CLAYTON RIDGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING
December 14, 2023
A Meet and Greet was held at 6:15 PM in the Guttenberg Multi-Purpose Room. Retiring board members present were John Heying, Mike Finnegan, Ellen Johnson, Jessica Bittner, Sam Brandt, and Michelle Mertens-Dodgen.
Newly elected board members present were Shelly Mommer, TJ Pierce, and Dan Kregel.
PUBLIC HEARING
A public hearing was held in the High School Library starting at 7:00 PM regarding the intent to transfer certain categorical funds to the School Flexibility Fund to allow for the flexible expenditure of these funds during the budget year beginning in or after the calendar year in which the transfer to the flexibility fund occurs. There were no comments from the public.
A public hearing was held regarding the district’s Return to Learn Plan. There were no comments from the public.
Public hearings were closed at 7:01 PM
The Clayton Ridge Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on December 14 in the High School Library, Guttenberg.
Retiring Board Agenda
Call to Order/Roll Call
President John Heying called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. Other members in attendance were Mike Finnegan, Ellen Johnson, Jessica Bittner, Sam Brandt, and Michelle Mertens-Dodgen. Steve Dikkers was absent.
Also in attendance were Superintendent Shane Wahls, Principal Terri Thompson, Dean of Students Wade Marlow, IAVA Head of Schools Steve Hoff, and Board Secretary David Schlueter and 6 faculty members.
Approve November Board Minutes
Motion by Finnegan and second by Mertens-Dodgen to approve the November 9, 2023 regular board meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously.
Review Canvass of Elections
The Abstract of Votes from the Clayton County Board of Canvassers was reviewed.
For the Director At-Large to Fill a Vacancy:
Ellen Johnson received 499 votes.
Scattering of 32 votes.
Ellen Johnson is duly elected.
For the Director At-Large:
Shelly Mommer received 344 votes
Sam Brandt received 424 votes
Thomas Pierce received 407 votes
Hunter Koth received 192 votes
Michelle Mertens-Dodgen received 303 votes
Daniel Kregel received 420 votes
Scattering of 53 votes
Shelly Mommer, Sam Brandt, Thomas Pierce, and Daniel Kregel are duly elected.
Adjournment of Retiring Board
Motion to adjourn by Johnson and seconded by Bittner. Motion carried unanimously. Retiring board adjourned at 7:04 PM.
Oath of Office
Oath of Office administered to Ellen Johnson, Shelly Mommer, Sam Brandt, Thomas Pierce, and Daniel Kregel.
Election of President and Vice-President / Oath of Office
Johnson nominated Bittner for President. Mommer nominated Finnegan for President. Votes for Bittner: Bittner, Johnson, Brandt, Pierce, Kregel. Votes for Finnegan: Mommer, Finnegan. Bittner elected as President.
Brandt nominated Finnegan for Vice-President. Bittner nominated Johnson for Vice-President. Votes for Finnegan: Pierce, Mommer, Finnegan, Brandt. Finnegan elected as Vice-President.
Oath of office was administered to Bittner and Finnegan.
Organizational Meeting
Motion by Brandt and second by Johnson to:
- Appoint David Schlueter as Board Secretary and Treasurer
- Set the regular meeting time as second Thursday each month at 5:30 PM. January through June meetings to be held in Guttenberg and July through December meetings to be held in Garnavillo.
- Approve The Guttenberg Press as official newspaper for legal notices and announcements.
- Approve Peoples State Bank, Community Savings Bank, and Fidelity Bank & Trust as depositories, not to exceed $5,000,000 per bank.
- Appoint Brett Nitzschke of Ahlers and Cooney PC as legal counsel.
- Appoint Finnegan as the Clayton County Conference Board Representative.
- Appoint the following board committees:
- Buildings and Grounds – Brandt, Pierce, Bittner
- Program Planning – Mommer, Johnson, Bittner
- Collective Bargaining – Kregel, Finnegan, Bittner
- Appoint David Schlueter, Shane Wahls, Jessie Bittner and Logan Taylor as bank signers
Motion carried unanimously.
Approval of Agenda
Motion by Johnson and second by Pierce to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously.
Reports / Communication
Wahls discussed the following upcoming events: Jan 24 IASB meeting in Decorah, Feb 11 Day on the Hill in Des Moines, Jan 11 board meeting with IASB finance team. Also discussed role of board members and new member orientation and setting regular meeting for February 15 for IASB work session.
FFA leaders Brooke Hansel and Carson Letterle, and Advisor Jenna Beitz presented on their trip to the National FFA Convention.
Hoff reported that IAVA enrollment is 1150 students; discussed goals met; ISASP testing plans; field trips; and commencement plans.
Thompson reported on concerts, breakfast buddies, and Winterfest planning.
Marlow reported on attendance and referrals.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Finnegan and second by Brandt to approve the November financial statements; listing of invoices; and payroll requests of $368.41. Motion carried unanimously.
New Business
- Flexibility Fund Resolution
Motion by Mommer and second by Brandt to adopt a resolution to establish a School Flexibility Fund and transfer balances of certain categorical funds of $436,705.43. Roll Call vote. Motion carried unanimously.
- Employment
Motion by Finnegan and second by Johnson to hire Ashley Hess as Junior High Girls Track Coach and Louis Cook as Assistant Coach-Girls Track. Motion carried unanimously.
- Lane Change Requests
Motion by Mommer and second by Johnson to approve salary schedule lane changes for Ben Backes and Heather Meyer, pending completion of credits. Motion carried unanimously.
- Return To Learn Plan
Motion by Finnegan and second by Pierce to approve the Return To Learn Plan with no changes. Motion carried unanimously.
- Roof bids
Motion by Finnegan and second by Kregel to approve bid from Lynch Roofing of $57,900 to replace the roof on the 1987 high school building. Motion carried unanimously.
- Bus bids
Motion by Finnegan and second by Johnson to purchase 1 gas powered bus from School Bus Sales for $131,244.00 including on-spot tire chains, cameras, and grille lights. Motion carried unanimously.
- Change Policy 402.5 to 213.1
Motion by Brandt and second by Pierce to approve changing number of Board Policy 402.5 to 213.1. Motion carried unanimously.
- Request Modified Supplemental Funds
- Motion by Pierce and second by Mommer to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $85,478 due to current year open enrollment out students not on prior year headcount. Motion carried unanimously.
- Motion by Finnegan and second by Kregel to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request to the School Budget Review Committee for a modified supplemental amount of $1,615 related to the English learning program for students who have exceeded five years of weighting that are included in the Fall 2023 certified enrollment headcount. Motion carried unanimously.
- Volunteer Drama Coach
Motion by Johnson and second by Finnegan to approve Julie Davis as volunteer drama coach. Motion carried unanimously.
- Alternative School Consortium
Motion by Johnson and second by Mommer to join the alternative school consortium with Crossroads Academy in Decorah. Motion carried unanimously.
- At-Risk / Dropout Prevention
Motion by Brandt and second by Johnson to authorize the district’s administration to submit a request of a modified supplemental amount of $183,562 associated with the at-risk and dropout prevention program. Motion carried unanimously.
Adjournment
Motion by Pierce and second by Kregel to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:10 PM