001We'll get started here. We'll start with If everybody'll stand, we'll start with the Pledge of Allegiance. >> [clears throat] >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> [clears throat] >> All right. Well, thank you for being here tonight, everybody. It's a beautiful night out. That's for sure, but uh Um looking at the agenda, um before we go to approve it, we won't have a report from the uh communications from the FCCLA. That will not happen tonight. So, but uh we do have uh Um enough for the roll call, I mean, we've got a quorum here in the delegations. I need a motion to approve the agenda without the FCCLA. >>
002So moved. Second the motion. Did you get that, Lisa? All right, we're good. All in favor, say I. I. Opposed? Motion carries. All right. Uh you should have received the consent items when you received your packet. You also have another uh list of some bills in front of you, invoices. Um any uh any commu- any uh comments on that? Yeah. Uh taking a look at the revenues versus expenditures as we as we usually do, um year year-to-year comparison comparing this year to last year at the end of April, our our ex- let's see. Our expenses are about 800,000 less than the previous year, uh 16.4 this year to 17.2 last year, and our revenues are about 500,000 higher this year in comparison to rev- in comparison to last year. Those are good good trends, obviously,
003and trends that we want to see. We We do believe that we'll that we'll balance, um and that we will operate uh with a deficit this year as we've predicted and and thought we would even prior to um to the fiscal year but today they look very good in comparison to the previous year. Some of those other you know measurements that we look at our general fund our cash in bank is is very similar to last year a little bit higher so that's another great indicator for us to look at on how the year is going and then the final the monthly ending fund balance is as Lisa reconciles all of these accounts every every month which is a really important thing for you guys to know exactly where we stand. I know one number
004I always look at is our insurance fund which is has a balance of $2 million which is very good that's very healthy but it is $300,000 less than it was last year at this time. We we certainly believe we've made adjustments to our insurance for next year uh to to help with that. Again the the balance is good we just don't want to continue to lose that same amount year to year. Uh any other questions or comments? I just leave it one thing to show you the line of those that [clears throat] I would All right. Um with insurance since we're self-funded >> [clears throat] >> and we've had some health issues with people like our people which is good. Are we blind to who has that? For our employees' benefits. Like if somebody is
005The name yes. Okay. Yeah. Okay. How much strict do you have with health but Yeah. We do know what diagnosis they came for. When when we meet with our brokers they'll they'll talk about you know this diagnosis or you know but there's no names attached to it it's just to give us an idea of our usage and and where it's being used. And this is >> [clears throat] >> maybe not even an appropriate question to ask, but with new hires would that ever prevent somebody from being hired? No. No. >> [clears throat] >> All right, any other questions? Hearing none, then need a motion for approval of the consent items. So moved. Thank you. Andrew, do we have a second? I'll second. Thanks, Brett. We have a motion and a second. All in favor, say
006aye. Aye. Opposed? Consent items approved. >> [clears throat] >> Um we'll then move into the superintendent's report. >> Yeah, first May is school board appreciation month and we want to say thank you to all of you for everything that you do in the service you provide our school district. There's a um Iowa Association of School Boards uh certificate in your materials. Uh the pizza tonight is from the elementary um buildings. Um again in in uh honor of school board appreciation month. And thank you for everything that you do. We're closing in quickly on the the end of the school year. Our last day of school is next Wednesday, May 20th. Um and at 2:00 p.m. we'll gather in the high school commons to celebrate and honor 10 retirees: Mike Weir, Brian uh Connie, Carrie Connie,
007Diane Goodman, John Heager, Sheila Stecker, Colleen Bowman, Mike Elsbecker, and Carla Keeney. Um this is a a great opportunity for us to you know, just you know, thank them for all of their contributions and the um in this case literally hundreds of years of experience in the profession as well as the district. Uh we'll also honor staff with 25 years of service with a golden apple and the class of 1979 teacher of the year will be announced. So, we do extend an invitation to all of you if you uh would like to attend Wednesday, May 20th at 2:00 p.m. Some other things we have on our calendar, June 9th we'll bring in our our new teachers to the district. Um we've done this for a a number of years now, but we think it gives
008us an opportunity just to work with them for for short time for a morning and then that allows them when they come here in August to to get going and to start. They don't have to worry about passwords or computers or keys or any of those things and we also introduce them to some some basic pieces that are important to us. So it's it's a good opportunity for us and we'll have those staff staff and those teachers in on June 9th. Mr. Harper, did you leave one off the retirement list? Stephen? That's the one I wanted to see, yeah. Oh, Steve Young, yes. Yes, and Steve Young. Thank you for for that. And Steve Young. I thought you were making an announcement about yourself or something like that. Um I I I I put that
009list in a number of places as we head up to that day cuz the worst thing that would could ever happen is for me to forget someone on that day. So I didn't think he was coming back. Hopefully that's the only place I forgot that. Uh board retreat, uh starting that conversation and the you know, we we've done this including administrators. It's really valuable. It's valuable in the communication piece. It's valuable in our planning. Um again, I'd like to propose a board retreat. We've we've been unsuccessful in finding dates in June. Um however, if we're looking at changes in in policy, that would be valuable for us to have in June and to prepare that for August. Either way, we probably could do that, but you know, some topics uh that that we've discussed previously
010that could [clears throat] be on that to retreat agenda and there could be lots of others as well, but cell phone policy, you know, where we're at, where we want to go. Um facility updates, um headed down the road towards the new elementary building and and uh you know, what needs to happen for that to occur. Uh property tax reform, which is new in legislation that was passed. How does that impact us uh moving forward in in technology in school. You know, what is what is too much and is uh becomes harmful. Those are some things that we've talked about. Um I'll I'll send something out in the memo uh this Friday to start to look at possible dates and see what we can kind of narrow in at um either in June or in
011August as we have been doing the last few years. I would just suggest like uh having [clears throat] an midweek would be Yeah, yeah. I think we Like a Wednesday or Thursday evening would probably be the best. Yep. Yep. And are we able to You're able to host again, Andrea? Yeah, I should be able. Okay. Senior awards, uh seniors' last day is this Thursday. Um there's a breakfast by put on by the staff Thursday morning before school. Uh then we have senior awards and the performing arts center at 8:30. Uh later the day, they walk through all of the buildings. Um they practice coronation and then that's their last day of school. So, a big day this Thursday for our seniors. Award ceremony is a a special day where lots of uh students are are
012uh honored for many different achievements they've had and um something to look forward to for sure. >> Is that when scholarships are announced? Most of them, not all. Um graduate at commencement. We also have um the Seifert uh probably the Reed, uh the Hanna, the Hanson. >> So, why do they save some for commencement and some for senior awards? >> Um Is it the amount or the prestige or what is the >> probably a little both. You know, some of the bigger ones are announced um and there's a there's less of those. Um there's hundreds that will be announced uh Thursday morning. A lot of local scholarships that are that are very, very valuable for sure. I think at one point um at whenever they took everything out of commencement, there's far there's far too
013many. You know, that would be a ceremony that would ask last hours if you had them all there. Um in honor of some of the um dollars that have been given to the foundation, I think continuing to honor those on commencement is probably the decision that was made years ago. Commencement is Sunday, May 17th at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Owens delivering the message. Um Andrea will hand out uh diplomas along with Dr. Owen. Um and if you would like to walk in with the high school staff, uh let me and Mr. Cecil know and um they they meet in the library before they come in together. Uh and that's just to make sure that uh he's looking out for you. That's it for my report. All right. Any questions for Joe? All right. We're going into
014the old business end and we are looking to approve the second readings of board policy. I'll just take you through the 400 series. Um again, no no policy changes. There's some language changes um that we revised to uh update to the IASB recommendation for both uh both 40104 and 40112, um which is complaints and use of cell phones. There's also [clears throat] an update of reimbursement rate to $90 for all employees except bus drivers. Bus drivers are reimbursed at full cost. Again, not a not a change in policy, just a change in language. So, that would be the 400 series as um presented during the first reading last month. Any questions? Hearing none, we need a motion to enter approve those second readings. Motion to approve second reading for policies. Thanks, Tom. Do we have
015a second? I'll second. Thanks, Todd. We have motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Second reading's approved. Uh going into new business, we have some first readings. Continuing with the 400 series starting with 410. Um again, some first readings. No changes in policy. There's some up updates to language in both 411.02 and 411.05. A few other changes in 412 and 413. And just going into [music] Those are the courses that that online not from our instructors. Things that are taught from our instructors we pay $50 per credit hour. $50.80 per credit hour. If you have both if you take both of those types of courses this year our year they they change year to year really based on how So that's really the legislation changes. I think
016they're both fair. Yeah. We don't have that number right here. Yeah. It's probably both and both of them are $1,000. Something that I talk about with our staff at the session might be able to help you with this number but we have over 120 course offerings that are offered at our high school Secondly we have thousands of credit hours each year that transfer to college. Thousands of credit hours each year. A great opportunity for our kids. Some of those classes are online. Some of them are taught right here. And there's a lot of value in both. There's a lot of different experiences. for our kids. That's the first agreement. Then we'll get into some of the programs that we have available. >> I'm having some trouble uh Uh this is the the contract that we
017have with um Iowa Lakes for health services um and nurse aide and couple different courses that are offered uh towards the CNA track um for our uh for our students. And we have we have a number of students who've graduated each year uh with with their um their their CNA. Total cost for this is $36,525. >> [clears throat] >> That that would be if it's capped. You we might not have that many students, but that would be if it would if it was full both semesters and both courses. Any questions? Hearing none, then we need a motion for approval. Make a motion to approve the health services nurse aide agreement for '26-'27 school year approval. Tom, do we have a second? I'll second. Thanks, Brent. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?
018Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Health services agreement approved. Uh looking at automotive technology next. The automotive technology um contract that we have, this is an Iowa Lakes program in our building. So, we have we have uh opportunity for our students um to take this uh course taught by Tim Merklifs for multiple years, and they they are only a few, you know, a class or two away from having that AA degree and that certification from Iowa Lakes when they're when they're done with that. So, it's again, fantastic program. Also, an opportunity, I think, that most rural schools in Iowa couldn't offer their kids, but we're able to because of our agreement and opportunities from Iowa Lakes Community College. The technology contract for next year is $109,200 $109,204. In recent years, that
019looked different, not last year, but prior to that because we paid Mr. Ricklefs half of this amount and Iowa Lakes did. There was really no reason to do that. So, now they, you know, he's a full-time employee for Iowa Lakes Community College, and we just pay them the amount. So, it's not a different expense to us. It just goes all straight to Iowa Lakes. Okay. Is that Is that the similar or the same program we've talked about, I know, in years past where we've had some wait lists? Yeah. It It It has a cap number due to, you know, safety in the shop and everything, and there there has been wait lists in the past. I think, for the most part, they've they've been able to get everyone in, but he I know he would
020certainly tell me we're full. Like, you know, they It wouldn't be possible to take any more than what he caps that at. So, there a lot of kids benefit. That's a a ton of kids that many of them go out and work in our community in different places. Might be some, I think, at Jack's. I know there is at Kemna. I know there is at Kemco that come right from our program. Yep. All right, any other questions? Hearing none, then we need a motion for approval. So moved. Thanks, Jade. Do we have a second? Second. All right, Amy. Thank you. We have motion and second. Any further Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Opposed? Uh automotive technology approved. Looking to approve broadcasting next. The Iowa Lakes Community College Broadcasting Technology contract is similar
021to broadcasting and that this is an Iowa Lakes program that's in our building. Taught by an Iowa Lakes employee, Brian Nelson, who's who's taught the program for a number of years. Um total cost of the program is 143,796. Um lots of stuff. You know, the the board meetings that we're in, those are broadcast through the broadcasting program. Um and all of our events, including the music events in the PAC tonight, sporting events, um as well as all of the day-to-day content that they do in our building. So, again, a great experience, one that I think is unique that's offered at Algona High School that wouldn't be offered in most places. Um with with a lot of kids and more kids in it um right now than what we've probably had uh previously, which is which
022is good. Yep. One question I had, do we pay that all at once or is it over in a just the so many? >> to be uh per semester. Okay. But sometimes they forget. It gets paid all in a chunk, I think. >> Okay. Prior year it was all at once, but All right. Just wondered that, I guess. All right, any other questions? Hearing none, I need a motion for approval. So moved. I'll second that. >> [clears throat] >> Okay, we have a motion and a second. Uh any other discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. I. Opposed? Broadcasting approved. Uh looking at work-based learning coordinator. This is a position that was new a year and a half ago. Um it's shared between a number of schools. Um and they what the the
023person does is they help with our internships, our business connections, they assist with job shadows. You know, as we continue to try to broaden our work-based learning opportunities, this person makes a lot of those connections for for our students. So, valuable to have at a fairly small expense, and something we want to grow as well. All right, any questions? What's the cost of that one then? Yeah. 16 something. >> Yeah. Can I see it? I'll I'll pull that up right here. Oh, I'm looking at the wrong one. I'm looking at work-based learning. Sorry. 16 16,000 Got it. All right, any other questions? Hearing none, we need a motion for approval. So moved. Thanks, Todd. We have a second? Second the motion. Thanks. Tom, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in
024favor, say I. I. Opposed? Work-based learning coordinator approved. We'll look at shared personnel college and career transition coordinator. We actually approved this um college and career transition counselor a few months ago because they didn't I Lakes didn't have the contract to us previously. So, same agreement. We pay 29% of the salary. She's here 2 days a week. That's 28,000, but we also receive money from the state to have this position. Um, up to FTE two students. So, you know, I around 16,000. It's a little more than that, probably about 16,500, which makes our cost 12,000 11,500 somewhere in there. So, very valuable in helping our students transition from from Algona to the next place. >> [music] >> That's like this. all of our staff. software business financial personnel one place. program is 23,000. It's quarterly.
025and it is The reason for the increase of total 4,000 is the addition of this accounting Previously our hourly program called TimeClock Plus which cost 20,000. This is the question. Question is I think that I think big savings. Putting it all together and this is this is TimeClock Plus is the one >> Other questions? Does that get us a discount? That's the other thing too, like >> I don't know if we get a discount, but I I think what we get is >> we didn't have that then if we didn't have it then what? They could just say, "Yeah, you're on our time frame." Oh, I think that's what other people would say, you know, we we get them when we need them. Um if you're not a Johnson Controls, you know, they just they're
026too busy to get to something day of. Um but they certainly do that for us. It's like a service plan then. It is a service plan. Service agreement. Yeah. I'll motion to approve. Thanks, Brent. Do we have a second? >> Second the motion. Thanks, Don. We have motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion approved. Um look to approve a Waldorf University. >> This is a an agreement with Waldorf University like we have with the University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University, Morningside, Northwestern College, a number of different places to allow student teachers in our district. Um which is a again, that's always a great opportunity for our students and our staff to have. Uh so, I do recommend the approval with Waldorf. I'll motion to approve.
027Thanks, Brent. Do we have a second? I'll second. Thanks, Todd. We have motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Waldorf agreement approved. Um looking at the equipment breakdown renewal. Equipment uh breakdown insurance Specialty Underwriters is the insurance that we have >> [clears throat] >> on all of our electrical equipment. Anything that plugs into the wall, except our copy machines are no longer part of this agreement, uh which has reduced the premium significantly. Uh we pay this premium out of management rather than general fund, so it's a general fund savings. Um Specialty Underwriters for this upcoming year is 56,000. Last year was 64, so this is a reduction due to the decreased number of laptops and and tablet tablets needed. Um so, we received a renewal adjustment
028of less than that. We are always working to try to um you know, decrease that by taking things off, things that we aren't really using >> [clears throat] >> um to make make this a something that's that's valuable to us. It is valuable. You know, Chromebooks repairs are many. Um they happen a lot, and we we just send those to get to get done, and then it is covered by Specialty Underwriters for that, which is uh very valuable. Okay. Mhm. Make a motion to approve >> [clears throat] >> this insurance renewal. Thanks, Andrea. Do we have a second? I'll second. Thanks, Todd. Motion and second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed? Uh equipment breakdown renewal approved. Uh looking at an open enrollment. We have one open enrollment request
029in. Uh student from Humboldt that has met requirements to be approved. All right. So moved. Thanks Jay. Do we have a second? Second the motion. Thanks Tom. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Hearing none, all in favor say I. I. Opposed? Open enrollment approved. We'll move into personnel and we'll start by looking at resignations. Yep. John Heiser who is retiring as our director of special education. Kelly Manning resigned from freshman volleyball. Jill Hoak, teacher associate at Bertha Godfrey. Rachel Mao, teacher associate at Bertha Godfrey. Bonnie Westling from our speech coach and fall play. Michelle Stone, Bertha Godfrey teacher associate and Barb Stens also retiring as a special education round trip. Okay. Um Need a motion to approve resignations. Motion to approve the resignations. Thanks Tom. Do we have a second? Second.
030Thanks Todd. Motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. Opposed? Resignations approved. And then we look to approve new contracts. Kelly Manning, seventh grade volleyball. Ben Gehrt, assistant football. And Todd Van Otterloo, assistant football. All right. Need a motion to approve the contracts. So moved. Thanks Jay. Need a second. Second. Thanks Brent. We have a motion and a second. All in favor say I. I. Hold up. How many football coaches are there? I You know? Let's see. We We have a shared position. That's why Ben is a half. So now someone else has a half, too. Mike Mike Dunlap has the other half. Um Is that it? Is that it? That's what I was I was saying. >> two freshman, two JV, and then three varsity, I believe. That's That's Kind of is
031what I mean they all It's >> together but now it's Yeah. But we don't have Boyer and Seth won't be on the staff anymore. So that's this is our two and Trevor Arnold. Okay. And cuz we approved Rudy last last time. All right, any other questions? Hearing none then we do a motion to second all in favor say I. I. Opposed. New contracts approved. I need a motion then for adjournment. Motion to adjourn. Thanks Brent. We have a second. Second. Thanks Andrea. We are adjourned. Everybody go out and have a good night and if you're going to the concert enjoy the concert.