The Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District Board of Directors met in regular joint session on Monday, February 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the RU Media Center along with the Remsen-Union Community School District Board of Directors. Board members present: Laura Staab, Kristi Letsche, Belinda Leavitt, Luke Olson and Dan Erickson.
I. CALL TO ORDER Laura Staab called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
II. PUBLIC FORUM No requests were received from the public to address the board.
III. PUBLIC HEARING 5:30 p.m.
Remsen-Union Flexibility Account Transfer
IV. PUBLIC HEARING 6:00 p.m.
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Flexibility Account Transfer
V. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Dan Erickson moved to approve the agenda. Kristi Letsche seconded.
Carried 5-0
VI. CONSENT ITEMS
A. MINUTES
B. FINANCIAL REPORTS
C. BILLS Dan Erickson moved to approve the consent items. Luke Olson seconded. Carried 5-0
VII. BUSINESS
A. CERTIFIED & CLASSIFIED ASSOCIATION BARGAINING PROPOSALS Intent to bargain letter submitted to the Board of Directors from Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Education Association and MMC Classified staff. Caitlin Dreckman, President of the MMCEA, offered a presentation and initial proposal.
B. FY24 AUDIT FOR RU COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT Dustin Opatz, Auditing Manager at BerganKDV offered a virtual presentation of the FY24 financial audit. Luke Olson moved to accept the audit. Kristi Letsche seconded.
Carried 5-0
C. PIPER SANDLER COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL PROJECTION MODEL PRESENTATION Travis Squires, Managing Director at Piper Sandler, offered a virtual presentation outlining the school district’s 5-year financial forecast.
D. RESOLUTION DIRECTING EXPENDITURES OF THE SCHOOL FLEXIBILITY FUND The President of the Board called up for consideration the Resolution to expend funds from the Flexibility Account which requires that a public hearing be held on this proposal.
Director Dan Erickson introduced the following Resolution and moved its adoption.
Director Kristi Letsche seconded the motion to adopt.
The roll was called and the vote was:
Aye: Laura Staab, Kristi Letsche, Belinda Leavitt, Luke Olson, Dan Erickson
Nay: n/a
Whereupon the President declared said Resolution duly adopted as follows:
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING EXPENDITURES OF THE SCHOOL FLEXIBILITY FUND
WHEREAS, HF 565 School Flexibility Fund, was established in the 2017 Legislative Session to provide local control and flexibility regarding the use of ending balances in certain categorial funds effective July 1, 2018; and HF 847 Education Matters was established in the 2021 Legislative Session to expand opportunities for transfer ending balances to the Flexibility Account; and
WHEREAS, the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School Board of Directors conducted a public hearing on February 17, 2025 as required by Iowa Code 298A.2(d), using the form of a public hearing prescribed by the Iowa Department of Education, which was published in the same manner as required in Iowa Code 24.9, to provide adequate notice to stakeholders and transparency of intended board action; and
WHEREAS, the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District has fulfilled its statutory educational requirements for their Home School Assistance Program and Professional Development Funds and the balance remains unencumbered and unobligated at the close of FY2024 and
WHEREAS, the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District has transferred the following funds authorized pursuant to HF 847 into the School Flexibility Fund enacted in the 2022 Legislative Session authorizing such transfer; including
Home School Assistance Program funds received ending balance of $87,625.34 of which $85,000.00 was transferred to the Flexibility Fund from FY 2024; and
Professional Development funds received ending balance of $98,721.35 of which $95,000.00 was transferred to the Flexibility Fund from FY 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District has
determined the needs of students would be better served by the flexible expenditure of these unobligated funds for any school district general fund purpose from the Home School Assistance Program for $85,000.00 and from the Professional Development Fund for $95,000.00.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Board of Directors of the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District, acknowledges the transfer of such funds to the Flexibility Account within the General Fund, and requires expenditures accordingly for those purposes stated above, total amount of $180,000.00, to be available for expenditure effective for the 2024 Fiscal Year.
RESOLVED, that the Superintendent is directed to include the information concerning such expenditure in the budget certified in accordance with Iowa Code 24; and it be further
RESOLVED, that the Superintendent is directed to provide a copy of this Resolution to the Iowa Department of Education as they prescribe and make such Resolution available for any audit of the district performed under Chapter 11.
Resolution approved, February 17, 2025 by the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Community School District Board of Directors.
Board President: Laura Staab
Attest:
Board Secretary: Bobbi Riedemann
E. IXL Purchase Belinda Leavitt moved to accept the IXL Learning quote of $10,125 to have a three-year, all-access license for high school students. Luke Olson seconded.
Carried 5-0
F. RESOLUTION TO CONSIDER CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM AND TO SCHEDULE A PUBLIC HEARING This was an RU-only business item.
G. SENIOR CLASS TRIP Belinda Leavitt moved to approve the senior trip to Minneapolis on March 28. Dan Erickson seconded.
Carried 5-0
H. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING REVIEW The Superintendent reviewed the meeting minutes and presented the committee recommendations to the board. Kristi Letsche moved to approve the SIAC Committee Report. Dan Erickson seconded.
Carried 5-0
I. STAFF RESIGNATIONS/HIRES MMC Resignation: Gary Husman-Bus Driver and Transporation Director, effective May 23, 2025
Dan Erickson moved to approve the resignation. Kristi Letsche seconded.
Carried 5-0
J. DRIVER EDUCATION CONTRACT Luke Olson moved to accept the new Drivers Education Contract as presented by administration. Belinda Leavitt seconded.
Carried 5-0
K. REVIEW OF POLICIES 401.1, 401.6, 501.9, 501.9R1, 710.1R1, 710.1E1, 710.1E2. RESCIND POLICIES 501.9E1, 501.10, 501.10R1 Luke Olson moved to approve the updated/new policies 401.1, 401.6, 501.9, 501.9R1, 710.1R1, 710.1E1, 710.1E2 and to remove the rescinded policies 501.9E1, 501.10, 501.10R1. Belinda Leavitt seconded.
Carried 5-0
L. TLC ASSESSMENT REPORTS Heather Youde and Brittany Cochran presented an overview of the assessments made of students. Kristi Letsche moved to accept the report. Belinda Leavitt seconded.
Carried 5-0
M. BUS BARN ZONING VARIANCE The city of Marcus submitted Amended Restrictions and Covenants Marcus Business Park for consideration. The board reviewed the paperwork. No motion was presented to the board.
N. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL UNIFORMS
Luke Olson moved to accept the BSN Sports quote of $9,837 for football jerseys with a monetary pledge of $5,000 from the MMCRU Boosters. Belinda Leavitt seconded.
Carried 5-0
VIII. REPORTS
A. PRINCIPAL’S REPORTS
B. SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
IX. ADJOURN
Belinda Leavitt moved to adjourn from regular session at 6:54 p.m. Kristi Letsche seconded.
Carried 5-0
X. EXEMPT SESSION UNDER IOWA CODE SECTION 20.17(3) NEGOTIATING SESSION, STRATEGY MEETING
Laura Stabb moved to enter into exempt session as provided in Chapter 20, Section 20.17 (3) of the Iowa Code to conduct a strategy meeting of a public employer concerning the employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement.
Roll Call:
Ayes: Laura Staab, Kristi Letsche, Belinda Leavitt, Luke Olson, Dan Erickson
Nayes: n/a
Carried 5-0
Entered closed session at 6:54 p.m.
Exited closed session at 7:22 p.m.
XI. CALL TO ORDER
Laura Stabb called the regular meeting to order at 7:22 p.m.
XII. BUSINESS
A. BOARD RESPONSE TO CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED ASSOCIATION BARGAINING PROPOSALS Dan Erickson motioned to approve counteroffer option two for the Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Education Association and MMC Classified staff. Kristi Letsche seconded.
Carried 5-0
XIII. ADJOURN
Kristi Letsche moved to adjourn from regular session at 7:24 p.m. Belinda Leavitt seconded.
Carried 5-0
Laura Stabb, President
Bobbi Riedemann, Board Secretary
Published in the Marcus News on February 27, 2025