MFL MarMac Community School
Regular Meeting
Monday, March 11, 2024
The MFL MarMac Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors was held on March 11, 2024, in the Learning Commons of the Monona Schoolhouse.
President Gina Roys called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Members present at roll call were Tonya Meyer, Roberta Hass, Aaron Schroeder, Danielle Schlake and Dr. Jon Moser. Josh Grau was absent. Also present were Tim Dugger; Superintendent, Karla Hanson; Board Secretary, and Student board members, Mindy Keehner, Eric Grady and Aiden Whitney.
The agenda was changed to add Elias Hatt to the MORE Program presentation and to add Board Policy 409.2 Military Leave to 1st Readings of Board Policies. Motion by Roberta Hass, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to approve the agenda with these changes. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Tonya Meyer, seconded by Aaron Schroeder, to approve the consent items from the agenda as follows:
- Minutes from the February 12, 2024, Regular Board Meeting
- Bills against the district as listed: General Fund: $177,900.36, Management: $0.00; Enterprise: $990.00; Capital Projects: $91,869.16, PPEL: $74,230.04; Activity Account: $38,700.51, Food Service: $28,643.72; Little Bulldog Childcare: $5,276.95, Dr. Smith Childcare: $1,554.14.
- The Secretary’s Report, Activity Report and Food Service Report will be filed subject to audit.
The motion was unanimously carried.
Motion by Tonya Meyer, seconded by Aaron Schroeder, to approve the following:
Contracts: Derek Friederichs – Band
Bret Corlett – JV Baseball
Leah Freese – Paraprofessional
Resignations: Marley Hundt – Paraprofessional
Dan Anderson – HS Assistant Wrestling Coach
Lucas Arenz – HS Assistant Football Coach
Volunteer: Cayden Pester – Baseball
Motion carried unanimously.
MORE Program presentations were given by Tristen Koehn and Elias Hatt. Tristen proposed extending the arborvitae tree line on the west side of the property behind the practice football field. Elias’s project is to update the Terry M. Heald Memorial Field sign on the baseball field. He is researching having signage made to put on the home dugout.
President Roys opened the public hearing on the 2024-2025 school year calendar at 6;14 p.m. Mr. Dugger presented two options – one with a start date of August 23, 2024, and the other with an August 20, 2024, start date. The State Legislators may allow schools to open earlier this year. Until there is a decision made, Mr. Dugger recommended approving both calendars. Motion by Roberta Hass at 6:17 pm, seconded by Jon Moser, to close the public hearing. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Roberta Hass, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to accept both calendars and adopt the earlier start date calendar, if legislation makes that possible. Motion carried unanimously.
Public hearing began at 6:19 p.m. as Brian Stark, Martin Gardner Architects, presented the bids received for remodeling of the science rooms. Bids came in lower than originally anticipated. The lowest bid of $239,700.00 came from Matt Construction, Sumner, Iowa. The press box project will be reviewed at the April meeting. Motion by Tonya Meyer, seconded by Jon Moser, to close the public hearing at 6:24 p.m.
Motion by Jon Moser, seconded by Tonya Meyer, to approve the bid from Matt Construction as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Aaron Schroeder, seconded by Danielle Schlake, to approve the 1st reading of the following board policies: 102.E6 Anti-Bullying Disposition Form, 102.R1 Grievance Procedure, 104.E1 Anti-Bullying Complaint Form, 104.E2 Anti-Bullying Disclosure Form, 104.E3 Anti-Bullying Disposition Form, 105 Assistance Animals, 105.1E1 Dog Checklist, 105.1E2 Dog Documentation, 409.2 Licensed Employee Military Service Leave. Motion carried unanimously.
Motion by Tonya Meyer, seconded by Roberta Hass, to approve the 2nd reading of the following board policies: 102 Equal Educational Opportunity, 102.E1 Annual Notice, 102.E2 Continuous Notice, 102.E3 Section 540, 102.E4 Complaint Form, 102.E5 Disclosure Form. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Dugger presented a budget overview and reviewed the upcoming proposed tax notice that will be distributed by the county auditors. There will be no proposed new taxes this year. The first budget hearing will be at 6:00 p.m. on March 26, 2024, in the Monona Center Learning Commons.
Motion by Jon Moser, seconded by Aaron Schroeder, to approve 28E agreements with NICC/Clayton County Alternative School and Iowa Local Government Risk Pool. Motion carried unanimously.
REPORTS:
Student Board Members: Mindy Keehner, Eric Grady and Aiden Whitney gave updates on the following: Legacy competitions, Pathfinders visit with Ashley Hinson, Dorian Honor Band, SODA Day on the Hill in Des Moines, FFA week, UIC basketball team recognitions, All State Speech, Pops Concert and upcoming blood drive. Larry Meyer, High School Principal, added that spring sports have begun, and physics students took a trip to Dubuque.
Denise Mueller, Middle School Principal, reported on the following: Building leadership meetings have been focusing on attendance, Math Counts competition, Spring concert, ski trips to LaCrosse, DARE graduation, roller skating, Character Ed Day, track, and end of 3rd quarter. She also discussed the continuing problem of finding substitutes for all positions.
Abbey Cottrell, Assistant Elementary Principal, reported on the following: Thirty children received winter gear this year and purchases are being made for next year while things are on sale, conferences will be March 28, Osborne visit, State Dairy Princess visit, Preschool Fun Night, Kindergarten Round-up, Happy Campers Learning Adventure will be the new Reading Month theme, ISASP testing is coming up, library visits are happening and summer school plans are underway.
Tim Dugger, Superintendent/Elementary Principal gave a Legislative update – SSA rate has not been set, calendar date has not been set, AEA reform bill has not been completed and salary minimums have not been approved.
President Roys adjourned the meeting at 6:57 p.m. The next regular meeting will be on Monday, April 15 in the McGregor Center. The Public Hearing for FY25 Budget will be at 6:00 on March 26, 2024, in the Learning Commons.
The board then went into exempt session to discuss bargaining strategies.
Respectfully submitted,
Karla Hanson,
Board Secretary and Treasurer