MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT JANUARY 15, 2024
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on January 15th. This meeting was advertised in the January 10th edition of the Battle Creek Enterprise. President Jeremy Pochop called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Members present were Toby Thompson, Paul Kuchar, and Tom Leathers. Tammy Bierman came late, and Sean Lindgren was absent. Also, present were Superintendent Jake Luhr and Principals Jeff Heimes and Curtis Childers, and 2 seniors. The new open meeting law poster was discussed and posted and will be followed at every Board meeting. To start the Board meeting, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Mr. Luhr, Secretary of the Board of Education, assumed the chair from President Jeremy Pochop for the purpose of presiding during the election of the Board president. Secretary Jake Luhr then asked for nominations for Board president. Toby Thompson made a motion to nominate Jeremy Pochop for Board president. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. On roll call the motion carried with four ayes.
President Jeremy Pochop then assumed the chair from Jake Luhr and asked for nominations for vice president. Tom Leathers made a motion to nominate Toby Thompson for vice president. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. On roll call vote, the motion carried with four ayes.
The following Board positions were appointed.
Secretary – Jake Luhr
Treasurer – Jean Unkel
Recording Secretary – Ann Barry
Attorney – Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., LLO
Newspaper – Battle Creek Enterprise & Norfolk Daily News(secondary)
Depository – Battle Creek State Bank
Committee on American Civics – Pochop, Thompson, Bierman
Building & Grounds(Facilities) Committee – Leather, Kuchar, Lindgren
Finance Committee – Thompson, Leathers, Lindgren
Negotiations Committee – Pochop, Bierman, Kuchar
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the appointed positions. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which included the January general fund bills that totaled $55,578.99. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr reviewed with the Board, Policy 8110 Purpose and Role of the Board and Policy 8120 Duties and Functions of the Board. These two policies are reviewed by the Board annually at the reorganization of the Board.
Mr. Luhr updated the Board on the construction project at the elementary and the high school.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the administrator contracts for the 2024-25 school year. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he was waiting for the 2024 insurance premiums from EMC Insurance Company. Tammy advised the Board that she doesn’t have all the figures yet, but that there would be an increase in premiums and changes in the deductibles. The Board also discussed the possibility of putting the insurance out to bid for 2025. President Jeremy Pochop table this until the February Board meeting.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he would like to make a change to the Master Calendar for February 9th as we are hosting the girls wrestling District on that day, and he would like to change that date to a no school day for PK-12 grades. Paul Kuchar made a motion to make a change to Friday, February 9th on the Master Calendar to a no school day for PK-12 grades due to District girls wrestling tournament at our school. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the teaching contract for Paul Cross, Industrial Technology teacher, for the 2024-25 school year. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a Building Fund invoice from Hausmann Construction. The invoice was in the amount of $391,818.00 for construction services rendered through December 31st. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the Building Fund invoice from Hausmann Construction for $391,818.00. Tom Leathers seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a Building Fund invoice from Mid-State Engineering & Testing in the amount of $368.50 for construction testing services through November 30th. Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the Building Fund invoice from Mid-State Engineering & Testing for $368.50. Tammy Bierman seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that the BCEA has not yet agreed to changing the release from contract date from April 15th to March 15th. They did ask Mr. Luhr if the Board would consider another date towards the end of March, but after discussion the Board decided that they would stay with the March 15th date for release from contract.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he has been in contact with three companies, Sheppard’s Business Interiors, All Makes and Eakes Office Solutions regarding bids for furniture for the elementary teachers workroom, the SPED room, and the Ag classroom. Tammy Bierman made a motion to approve the bid from Eakes Office Solutions for $6,324.60 for furniture for the elementary teachers workroom. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Comments were heard from the Board, Principals, and Superintendent.
With no further business, Board President Jeremy Pochop adjourned the meeting at 6:55 P.M.
Submitted by,
Jake Luhr, Secretary Board of Education