AMES COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING MINUTES September 19, 2011 The regular meeting of the Ames Community School District Board of Education was called to order in the Multipurpose Room of Ames High School. 1921 Ames High Drive, in conformance with the Open Meetings Law by President Jurenka at 7:00 p.m. Present:

Mary Jurenka, President John Hascall, Director David Putz, Director William Talbot, Director Francis Todey, Director Dan Woodin, Director Tim Taylor, Superintendent Mandy Ross, Associate Superintendent Karen Shimp, Chief Financial Officer and Board Secretary/Treasurer

Absent:

Paul Sodders, Director

Approval of Agenda President Jurenka read the published agenda. Director Woodin made a motion, seconded by Director Putz, to move Item 12, Enrollment of Two Students from South Dakota, from the Action portion of the agenda to the discussion portion, and approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. Director Putz read the mission statement. PUBLIC FORUM No one requested to speak at the Public Forum. CONSENT ITEM(S) Director Woodin made a motion, Director Hascall seconded, to approve the Consent Items. Motion carried 6-0. Consent items were the minutes of the August 15 Meeting, Personnel Report, Gifts to District, Contracts and Agreements, Year-End Cash Balance Report, and Open Enrollment requests. PERSONNEL REPORT APPOINTMENTS Support Staff 1. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Brenda Barker as a Regular Ed Educational Assistant at Sawyer School, effective September 9, 2011. Ms. Barker will be working 3.75 hours per day for 161 days with a starting salary of $7.75 per hour. She is replacing Ms. Gail Wiebke. 2. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Katherine Smith as an Educational Assistant in the Level III Program at Ames Middle School, effective September 12, 2011. Ms. Smith will be working 6.25 hours per day for 168 days with a starting salary of $8.25 per hour. This is a new position supported by special education dollars. 3. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Michelle Hope as a Regular Ed Educational Assistant at Meeker School, effective September 2, 2011. Ms. Hope will be working 3.75 hours per day for 165 days with a starting salary of $7.75 per hour. 4. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Gail Wiebke as an Educational Assistant in the Level III Program at Fellows School, effective September 12, 2011. Ms. Wiebke will be working 6.25 hours per day for 168 days with a starting salary of $8.25 per hour. She is replacing Ms. Katie Vansickel.

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Coaching/Co-Curricular 1. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Mr. Rob Kain as History Day CoSponsor at Ames Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Mr. Kain will receive 2.33% of the base salary ($653) for this assignment as he replaces Mr. Robert Logston. 2. It is recommended that the Board approve the reappointments of Ms. Erin Miller, Ms. Connie Ringlee, and Mr. Chuck Ripley as Speech Co-Coaches at Ames Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. They will receive 7.17% of the base salary ($2,006) each for this assignment. 3. It is recommended that the Board approve the appointment of Ms. Alyssa Howlett as an Assistant Winter Cheer Squad Co-Coach at Ames High School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Ms. Howlett will receive 3% of the base salary ($840) for this assignment as she replaces Ms. Megan Grummer. CHANGE IN CONTRACT/ASSIGNMENT 1. It is recommended that the Board approve the voluntary transfer of Ms. Catherine Monroe as the Extended Learning Program Secretary, effective September 28, 2011. Ms. Monroe has been serving as an Educational Assistant at Ames Middle School. She will be working 5 hours per day for 172 days with a starting salary of $12.00 per hour. She is replacing Ms. Sandy Borrill. RECLASSIFICATIONS

Name Chris Tascha

Present Class/Step M+30/17 B+30/7

Ewan Hauber

Old Class/Step M+15/15 B+15/7

Old Contract $60,482 $21,834

New Contract $64,472 $22,974

Total Increase $3,990 $1,140

GIFTS TO THE DISTRICT Dr. Taylor announced the Gifts to the District. Those providing a gift to the District will be acknowledged with a letter of thanks. DESCRIPTION DONOR(S) RECIPIENT Cash ($1,000) John Beghin AHS – ELP Dept. - $500 AHS – Art Dept. - $500 Clarinet Harold Vanauken AMS – Band Dept. Violin outfit and a ukulele Beth Strickler AHS – Orchestra Dept. Cash ($200) Susan Harrington AHS – Art Dept. CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS (Copies of the contracts/agreements are attached.) Agreements with Scholastic Book Fairs for book fairs at Meeker School on October 10-14, 2011 and March 26-30, 2012. Agreement with Scholastic Book Fairs for a book fair at Edwards School on November 2-10, 2011. CASH/INVESTMENT BALANCES – JUNE 30, 2011 Iowa Code Section 279.33 requires the Board Treasurer to furnish the Board with June 30 depository information prior to the first organizational meeting of the new Board. Below is a summary of cash and short-term investment balances on June 30, 2011. PPEL & Cap. Project Funds First National Bank Cash (1) Short-term Investments

2,606,605 8

General & Other Funds 15,272,969 70,963

TOTAL

17,879,574 70,971

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3,382,429

0

3,382,429

14,066

2,657,039

2,671,105

6,003,108

18,000,971

24,004,079

(1) Bank balance less outstanding checks (2) Does not include Self-Funded Health Insurance Trust Funds OPEN ENROLLMENT Iowa law provides that Boards must approve open enrollment applications of students who wish to continue attending their original district of residence without interruption in their educational program. Student Grade From Nicolas Hand 3 Nevada Community Schools Delaney Hand 6 Nevada Community Schools Kayla Messner 1 Nevada Community Schools Zachary Palan-Lilland 5 Nevada Community Schools

ACTION ITEM(S) Certified Annual Reports Director Todey made a motion, seconded by Director Putz, to accept the 2010-11 Certified Annual Report, the Special Education Supplement, and the Annual Transportation Report. Motion carried 6-0. 2011-12 Discretionary Transportation Rates Director Todey made a motion, seconded by Director Woodin, to approve the 2011-12 Discretionary Transportation Rates. Motion carried 5-0 with Director Hascall abstaining. Director Putz asked if the amount the District charges covers the cost of discretionary bussing. Ms. Shimp responded that, to the best of her knowledge, it does cover the costs. The District has contracted with Durham School Services for school bus transportation since the 2009-10 school year. The District’s average cost per pupil transported for FY2011 calculated to be $578.41. This compares to $499.68 for FY2010 and $559.74 for FY 2009. The state calculation changed this year to include special education transportation, activity and field trip transportation which is why the per pupil rate increased significantly. Previously, the rate included only regular education transportation. The rate calculated below follows the methodology put in place about 2001 and last updated in 2006. MONTHLY RATES Monthly Rates Single Child

Second Child

Third Child

Annual (9 payments) For Single Child

Round-trip $39.90 $29.20 $23.95 $359.10 One-way 23.90 17.90 14.35 $215.10 (1) One-way is charged at 60% of the round-trip price. (2) Rates for second and third children are 75% and 60%, respectively, of the single child rate. (3) A discount (approx. 5%) is offered for early payment (see below). (4) Payments are due the 10th of each month. SEMESTER PAYMENT OPTION Annual Early Payment Option (9 payments) Single Child Second Child Third Child For Single Child Each Semester (50% of annual cost) Round-trip $170.55 $127.90 $102.30 $341.10 One-way 102.15 76.60 61.30 $204.30 The proposed rates represent a 2.5% increase from the existing rate structure.

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DISCUSSION/INFORMATION ITEM(S) Enrollment of Students from South Dakota Superintendent Taylor expressed his frustration with this situation. He had received new information on Friday (September 16) that we have four students from the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota attending classes. Two of these students have been here for the past three years. One student is 18 years of age, emancipated and has declared Ames his residence. An email from the Iowa Department of Education indicated the District has the right to determine residency. However, the students do not qualify for state funding. Director Jurenka asked what can be done this school year. Dr. Taylor responded the he had met with the superintendents from Ballard and Nevada. The students enrolled in Nevada have all returned to South Dakota. Ballard is recommending that the remaining students enrolled there be allowed to attend as non-residents with the tuition waived for 2011-12 year only. Director Woodin said he wants the Department of Education to step up and guide by informing the District what documentation is needed to determine residency to meet their requirements for purposes of state funding. Dr. Taylor will continue to work with the District’s attorney and the Department of Education to bring this issue to the October 3 Board meeting for action. StruXture Architect Services Dr. Taylor presented a timeline in response to Director Putz request for a “diary of action” on Facilities. He explained that the District is in the process of compiling the information. Director Todey asked that the completed “diary” be on the District website with links to the individual documents. Director Putz said as he was approving bills this month he noticed the last payment went out to StruXture Architects. He asked where the District is with regard to the contract. Ms. Shimp indicated that StruXture’s commitment is ongoing until all areas of the contract are complete and they give their final report. Board President’s Report President Jurenka’s remarks: I’ve been serving on the Ames school board for the past four years, but I won’t be serving this year. I have enjoyed serving as a Board member and as president. We have a community that values the education of its kids. Involved parents give their time, teachers that go the extra mile and students that never cease to impress the community with their accomplishments. Academically, Ames students continue to top the state in National Merit scholarship numbers. Our ACT scores are among the top in the state. Class offerings in advanced placement and honors classes are among the top in the state in rigor. Our kids have more offerings than most schools in the state. We have science bowl state champions, chess champions at the middle school, and physics bowl champions. These are just a few of the academic contests in which Ames children have shone. In music, instrumental programs in the Ames Community Schools are excellent with top-notch instruction that has helped create top-notch bands and orchestras. One of the wonderful things about this program that gives kids lessons once a week, many kids wouldn’t be able to do it. Only the kids that were able to have private lessons and then there would be no wonderful ensembles in band and orchestra. In those programs, we have kids each year winning many awards in all-state, SCIBA, and solo competitions. In athletics, we’ve had back-to-back state basketball championships, girls and boys state championship tennis teams in the same year, and numerous accomplishments in individual sports and team sports such as swimming and wrestling. Service projects and clubs, our kids participate whether through school, through their churches, scouts, and such service projects as going to Uganda, and taking part in SHEPH (Students Helping Eliminate Poverty and Hunger). This shows that between the community, school, and parents, kids are learning to put others first. I think that is the most important thing. Most of our children are doing very well by any measure, but some are struggling, as we know. Bringing this to public awareness over the last two years is a step in the right direction. The administration and Board has spend a lot of time on this because where there are challenges and where there are triumphs, where we are proud or where we know we need work, always need to be out in the

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public eye. This will allow kids that don’t have a voice to have a voice. We need to keep working to create an environment where all kids are known and where strengths and weaknesses are identified quickly. This will improve the outcomes for many children. As I have said over and over, that means keeping the schools as small as possible. I am confident that the District will continue to monitor the quality of our success and Title I programs for at-risk children and continue to demand only top-notch teachers and only top-notch building leadership. Please take the opportunity to keep working collaboratively with YSS and AMOS. Last year, an exciting thing happened where multi-agency collaboration at a meeting to determine what the needs are of secondary level at-risk kids. It was the best, most hopeful meeting I’ve ever attended as far as people actually digging in to figure out what we need to do. I hope that that continues and goes strong. The community will really benefit. What we found out at this meeting (YSS, community schools, Urban Dreams and a couple of others), by talking was that each entity didn’t really know what the others were doing. There was a lot of overlap. I am confident that these agencies will work together to get the overlap out so they can spread their services out further. The most exciting thing that came of that was the common volunteer center. A center that they are working toward where a person from the community can call and ask what is needed and where. More kids will receive services that way. We need to use the time of community volunteers to help our children learn. I think we have a lot in schools and I know some churches give some. That’s very beneficial. I’d like to see that school-wide. We have a foster grandparenting program that makes a big difference in our schools. Remember, all the kids in our District, whether they are doing really well or having a struggle, they all need to move forward. I am confident the District will do that with strong teachers and a strong staff. Please don’t forget the kids that need a voice that don’t have one. It’s easy for all of us, including me, to forget because we haven’t dealt with the situations they have, I know the teachers have. Over the last three years, the Board has spent numerous hours, hundreds of hours, at meetings and hundreds of hours reading facts about student numbers per area and we decided a plan needs to put schools where kids are located to reduce busing. So with that in mind, hundreds of documents with maps, enrollment data, financial learning sessions, public input forums, and open houses helped to create a plan. That plan didn’t pass in the public. As we said, if that happens, regroup and start taking to everyone around Ames. Sometimes, things like this happen. Sometimes it’s misinformation, sometimes it’s not liking one site or another, but the only way to know is to talk to people face-to-face. Finally, the administration and Board have worked really hard. Transparency has to happen. If you don’t feel like you’re under the microscope sometimes, then you’re not being transparent. We do feel like we are under the microscope. I know the new Board members will too. I am confident that all discussions will be in the open. In the last couple years, the Board and administration have worked together. Sometimes that makes your life harder because every word is heard and sometimes taken out of context. You turn on the school board meeting and you hear the last part of a sentence sometimes. I’m sure that’s going to continue. I know Dr. Taylor is doing something new this year, which I think is a really good idea. There is going to be a work session to talk about issues like that and open meetings. I’m sure no one here has any intention of breaking open meetings. But, sometimes things happen unintentionally. It’s good to be reminded. It happens all the time and it’s no bad intended. I think every Board coming on should have a primer. Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve. It was a great learning experience. I’ve met wonderful people and wonderful teachers. To be able to see these kids first-hand in their accomplishments, whether they are on the stage or the basketball court, or here at the Board table talking to us. When you hear kids talking at Public Forum, that is impressive. They tend to do better, and I include myself, than the adults when we come up to Public Forum. Truly they do. When we see that, we know that between the parents and the teachers, the administration and the Board, we are doing a good job for kids. I know that will continue. Thank you.

President Jurenka invited the other retiring Board members to share their remarks.

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Director Todey’s remarks: Reflections/thoughts for the New Board • First and foremost, the School District’s primary responsibility is education and student achievement. Everything else flows from that goal. • Set long-term goals/develop a vision – where do we want to be in 5 years and how will we get there. We need to think further into the future than we have. • Build on the strengths of the District to move to the future. The community is changing, so how do we adapt to keep Ames a good district. • Budget challenges will always exist. Continue to look for balance within the system, between elementary, middle and high school, and among the different programs. Monitor recent budget changes to see if modifications are needed. Education must drive the budget not the budget drive education. • Consider building on what this Board generally tried to do – work together to meet goals and find solutions. • Continue to ask, “What should student achievement look like, and how do we accomplish it?” • Use “Systems Thinking” to remove Silos and develop a truly interconnected “K-12 school system.” • Board openness - include the public in important discussions as much as possible. • Use Board learning opportunities to make the Board more effective. • Facilities plan – must meet needs of all students and all areas of community. To maintain student population, we need to make sure all areas of the community are attractive for re-greening so young families will keep all areas vibrant. Diversity in housing options is the goal. • Be prepared – I felt I could never do enough as a board member. There was always something else to read, another e-mail to answer, someone else to ask for input. Use your time well. • In the end it all comes down to this. Last fall we discussed the District Mission Statement and how we defined the term “all learners” in that statement. The definition Dave Putz gave to the term “all learners” was most meaningful to me. It does not mean a simple majority, it means “each and every” student. I hope this Board will be remembered for trying to serve each and every student’s needs.

Director Todey also thanked his family and friends for their support. Director Hascall made no comments. Presentation of Plaques Superintendent Taylor presented an Award of Merit to each of the retiring Board Members. He thanked them for their time and service to the District and the community. Adjournment Director Putz made a motion, seconded by Director Talbot, to adjourn the meeting sine die. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting was adjourned sine die at 7:49 p.m. Attest: _____________________________________ Dan Woodin, President Minutes approved on October 3, 2011.

________________________________________ Karen Shimp, Secretary