2025.5.5 Board Minutes

Bennett CSD School Board Work Session

May 5th, 2025

6PM

 

  1. Call to Order - 6:13pm

    1. Roll Call - Present: Director Pratt, Director Giebelstein, Director Bjurstrom. Director Reynolds arrived at 6:20pm, Director McGhee arrived at 6:50pm. Also present: Superintendent Shane Knoche, Principal Jeremiah Costello, Board Secretary Kylee Yoerger

  2. Discussion of Bennett School Finance and Trends

  3. Adjournment - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to adjourn. Motion carried 4/0.

 

Bennett CSD School Board Meeting

May 5th, 2025

7PM

 

  1. Call to Order - 7:01pm

  1. Roll Call - Present: Director Pratt, Director Giebelstein, Director Bjurstrom, Director Reynolds, and Director McGhee. Also present: Superintendent Shane Knoche, Principal Jeremiah Costello, Board Secretary Kylee Yoerger, Stacey Hennings, Heather Sivia, Juli Miller, Catalina McLaughlin, and Deb Storjohann.

  2. Mission Statement - read by Principal Jeremiah Costello

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

  1. Public Forum - Bomber Boosters hosted their Easter Eggstravaganza in April and it was a great excess! Boosters received amazing donations from Bennett and surrounding communities. 

  2. Consent Agenda - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve. Motion carried 4/0.

    1. Minutes from April 14, 2025 Meeting

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

    3. May Bills/Additional Bills totaling 65,648.08

    4. Hires & Resignations - none

  3. Public Hearing

    1. 2025/2026 School Calendar Public Hearing

  4. Administrative Reports

    1. Jeremiah - Happy School Board Appreciation month to our board members. Thank you to Boosters for the wonderful celebration during Teacher Appreciation Week. The Booster’s Easter Eggstravaganza was a huge success. Congratulations to Greg Reynolds on receiving the HomeTown Hero Award. Mr. Knoche and Mr. Costello continued meeting with staff members one on one. Nearly all of the external door alarms have been installed. The Kids Heart Challenge finished with us raising $2598.89 (65% of our goal). The Siegfried Petersen Scholarship award recipients have been chosen and will be notified by mail. This year's awards will total $50,000 with 6 recipients. We have many upcoming events and field trips - 5/9 FFA Field Trip, 5/12 Preschool Graduation and Spring Concert and 6th Grade Graduation, 5/15 Bennett Park Field Trip, 5/16 FAST Incentive Date, 5/20 Bennett’s Harbor Party, 5/23 Last day of school and Field Day and Last Day Luau Lunch. 

    2. Shane - Mr. Knoche read poems to various students during WIN time. The Marathon Club has a lot of students in it and is great to see. Shout out to Mrs. Sivia for her recent math lesson which had students engaged and excited. Happy Board Appreciation Month. 

  5. Informational Section

    1. Legislative school funding and impact

  6. Old Business - Director McGhee requested follow up on potential preschool structure change from mixed 3 and 4 year olds to separate classes. This change will be tabled until next year due to a new preschool teacher. 

  7. New Business

    1. Health Insurance - 2025-2026 insurance plans have been selected. 

    2. Approval of FY24 Audit - Director Reynolds moved, seconded by Director Giebelstein to approve. Motion carried 4/0.

    3. FY25 Budget Amendment Public Hearing 

    4. Approval of FY25 Budget Amendment - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve. Motion carried 4/0.

    5. Approve Calendar - Director Reynolds moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to approve. Motion carried 4/0. Nos - Director McGhee, Director Giebelstein. Yes - Director Reynolds, Director Bjurstrom, Director Pratt. Motion carries 3/2.

    6. Possible exempt session: support staff salary discussion per IA Code Ch.21.9 - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to enter into exempt. Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director Burjstrom to exit the exempt session. Motion carried 4/0.

    7. Possible exempt session: negotiation strategy session per IA Code Ch.20.17.3

Second  Reading

IASB #

Title of Policy

Replaces Bennett # if different from IASB
     

IASB #

Title of Policy

Replaces Bennett # if different from IASB
     

 

  1. Committee Reports

    1. Policy - set next meeting

    2. Facilities/Operations - set next meeting with Ian, Chad, Greg need to post 

    3. Negotiations/Interest Based Problem Solving May 6 at 3:40-5:40 - Dani, Chad

 

  1. Board Comments/Correspondence 

 

Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director Bjurstrom to adjourn at 8:50pm. Motion carried 4/0.