and others.

Motion by Adam, second by O’Hara that the Board hold an exempt session for the purpose of negotiations as provided in section 20.17(3) of the Code of Iowa. Roll call vote. Ayes - Adam, Ahlstrand, Dayman, O’Hara, Romans, Thornton. Nays - none. Motion carried.

Motion by Dayman second by Thornton to approve the agenda as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS: Director Romans congratulated the faculty, staff, and administration on completing another good year. Dr. Barber replied that he wanted to publicly thank Sheriff Mike Bladel, Major Dennis Conard and the Sheriff’s deputies for their excellent cooperation and assistance at the end of the school year. He also thanked the faculty and staff for their visibility and proactive manner in dealing with volatile situations at the high school and junior high and helping to end the school year on a positive note.

Director O’Hara thanked the Board for allowing him to have the privilege of handing out diplomas to the 1999 graduates.

President Ahlstrand congratulated this year’s seniors.

Dr. Spelhaug announced that with the latest disbursement of grants by the Scott County Regional Authority and the Riverboat Development Authority, the district has received in excess of $300,000 this year. He thanked all of the people responsible for writing the grants adding that many of the grants were written as a result of the cooperation of a whole building and/or several booster groups. In addition to the SCRA and RDA grants, the Athletic Booster organization received a grant from the Carver Foundation which will be used to develop the soccer/baseball/softball complex.

Motion by O’Hara, second by Adam that the Consent Agenda be approved:
• part-time custodian at Pleasant View Elementary School;
• the extension of Debbie Hartman’s contract to cover half of a Black Hawk Junior High special education student’s aide needs, and the employment of Mary Jo Harmon as a part-time aide to cover half of a Black Hawk Junior High special education student’s aide needs;
• the extra-duty assignments of Jay Kirman as the junior high girls basketball coach, Bill Petsche as the head freshman girls basketball coach, Albert Hayton as the assistant girls track coach, and Jean Mattson as the guidance/special education department chair; and the summer school assignments of Tim Gluck, Linda Teagarden, and Rachel Gless, as special education aides at Riverdale Heights, Joe Ambrose, High School Social Studies, Jenni Lelm, High School English, Drew Anderson, Robin Ciccotelli, Kris Joy, and Pete Tofilon, Instrumental Music, Lisa Roberts, extended year special education, Mary Johnson and Dan Kunkel as extended year special education aides for students attending the St. Ambrose Learning Campus and the Bettendorf Park and Recreation Program, and Anne Mullins Preston as an extended year special education aide for a student who will participate in the Bettendorf Park and Recreation Program, and Sam Mickelson and Dan Drexler as instructors for a Pro Engineering enrichment course.

The consent agenda also included eight open enrollment applications - three applications-out for 98-99 to Bettendorf Schools due to change of residence and five applications-out for 99-00 to Bettendorf Schools.

Motion by O’Hara, second by Dayman that General Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $112,446.86 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Thornton, second by Romans that Nutrition Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $45,547.76 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Dayman, second by Adam that Elementary/Junior High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $14,064.27 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Motion by Adam, second by O’Hara that High School Activity Fund warrants be issued in the total amount of $32,136.98 in payment of invoices presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

Dr. Barber introduced Glen Erickson, Scott County Administrator, Sheriff Mike Bladel, and Major Dennis Conard. During the past one and one-half years the administration has discussed the issue of the need for a liaison officer at the high school.

Following an audit of Pleasant Valley High School by a group of law enforcement professionals, the primary recommendation was that there should be a police liaison officer at the high school.

With the exception of North Scott High School and Pleasant Valley High School, all other area high schools have a police officer and in many cases additional private security personnel in place. Pleasant Valley High School falls under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff’s Department as it is located in the City of Riverdale which has no police force.

Sheriff Mike Bladel and Major Dennis Conard shared the possibility of the County applying for a C.O.P.P.S. (Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving Grant) from the federal government as a possible source of funding.

This grant would provide approximately $130,000, which would provide the sheriff’s deputy’s salary and benefits for three years. The Board was asked to consider giving the County its endorsement to apply for the grant. The County and the District would then need to share the start up costs of approximately $50,000 which would pay for buying a squad car and equipping it with computers and radio, training a sheriff’s deputy and supplying his uniforms. After the first three years, the County and the District would share equally the ongoing cost of $50,000 per year.

Sheriff Bladel and Major Conard emphasized that this officer would not be just a police offer but a liaison officer; someone who could be used as a resource in other areas of the district and who would interact with students and staff every day. Mr. Erickson indicated that the County was pleased to have the chance to continue and expand on a long standing cooperative relationship with the school district.

Dr. Barber indicated that the district will apply to the School Budget Review Committee for the district’s portion of the start-up costs or adjustments will be made in existing capital outlay funds to pay for the costs.

Motion by Adam, second by Dayman that the Board approve supporting a C.O.P.P.S.
(Community Oriented Policing & Problem Solving) Grant to add a Sheriff’s Department Liaison Officer for the 1999-2000 school year.. Ayes - Adam, Ahlstrand, Dayman, O’Hara, Romans, Thornton. Nays - none. Motion carried.

The administrative team has worked to develop staffing recommendations at the elementary level.

The district has been informed that it will receive approximately $38,000 from the State and approximately $40,000 from the Federal Government for K-3 class size reduction for 1999-2000. The state allotment will increase to approximately $75,000 for FY 2001 and $134,000 each year for FY 2002 and 2003. The federal government allotment is currently for one year but the district has been informed by the U.S. Department of Education that they are seeking legislation to allocate this money out for an additional seven years.

Dr. Barber cautioned the Board that at this point both the state and federal funds for K-3 class size reduction should be considered “soft money” as if the district doesn’t utilize either source of funding to lower K-3 class size, we would lose this funding source.

Utilizing the combination of state and federal money, the administration recommended adding a half-time kindergarten teacher at Bridgeview, a half-time kindergarten teacher at Riverdale Heights, and a full-time first grade teacher at Riverdale Heights for 1999-2000. They also recommended that special area teachers in music and wellness at Riverdale Heights be added due to the increased number of sections in that building.

Dr. Barber reminded the Board that in three to four years, it will also need to address the issue of what to do with these class sizes when they reach the fourth grade level when the K-3 funding will no longer apply. The district will have two choices at that point:

1) Should we not have sufficient growth in enrollment to provide for the additional staff at the 4-6 grade level, we may need to address the issue by cutting the number of sections in 4-6 grade and raise class sizes to accommodate growth.

2) Another option available would be to look at alternative funding sources to continue to maintain lower class size levels in grades 4-6.

The projections being made are based on current enrollment and do not take into account any growth that the district may experience next year and in subsequent years.

Motion by Thornton, second by O’Hara that the Board approve the elementary staffing recommendations as presented. Roll call vote. Ayes - Thornton, Adam, Ahlstrand, Dayman, O’Hara, Romans. Nays - none. Motion carried.

Dr. Barber presented Change Orders #1 and #2 for the Riverdale Heights Elementary Classroom Addition and asked for the Board’s approval. The first change order is an add of $1,048.30 to relocate underground roof drain lines to an area outside of the footprint of the addition. The second change order is an add of $857.00 to match existing carpeting in corridors and an owner credit of $28,094.70 of the original $30,000 allocated in the contingency fund.

Motion by Romans, second by Adam that the Board approve Change Orders #1 and #2 for the Riverdale Heights building addition. Roll call vote. Ayes - Romans, Thornton, Adam, Ahlstrand, Dayman, O’Hara. Nays - none. Motion carried.

Dr. Barber reminded the Board that it is time to begin to give consideration to legislative priorities for submittal to the Iowa Association of School Boards for the 2000 legislative session. Copies of last year’s priorities were provided. This will be a discussion item on the next board agenda.

The Board met in Exempt Session from 9:05 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. as presented. All ayes. Motion carried.

The Consent Agenda included the following:

• the resignation of Julie Spelhaug as a full-time math teacher and her re-employment as a half-time math teacher, the transfer of Marie Grothus from the mental disabilities program at Black Hawk Junior High School to the mental disabilities program at Bridgeview Elementary School for the 1999-2000 school year, the transfer of Wendy DePover from a sixth grade position at Cody to a sixth grade position at Pleasant View, and the employment of Albert Hayton as a full-time high school math teacher for the 1999-2000 school year; the resignations of Kevin Abbott as a part-time custodian at Riverdale Heights Elementary, Wilbur Barlow as a school bus driver, Judy Murphy as a food service worker at Riverdale Heights Elementary, Suzanne Yoder as an educational aide at Pleasant View Elementary School, and Valerie Strong as a special education aide at Riverdale Heights Elementary School; the regular employment of Paul Wakeland as a p.m. for the purpose of negotiations.

In open session, motion by Dayman, second by O’Hara to approve the administrative salary recommendations for 1998 reflecting a 3% total package increase as presented and that the Superintendent be authorized to issue two year contracts to administrators as he deems appropriate. Roll call vote. Dayman, O’Hara, Romans, Thornton, Adam, Ahlstrand. Nays - none. Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 9:35 p.m.