2025.9.8 Board Minutes

 

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.

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

  2. 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 

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  1. 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

 

  1. Old Business - None

  2. 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.

  3. Committee Reports

    1. Policy - Next Meeting TBD

    2. Facilities/Operations - TBD

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

  4. Board Comments/Correspondence - None

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