The MMC School Board approved the Revenue Purpose Statement special election results on March 1, 2022 signed by the Board of Supervisors of Cherokee County and ex-officio County Board of Canvassers. There were 183 votes cast for using revenues that the MMC Community School District will receive from the State of Iowa Secure and Advanced Vision for Education Fund. There were 41 votes cast against. There were a TOTAL of 224 votes cast.
Funds provided are to be used for improving buildings, etc., to build and furnish a new school building or buildings, remodel, repair, improve; to repair transportation equipment for transporting students as authorized by law, etc. These mentioned are just a few items that this money can be used for. Check for State Tax MOney
The next item on the agenda dealt with the local Gov’t Risk Pool renewal. The Iowa Local Government Risk Pool (Iowa LGRP) was formed out of a need communicated by school districts to meet their unique budget challenges and help them navigate the changing energy landscape.
The benefits of the program_it transfers risks of increases in natural gas costs due to weather-driven demand and other market forces away from the school district. In addition to the budget protection, the premium may be paid from the district’s Management Fund rather than General Fund, according to an opinion from the State Auditor of Iowa.
Districts pay a single premium at the beginning of the fiscal year to cover all natural gas services for the year. The premium is based on 125% of the average historical usage at the lowest prices the Pool is able to lock in ahead of the winter heating season.
Premiums for Enrolled Meters (“Total Premiums”) for MMC are $57,240.09 starting 7/1/22 and ending 6/30/23. This Total Premium amount will be reduced based upon actual natural gas invoices from previous supplier to District dated after June 30, 2022. Total Premium for 2022/2023 is Elementary at 500 E. Fenton=$0.00. High School at 400 E. Fenton=$52,492.20 and Greenhouse at 401 E. Fenton=$3,411.01 and Alternative School at 403 N. Main =$1,336.88. The MMC Board approved to renew this agreement. To learn more about this Risk Pool you can contact Iowa Local government Risk Pool at 1201 63rd Street in Des Moines, Iowa 50311 or www.Iowalocalgovernmentrisk pool.org
The MMC Board approved the Certified Association Agreement with the base salary increase of $2,000 and returning teachers with an increase of $2,500.
Licensed are Ann Barkel, Kristy Brandenburg, Brittany Cochran, Jessica Crist, Emma Davis, Breeana De Vos, Caitlin Dreckman, Shar Duncan, Matt Hansen, Tessa Hansen, Angeleah Hoefling, Kellie Hogg, Leah Johnson, Ashton Karr, Elizabeth Koenig, Shari Lehnhoff, Nick Long, Jennifer Nieuwenhuis, Amanda Olson, Kyle Oswald, Kathy Pedersen, Alecia Regennitter, Alex Roberts, Dawn Roberts, Rachel Ruskamp, Ashley Schmillen, Angela Schnepf, Samantha Schroeder, Mark Schuttler, Amanda Seuntjens, Lisa Spieler, Elizabeth Swearingen, Jessica Todd, and Darcy Weber.
The MMC Board approved the following licensed and coaching contracts: Jill Alesch (HS Archery Asst.), Lonnie Boekhout (HS Athletic Director), Kristy Brandenburg (HS Yearbook), Emma Davis (HS Band), Emma Davis (JH Band), Breeana De Vos (HS Vocal), Breeana De Vos (JH Vocal), Caitlin Dreckman (JR Volleyball), Shar Duncan (HS Archery Coach), Matt Hansen (HS SkillsUSA), Tessa Hansen (Elementary Vocal), Grad Hodgen (HS BB Boys Asst.), Heidi Holmes (HS FB Cheerleader), Timothy Jones (HS Bowling); Ashton Karr (JH Volleyball), Gillian Letsche (HS BB Girls Head), Kyle Oswald (HS FB Head), Sam Schroeder (FFS Director), Lisa Spieler (HS Cross Country) and Taylor Weiler (HS BB Cheerleader).
The FY23 Budget Hearing and FY22 Budget Amendment hearing date was set at Monday, April 11, 2022 at 7:00 a.m.
The MMC Board approved that the Board of Directors of MMC Community School District will levy property taxes for the fiscal year 2022-2023 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under Section 257.14_Code of Iowa.
Resignations approved by the MMC Board were those of Ashley Brady (Success Coach), and Beth McDermott-Ebert (Teacher). Benjamin Pirrie (5th and 6th Science teacher at R-U and Jacob Sande (7th and 8th Reading Teacher and JH Girls Basketball Coach at R-U) were two other resignations. Hires approved for MMC were: Megan Loutsch (Teacher), Melissa Lansink (Teacher) and Brenda Bird (Teacher).
The following Resolution was introduced and approved by the MMC Board: Resolution authorizing the issuance of not to exceed $8,000,000 General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2022A; and not to exceed $2,100,000 Taxable General Obligation School Bonds, Series 2022B, and levying a tax for the payment thereof.
There was some discussion on the request for open enrollment. The request was denied by four of the MMC Board members with Leavitt opposing the decision. It was decided that (evidently this was a child with special needs) there was not enough help available to be able to allow this enrollment to come to MMC.
The Middle School/Remsen Elementary School Principal, Toby Young, reported the following: Projected Class Numbers for next school year are PS (13), TK (12), K (26 with 2 sections), 1st (20), 2nd (22), 3rd (21), 4th (28 with 2 sections), 5th (35), 6th (35), 7th (47), and 8th (52).
There are 44 days left of school , with the last day for students on Wed. May 25. It’s been a very good year and I want to thank our staff and students for all their hard work. We’re currently working on staffing and district needs for the 2022-2023 school year.
Activities celebrated were Dr. Seuss Week, Royal Buddies, Read Across America, Special Olympics, and Service Days.
5th-12th Band Pops & Vocal Concerts were held on March and March 10.
ISASP testing will begin at the end of March and early April in our Elementary and Middle School.
JH Boys and Girls Track season began on Monday, March 14. We have 29 girls and 35 boys participating this season. Our first meet is Tuesday, April 19 @ K-P.
Current Openings for Next School Year are Kindergarten Teacher for 2nd section; Special Education Teacher (Strat II), 5/6 Science Teacher, 7/8 Reading Teacher and MS Girls Basketball Coach.
Current Openings include a High School Paraprofessional, Elementary Paraprofessional, and Substitute Teachers/Paraprofessionals. For 2022-2023 School Year the following are needed: 2 High School Science Teachers, an Elementary Special Education Teacher; NHS Advisor; Student Council Advisor and a Head FB/Competitive Cheer Coach.
Superintendent Dan Barkel reported the following: The Revenue Purpose Statement passed on March in both districts, which is a relief. Now we will have more flexibility with building projects/improvements in both districts.
I have been closely watching the legislation in Des Moines this spring. If the governor’s voucher plan is enacted, it could hurt MMCRU, if we lose enrollment. Also our school finance experts at ISFIS tell us to plan on an across-the-board tax cut in 4-5 years due to the decreased funding coming into the state coffers with the new state income tax law that was just recently enacted. I am concerned that it may be a repeat of what happened in Kansas about ten years ago. And it could likely cause problems for public schools like MMCRU. We have settled with both the MMCEA and the RUEA. We have not yet begun negotiations with the MMCCA. We will hand out contracts to all teachers in both districts on March 22, after they are hopefully approved by the board tonight, and also the classified staff at RU. The MMC classified contracts will wait until after we have settled with the classified association there. Our first scheduled negotiation is on Thursday, March 24.
The board presidents and myself sent a letter of response to the MMCEA and RUEA in regards to the governor’s $1000 retention bonus. I have included the letter in the board packet in case you are wondering how we have responded to the teacher associations in both districts. (This letter is at the end of Superintendent’s report.)
MMC Building Project: The MMC board accepted the low bid for the building project this past Monday night, March 14. Now the hard work of preparing for construction begins. We will break ground shortly after school gets out in May.
RU Building Projects: We held a meeting with the RU Building Committee on March 17 to go over the needs/wishes/desires for the RU building. We have ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) money earmarked, and now we can utilize some SAVE monies since the Revenue Purpose Statement was passed at RU.
Hiring/retaining staff members is challenging this year due to the lack of applicants. So far we have had some success in filling currently open positions. We will see what this next month brings after we find out how many teachers decide to re-sign contracts for next year.
I really appreciated the board meeting last month. It was cordial, effective and businesslike. I also thought the boards did a good job digging into the issues presented by Lou Ann Gvist of the IASB. Thanks for your efforts and for promoting MMCRU in your communities.
Scheduling note: Next month our board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 19 at the MMC Commons. The board presidents have graciously agreed to move it to that date so that Ann and I can spend time with my son and daughter-in-law in California over the Easter weekend. However, there is a track meet that some of the Board members want to attend on the 19th so the next Board meeting will be on Wednesday, April 20.
The letter to MMC & RU Education Associations is as follows: This afternoon the board presidents and the superintendent met for our monthly board president’s meeting. One of the tasks we dealt with was to discuss a response to your letter asking for consideration of the MMC and RU districts to backfill the $1000 retention bonus for certified staff members who were not eligible according to the governor’s criteria of full-time, in-person classroom teaching.
We have chosen not to go beyond what the governor has offered for the following reasons; 1. The governor set the criteria as full-time in-person classroom teachers, and none of the staff members you listed in your letter fall into that category. 2. this was the governor’s criteria, and we had no input on who would qualify or not, so we do not feel it is upon the districts to rectify and perceived oversight. 3. All of the ESSER funds at the MMC site have been expended for HVAC and curriculum needs. At the RU site, the building committee has earmarked ESSER funds for the HVAC upgrades and also has spent a portion for curriculum needs. 4. By expending district funds for the remaining certified staff members who did not receive bonuses, we would still leave out other valuable classified staff members who also had to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
We feel that your argument for the perceived inequity in the $1000 retention bonus offered by the governor lies solely with the governor, and it is not our intention to add to what she has already offered to certified teachers in our districts. Nor do we wish to place this topic on the board agenda in the future. Thank you for sharing your concerns about this situation.
Yours sincerely,
Karla Prunty, MMC Board President
Jason Loutsch, RU Board President
Dan Barkel, MMCRU Superintendent