The Perry School Board held their monthly meeting last night.
At the meeting, the Board held a hearing in regards to the Elementary Parking Lot Project. Jason Mathes with the Shive-Hattery design firm was in attendance to explain the bid and recommendation. A total of five bids were submitted, with the low base bid coming from Absolute Concrete out of Slater in the amount of $694,285. In addition, with bus loading area pavement removal and replacement, along with overlay for the remaining east lot the total recommended contract amount came to $837,443. That’s lower than both the engineer’s estimate and other bids received. Total project costs are expected to total $1,053,000. Later in the meeting, the Board unanimously approved the bid from Absolute Concrete, with Board President Dan Wilhelmi absent from the meeting.
Business Manager Kent Bultman than reviewed the 2013-2014 school audit report. According to the report, revenues for the year totaled $18.6 million, while expenditures totaled $19.3 million. He says the expenditure increase was due, in part, to implementing the 1-to-1 laptop program and upgrading other technology. That project alone had a total cost of around $700,000 out of the general fund.
The Board later approved the audit, completed by Nolte, Cornman and Johnson P.C., as presented.
The preliminary certified 2016 budget was then presented, figuring in a zero percent increase in State Supplemental Aid. As we’ve reported, the State House has proposed a 1.25% increase in State Supplemental Aid, while the Senate wants to see a 4% increase. Since a compromise has not been met by the legislature, districts are recommended to certify at the highest levy rate since it cannot be increased once certified. A budget hearing has been set for the next regular School Board meeting on Monday, April 13th.
The Board then started a school board self-evaluation by reviewing the Standards for Effective Board Leadership and Self-Evaluation Instrument. A follow-up is scheduled for next month’s meeting.
The Board then approved a budget guarantee resolution for the 2015-2016 year. This is a precautionary measure, though the District would be under a budget guarantee if State Supplemental Aid is set at zero or one percent.
Next, a 28E agreement for the universal preschool program was approved, with changes to the sections in regards to the education program and financial compensation.
The 2015-2016 insurance plan and rates through the Iowa Schools Employee Benefits Association were then approved. This includes a 2.26 percent increase in medical insurance costs, which amounts to $586 for an individual and $1,464 for a family health plan. Director Kyle Baxter asked if the District has “gone shopping” for insurance rates. Business Manager Kent Bultman said they have not gone out to bid since he has been working in Perry, though he was pleasantly surprised with the 2.26 percent increase as he predicted that number would come in closer to a seven to nine percent increase.
The Board then moved donations from Target and Wells Fargo into the District’s general fund as recommended in the audit report. These funds are used toward student rewards and incentives.
The Board then tabled the agenda item in regards to a recommendation from the Raccoon River Conference to increase student and senior citizen activity admission pries by $1, to $4 for the 2015-2016 school year. Baxter questioned why rates are increasing just because others in the conference are doing so. Vice President Jim Lutmer agreed, in stating the goal is to get people to come out and support these contests. Activities Director Tom Lipovac will be asked to attend the next Board meeting to explain the reason behind the proposed increase.
Personnel changes were then approved as presented, along with board policy changes in regards to legal counsel, ad hoc committees, development/adoption/suspension of policy, administration in the absence of policy, review and revision of policy and review of administrative regulations.
Superintendent Lynn Ubben then expressed the desire to hire additional English Language Learner (ELL) teachers. Currently, Perry has 279 ELL students in the elementary school alone, out of around 740 students. Administration stated the desire to help these students learn the language better when they are young, which should help them excel academically in the future. Their goal is to have one ELL teacher per grade level, which would add two additional positions. The Board agreed that this is something that would be beneficial for the District, though no formal action was taken.
The Board then adjourned and went into closed session to hold a Superintendent evaluation.
Superintendent Ubben will be our guest on Thursday’s Let’s Talk Dallas County on AM 1310 KDLS, as we talk about these and other topics affecting the Perry School District.