School Board Meeting Minutes November 13, 2025

Posted: November 17, 2025 at 10:04 AM in Home Page News School Board Meeting Minutes

CLAYTON RIDGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL

BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING

November 13, 2025

 

 

The Clayton Ridge Board of Directors held their regular monthly meeting on November 13, 2025 in the High School Library, Guttenberg.

 

Retiring Board Agenda

 

Call to Order/Roll Call

Vice-President Mike Finnegan called the meeting to order at 5:30 PM.  Other members in attendance were Sam Brandt, Ellen Johnson, Dan Kregel, Shelly Mommer, and TJ Pierce. Jessica Bittner was absent to begin the meeting.

 

Also in attendance were Superintendent Shane Wahls, Principal Terri Thompson, Principal Laura Bilden, Dean of Students Wade Marlow, Special Education /Student Services Director Hud Johnston, IAVA Head of Schools Steve Hoff, and Board Secretary Logan Taylor.

 

There were 5 other employees / guests present.

 

Approve October Board Minutes

Motion by Brandt and second by Kregel to approve the October 9, 2025 regular board meeting minutes, October 24 Special Meeting Minutes, and October 31 Special 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:

Melissa Wilker received 225 votes

Michelle Mertens-Dodgen received 220 votes

Ellen Johnson received 286 votes

Korey Wilker received 151 votes

Michael W. Finnegan received 319 votes

Jason Bittner received 168 votes

Jessica Bittner received 358 votes

Scattering of 9 votes

 

Total of 1,736 votes

 

Jessica Bittner, Michael W. Finnegan, and Ellen Johnson are duly elected.

 

Bittner arrived at 5:48 PM

 

Adjournment of Retiring Board

Motion to adjourn by Bittner and seconded by Mommer. Motion carried unanimously. Retiring board adjourned at 5:50 PM.

 

 

Oath of Office

Oath of Office administered to Jessica Bittner, Michael W. Finnegan, and Ellen Johnson.

 

Election of President and Vice-President / Oath of Office

Johnson nominated Bittner for President. Votes for Bittner: Bittner, Brandt, Finnegan, Johnson, Kregel, Mommer, Pierce. Bittner elected as President.

 

Bittner nominated Finnegan for Vice-President. Votes for Finnegan: Bittner, Brandt, Finnegan, Johnson, Kregel, Mommer, Pierce. Finnegan elected as Vice-President.

 

Oath of office was administered to Bittner and Finnegan.

 

Bittner left at 6:03 PM.

 

Welcome & Public Forum

There was no public comment.

 

Organizational Meeting

Motion by Mommer and second by Kregel to:

  1. Appoint Logan Taylor as Board Secretary and Treasurer
  2. Set the regular meeting time as second Thursday each month at 5:30 PM. January through June meetings to be held in Garnavillo and July through December meetings to be held in Guttenberg. The regular December 2025 meeting will be held in Guttenberg.
  3. Approve The Guttenberg Press as official newspaper for legal notices and announcements.
  4. Approve Peoples State Bank, Community Savings Bank, and Fidelity Bank & Trust as depositories, not to exceed $5,000,000 per bank.
  5. Appoint Brett Nitzschke of Ahlers and Cooney PC as legal counsel.
  6. Appoint Finnegan as the Clayton County Conference Board Representative.
  7. Appoint Logan Taylor, Shane Wahls, and Jessica Bittner as bank signers.

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Approval of Agenda

Item 7. Early Retirement was added to the agenda. Motion by Brandt and second by Johnson to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Reports / Communication

Taylor presented the FY25 Certified Annual Report and Special Education Supplement.

 

Wahls discussed Board member committees, potential sharing agreements for athletics, shared upcoming training opportunities with the Board, and provided updates on Zero Eyes Software.

 

Nicole DeGidio gave a presentation on the STEM Best Grant and potential programs.

 

Bilden discussed Elementary report card changes and the introduction of standards-based grading.

 

Johnston discussed Elementary referral data and teacher associate evaluations.

 

Thompson discussed the 6-12 strategic plan for maintaining high performing education standards.

 

Marlow reported on attendance, referrals, and provided an update on the Eagle Center.

 

Hoff shared IAVA enrollment numbers; student testing plans; and provided information on the K12 / Stride Board Summit in Washington D.C.

 

Johnson congratulated students on a successful Veterans Day ceremony along with Theater and Band performances.

 

Mommer discussed building facilities at the Elementary building in Garnavillo.

 

Consent Agenda

Motion by Finnegan and second by Brandt to approve the October financial statements; listing of invoices; there were no payroll requests. Motion carried unanimously.

 

New Business

 

  1. 1st Reading of Policies: 800, 801.01, 801.02, 801.03, 801.04, 802.01, 802.02, 802.03, 802.04, 802.04-R(1), 802.04-R(2), 802.05, 802.06, 802.07, 803.01, 803.02, 804.01, 804.02, 804.04, 804.05, 804.05E1, 804.06, 804.06R1, 804.07, 804.07-R(1), 900, 901, 902.01, 902.02, 902.03, 902.04, 903.01, 903.02, 903.03, 903.04, 903.05, 903.05-R(1), 904.01, 904.02, 905.01, 905.01-R(1), 905.01-R(2), 905.1E1, 905.1E2, 905.02, 905.03, 905.04, 906, 907, 907-R(1)

A first reading was held of the listed policies.

 

  1. Resolution for Inter-Fund Transfer

Motion by Johnson and second by Brandt to adopt a resolution to transfer $259,182 from the PPEL Fund to the Debt Service Fund. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Resolution of Intent – Flexibility Fund

Motion by Brandt and second by Kregel to adopt a Resolution of Intent to transfer $414,857.71 from categorical funds to the Flexibility Fund and setting a Public Hearing for December 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM. Roll call vote. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Open Enrollments

Motion by Mommer and second by Johnson to deny 4 Open Enrollment In applications to the Iowa Virtual Academy due to IEP requirements. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. 2nd Reading of Policies: 208, 410.01, 502.07, 507.05, 700, 701.01, 701.02, 701.03, 701.04, 701.05, 701.05-R(1), 702, 703.01, 704.01, 704.02, 704.02-R(1), 704.03, 704.04, 704.05, 704.06, 704.06-R(1), 705.01, 705.01-R(1), 705.01-R(2), 705.02, 705.03, 705.04, 705.04-R(1), 706.01, 706.02, 706.03, 706.03-R(1), 707.01, 707.04, 707.05, 707.05, 707.05R(1), 708, 709, 710.01, 710.01R(1), 710.01E1, 710.01E2, 710.02, 710.03, 710.04, 711.01, 711.02, 711.02R(1), 711.03, 711.04, 711.05, 711.06, 711.07, 711.08, 711.09, 711.10, 712, 712.R(1), 713

A second reading was held of the listed policies. Motion by Pierce and second by Brandt to approve the policies as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Approve Resolution to Vote for Keystone Director (District 2)

Motion by Brandt and second by Johnson to adopt a resolution to vote for Dr. Dale Crozier as Keystone Director (District 2). Motion carried unanimously.

 

  1. Early Retirement

Motion by Brandt and second by Kregel to approve an early retirement application and accept a resignation from the following:

 

  • Elementary Teachers’ Associate Deb Moser-Vaughan, effective end of the 2025-26 school year.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Adjournment

Motion by Kregel and second by Mommer to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Meeting Adjourned at 7:18 PM

 

 

________________________________________

Logan Taylor,  Board Secretary

 

 

__________________________________________

Jessica Bittner,  Board President