Regular Board Meeting
The source material for this summary is labeled as minutes of the June 19, 2024 regular meeting. Because it documents actions that had already occurred, the approvals, votes, tabled items, and other outcomes below are described as completed actions rather than as proposed future actions.
Key Board Actions
Consent Agenda
The board approved the consent agenda on a 5–0 vote. The consent agenda included:
- Bills outstanding.
- Recapitulation/finance summary.
- Nurse’s report.
- Minutes from May 15, May 22, and May 28, 2024.
- Nine incoming open-enrollment students for 2024–25:
- 4 from Clinton CSD.
- 3 from Easton Valley CSD.
- 1 from Camanche CSD.
- 1 from Central DeWitt CSD.
Personnel Report
The board approved the personnel report on a 5–0 vote. The report included:
- Renee Lawrence appointed as Middle/High School Custodian beginning July 1, 2024, at $20.85, Step 2 of the 2024–25 Custodian Salary Schedule.
- Nicole Faur appointed as Elementary Secretary beginning July 1, 2024, at $17.70, Step 3 of the 2024–25 Secretary Salary Schedule.
- Eric Sipes moved from BA+8 Step 2 to BA+24 Step 2 for 2024–25; the listed salary remains $47,500.00.
- Emily Dickey moved from BA+24 Step 7 at $47,576.44 to MA Step 7 at $49,722.75 for 2024–25.
- Brenda Ehlers’ resignation as Elementary Associate, effective May 24, 2024, was included in the approved report.
- Mallory Mohr appointed Assistant Cheer Coach for 2024–25 at $2,026.89, identified as 7% of the $28,955.58 Schedule B base.
- Nick Van Laningham appointed eSports Coach for 2024–25 at $2,606.00, identified as 9% of the $28,955.58 Schedule B base.
Fees, Nutrition and Financial Agreements
The board took several actions affecting district fees, services and financial arrangements:
- Approved the 2024–25 Fee Schedule on a 5–0 vote.
- Approved 2024–25 Nutrition Prices on a 5–0 vote.
- Approved an audit agreement with Kay L. Chapman, CPA PC for FY24, FY25 and FY26 on a 5–0 vote.
- Approved the Cedar County Coop L.P. bid for 2024–25 on a 5–0 vote.
- Approved the Anderson Erickson Mild Bid for 2023–24 on a 5–0 vote.
The source material records the approvals but does not provide the underlying fee schedule, nutrition prices, audit costs, or bid amounts.
Student Programs and Educational Agreements
The board unanimously approved two agreements involving student services and educational opportunities:
- A Transition Alliance Program (TAP) memorandum of agreement involving Northeast Community Schools, Central DeWitt Community Schools and Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
- A memorandum of agreement with EICC for college credit courses involving shared enrollment of high school students.
Both motions carried 5–0.
Items Tabled for Further Action
Three matters were not approved at this meeting and remained unresolved in the source material.
EMC Insurance Renewal
Consideration of the 2024–25 EMC Insurance Renewal was tabled because additional information was requested.
Technology Services and Support
Consideration of 2024–25 Technology Services and Support was also tabled pending additional information. Earlier in the meeting, Brett Hippler and Chris Tracy from Twin State answered board questions concerning the proposed 2024–25 Technology Support Agreement.
Pizza Bid
The board tabled consideration of the 2024–25 pizza bid because no bids were received.
Policy and Governance Actions
The board advanced two groups of revised and reviewed policies and regulations.
- Second reading approved: Policies and Regulations 405.2, 411.2, 507.8R1 and 704.1.
- First reading approved: Policies and Regulations 507.9, 704.6, 704.6R1, 706.1, 706.2, 706.3, 707.1 and 707.4.
Each action passed on a 5–0 vote. The source material identifies the policy numbers but does not describe the substance of the revisions.
Facilities and Playground Planning
Principal Messer provided an update on Phase 2 of the Elementary School playground improvements. She also reported attending a conference for Special Education Leaders and indicated plans to bring information and strategies from the conference back to Northeast staff.
Superintendent Gray reported that the Facilities Planning Committee toured Camanche and Monticello to learn about their planning processes. The committee was expected to meet again to discuss details of moving forward with the selected architect.
Truancy Law Changes
Assistant Principal Applegate reported attending a meeting with the Clinton County Attorney’s Office regarding upcoming changes to truancy laws. The source material states that Northeast and surrounding districts would like to work together to establish common requirements.
High School and Student Programs
Principal Huling presented mural design sketches for the inside and outside of the high school gym. She also reported on the softball and baseball programs and noted that Jenny Hansen offered summer hours for students completing credit recovery.
Activities Director Troy Hansen discussed increasing student and family pass fees and provided an update about the eSports coach joining the district for the next school year.
Closed Session and Superintendent Evaluation
The board voted by roll call to enter closed session at 7:20 P.M. for a superintendent evaluation. The stated basis was Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i), concerning evaluation of an individual’s professional competency when a closed session is necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to the individual’s reputation and the individual requests a closed session.
The board returned to open session at 8:37 P.M. following another unanimous roll-call vote. The source material does not document a separate board action resulting from the superintendent evaluation.
What to Watch Going Forward
Several matters in the June 19 record remained active or pointed toward additional district work:
- The 2024–25 EMC Insurance Renewal remained tabled pending additional information.
- 2024–25 Technology Services and Support remained tabled pending additional information.
- The district had received no bids for the 2024–25 pizza bid, and consideration was tabled.
- The Facilities Planning Committee was expected to continue discussions about moving forward with the selected architect.
- The district and surrounding districts were considering coordination around requirements associated with upcoming truancy law changes.
- Policies 507.9, 704.6, 704.6R1, 706.1, 706.2, 706.3, 707.1 and 707.4 had completed their first reading but are not documented in this source as having received a second-reading approval.
The next regular school board meeting was set for July 22 at 5:00 P.M. in the Elementary Library.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials.
