2025.3.10 Board Minutes

Bennett CSD School Board Mtg

March 10, 2025

7PM

1. Call to Order - 7pm

1. Roll Call - Present: Director Greg Reynolds, Director Chad Giebelstein, Director McGhee, Director Bjurstrom. Absent: Director Dani Pratt. Also present: Superintendent Shane Knoche, Principal Jeremiah Costello, Board Secretary Kylee Yoerger, Heather Sivia, Juli Miller, Jean Semsch, and Susan Stoefen.

2. Mission Statement - Read by Principal Costello.

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

2. Seating of new board member

   1. Oath of Office of New Board Member - read by Board Secretary

3. Public Forum - None.

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

   1. Minutes from Feb 10, 2025 meeting

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

   3. March Bills - Totaling $83,472.37

   4. Hires & Resignations 

5. Administrative Reports

   1. Jeremiah - Kids Heart Challenge kickoff is March 25th! Conferences are this week. Thank you to Boosters for providing meals for staff on both conference nights! Mr. Costello attended Leading for Impact with Mr. Knoche. 4th, 5th & 6th grade went to Symphony Day in February. The Bennett food pantry served  37 families last month. ISASPs testing starts early April. A few employees will be piloting the new electronic time card system called TimeClock Plus. We currently have 4 applications for the open preschool position for 2025-2026. 

   2. Shane - Thank you to the community members who volunteered to help with the recent PPEL vote! Thank you to Mrs. Sivia for her work on getting Valentine’s cards to military staff last month! Thank you to all of the community for supporting the school by voting. 

6. Informational Section

   1. Fast Data Review - Review of data provided by Mrs. Sivia and Mrs. Miller.

   2. Calendar considerations - Possibility of adding a Spring Break that would match Tipton CSD and Durant CSD and changing half days to Fridays.

7. Committee Reports

   1. Policy - Mr. Knoche will be introducing Simbli to help with board policies.

   2. Facilities/Operations - Additional security for card access approved. 

   3. Negotiations/Interest Based Problem Solving - None.

   4. Finance - None.

8. Old Business - None.

9. New Business 

   1. Budget Hearing Dates - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

      1. First Hearing: Monday, March 24, 2025 @7:00 PM

      2. Second Hearing: Monday April 14, 2025 @7:00 PM

   2. RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of Bennett community school district, will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2025-2026 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa. (Budget Guarantee)  - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

   3. Approve AEA Purchasing Agreement - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

   4. Approve Northwestern College Agreement - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Giebelstein to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

   5. Approve to set a public hearing for the 2025-2026 school calendar at the regular April 14, 2025 Board Meeting. - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

   6. Approval of Sharing Agreement (P.E. position) - Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

   7. Policy Review - Director McGhee moved, seconded by Director Giebelstein to approve. Motion carried 3/0.

10. Board Comments/Correspondence - Bennett CSD is potentially the location for a movie being shot over the summer. 

Director Giebelstein moved, seconded by Director McGhee to adjourn the meeting at 8:01pm. Motion carried 3/0.