Bennett CSD School Board Meeting

July 14, 2025

7pm

1. Call to Order

1. Roll Call - Present: Director Pratt, Director Giebelstein, Director Bjurstrom, and Director McGhee. Absent: Director Reynolds. Also present: Superintendent Knoche, Deb Storjohann

1. Mission Statement- read by Superintendent Knoche

2. Approval of Agenda - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 4/0

2. Public Forum - No Comments

3. Consent Agenda - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Giebelstein to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 4/0.

   1. Minutes from June 9, 2025 Meeting

   2. Financial Report as of June 2025 (including Nutrition Fund)

   3. Open Enrollment

   4. July Bills/Additional Bills

   5. Hires & Resignations 

   6. Approve Professional Organizations: SAI, RSAI, ISFIS, IASB

4. Administrative Reports

   1. Jeremiah - On Vacation with Family

   2. Shane - Safety Conference - Tall Cop - vaping and other drug related issues coming to schools and grant possibilities

5. Informational Section

   1. Legislative updates: Cell phone, Math requirements

   2. Denise, Greg, and Chad are up for election in November

Copies of nomination papers are available at the school secretary’s office, county auditor’s office, or on the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/school-elections 

Filing Period Nomination papers must be filed with the school secretary during the filing period. They cannot be filed before or after the filing period. The filing period is: First day: Monday, August 25, 2025 Last day: Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 5:00 p.m.

6. Old Business

7. New Business

   1. Approval of Maternity Leave Request - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee. Motion carried 4/0.

   2. Approval of LP bids - Director Giebelstein moved to accept Farm Service Bid, seconded by Director McGhee Motion carried 4/0.

   3. TLC position - Director Giebelstein moved to approve, seconded by Director McGhee to approve the SPF Agreement, FAQ. Motion carried 4/0.

Policy  Approval
IASB #	Title of Policy	Description of change
102	Equal Education Opportunity	Added Jeremiah name, number and email
102-E5	Equal Educational Opportunity-Witness Disclosure Form	Added recommended form
501.14	Open Enrollment - Procedures as a Sending District	Took 602.17 from one policy to the recommended two.
501.15	Open Enrollment - Procedures as a Receiving District

Approval Policy - Director McGhee moved to approve, seconded by Director Giebelstein to approve the Motion carried 4/0.

 

8. Committee Reports

   1. Policy - Next Meeting TBD

   2. Facilities/Operations - next meeting will be with members of City Council, Park board and interested community members -July 22nd at 6:00 pm

   3. Negotiations/Interest Based Problem Solving - Next Meeting TBD

9. Board Comments/Correspondence

 

Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to adjourn the meeting at 7:34pm. Motion carried 4/0. 

 

Bennett CSD School Board Meeting

August 11, 2025

7pm

 

1. Call to Order

1. Roll Call -Director Giebelstein, Director Reynolds, Director Bjurstrom, Director McGhee, and Director Pratt were all present. Also in attendance were Superintendent Knoche, Principal Jeremiah Costello, Board Secretary Kylee Yoerger, Heather Sivia, Juli Miller, Kevin Rasdon, and Jean Semsch. 

2. Mission Statement -read by Principal Costello

3. Approval of Agenda -Director Gieblestein moved, seconded by Director Reynolds to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5/0. 

2. Public Forum -Jean Semsch spoke representing Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement for a project called Public School Strong which collects signatures to appeal to the Governor of Iowa for more funding. 

3. Consent Agenda -Director Gieblestein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried 5/0.

   1. Minutes from July 14, 2025 Meeting

   2. Financial Report as of July 2025 (including Nutrition Fund) totaling $273,761.74

   3. Open Enrollment

   4. August Bills/Additional Bills

   5. Hires & Resignations 

4. Administrative Reports - Mr. Knoche attended the School Administrators of Iowa conference. Summer school was successful. Mr. Costello advised the handbook update will be completed throughout the year. The current handbook will have minor changes to the electronic device portion. There will be a new TLC position this year filled by Ms. Kress. Curriculum and supplies are arriving. Our nutrition staff served over 13,000 meals over the summer. Staff returns to the building the week of August 18th. Unpack Your Backpack night is 8/20 at 5:30pm. Students return 8/25. Administration is working on climate and culture as the year begins. 

5. Informational Section

   1. Legislative Priorities RSAI -Survey to find out what our school needs. 

   2. School Board elections - Candidates Guide Denise, Greg, and Chad are up for election in November. Copies of nomination papers are available at the school secretary’s office, county auditor’s office, or on the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/school-elections. Filing Period Nomination papers must be filed with the school secretary during the filing period. They cannot be filed before or after the filing period. The filing period is: First day: Monday, August 25, 2025 Last day: Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 5:00 p.m.

   3. Education Support Personnel Salary Supplement (ESPSS) funds & disbursement -additional funding available for support staff (potential ideas to distribute - attendance, fulfilling year contract)

6. New Business - Annual Reporting Requirements of Level I, Level II and alternative investigator (402.02, 402.03) -Director Gieblestein moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve the district roles. Motion carried 5/0.

7. Old Business -preschool scholarship programs are funded for both Scott and Cedar county for the 2025-2026 school year. 

8. Policy Approval -Director Bjurstrom moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve the policy changes. Motion carried 5/0.

Policy  Approval
IASB #	Title of Policy	Description of change
406.03	Licensed Employee Continued Education Credit	Took out Sept 1 and changed to by March 1
508.3	Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices	New Policy defining personal electronic devices and when they can be used

 

9. Committee Reports

   1. Policy - Next Meeting TBD

   2. Facilities/Operations - Met with members of City Council, Park board and interested community members -July 22nd at 6:00 pm

   3. Negotiations/Interest Based Problem Solving - Next Meeting TBD

10. Board Comments/Correspondence -none

 

Director Gieblestein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to adjourn the meeting at 7:57pm. Motion carried 5/0.

 

Bennett CSD School Board Meeting

September 8, 2025

7pm

 

1. Call to Order

1. Roll Call - Present: Director Reynolds, Director Giebelstein, Director Bjurstrom, and Director McGhee. Absent: Director Pratt. Also present: Superintendent Knoche, Principal Jeremiah Costello, Board Secretary Kylee Yoerger, Jean Semsch, Susan Stoeffen

2. Mission Statement -read by Principal Costello

3. Approval of Agenda - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4/0.

2. Public Forum - Bomber Boosters will be selling World’s Finest Chocolate starting 9/15. 

3. Consent Agenda - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4/0.

   1. Minutes from August 11th, 2025 Meeting

   2. Financial Report as of August 2025 (including Nutrition Fund) totaling $273,761.74

   3. Open Enrollment

   4. September Bills/Additional Bills

   5. Hires & Resignations 

4. Administrative Reports - Mr. Costello advised the first couple of weeks of school have gone well. Brooklyn Herkelman (formerly Koranda) is now the 4th grade teacher and Megan Thompson is the new preschool teacher. The district has 5 new students and 21 preschoolers this year! Homecoming week is approaching and we will collaborate with both Durant and Tipton schools to celebrate. Thank you to Ms. Kylee for the new newsletter. Most staff members attended the recent staff social where Ms. Sarah brought activities for staff members and their families. Mr. Knoche advised that this fall all staff will go through a new training focused on leadership skills and trust. Thank you to Jean Semsch for her dedication to public schools!

5. Informational Section

   1. School Board elections - Candidates Guide (Denise, Greg, and Chad)

      1. IASB Candidate Support and Learning

Copies of nomination papers are available at the school secretary’s office, county auditor’s office, or on the Secretary of State’s website: https://sos.iowa.gov/school-elections

 Filing Period Nomination papers must be filed with the school secretary during the filing period. They cannot be filed before or after the filing period. The filing period is: First day: Monday, August 25, 2025 Last day: Thursday, September 18, 2025 – 5:00 p.m.

2. Board Member professional development/trainings/advocacy:

   1. Open Meeting Training Requirement (online or IASB Conf closing session)

   2. Ready, Set, Govern Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026: Mississippi Bend AEA in Bettendorf or BoardCon

   3. IASB BoardCon (Convention) Wednesday, Nov. 19–Friday, Nov. 21, 2025
      Iowa Events Center, Des Moines

   4. Day on the Hill, Jan 26

 

6. Old Business - None

7. New Business

   1. IASB board member delegate - Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 9 a.m.–noon - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Geibelstein to approve Greg Reynolds as the delegate. Motion carried 4/0.

8. Committee Reports

   1. Policy - Next Meeting TBD

   2. Facilities/Operations - TBD

   3. Negotiations/Interest Based Problem Solving/Insurance - Next Meeting TBD

9. Board Comments/Correspondence - None

Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to adjourn at 7:24pm. Motion carried 4/0.