MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT AUGUST 8, 2022
The regular meeting of the Board of Education was held on August 8th. This meeting was advertised in the August 3rd edition of the Battle Creek Enterprise. President Jeremy Pochop called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. Members present were Brent Bode, Paul Kuchar, Toby Thompson, and Sean Lindgren. Tammy Bierman was absent. Also, present were Superintendent Jake Luhr and Principals Jeff Heimes and Curtis Childers, and BCEA representative. 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.
Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda, which included the August general fund bills that totaled $192,785.81. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a construction update, which included an updated budget from Hausmann Construction.
Mr. Luhr advised the Board that he had a meeting with First Student regarding electric buses. He also visited with the Board that he had received a revised transportation agreement from First Student for the 2022-23 school year with an increase of 9.75%. Brent Bode made a motion to approve the 9.75% increase in the transportation agreement for the 2022-23 school year. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board our Return to Learn Plan for annual review with no recommended changes to this plan.
Mr. Luhr reviewed with the Board Policy 6370 Multicultural Education with no recommended changes to the existing policy.
Toby Thompson made a motion to appoint Mr. Luhr as CEO for spending the federal, state, and local funds for projects as needed for the 2022-23 school year. Brent Bode seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr reviewed with the Board the second reading of Appendix 2 of Policy 5416 of the Student Fees Policy outlining our National Competition Policy which in part states that 40% of expenses to be paid by the participants/organization and 60% to be paid by the district, and that the district would cover 100% of the sponsor/coach costs of the student organization. Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve Appendix 2 of Policy 5416. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board the certified staff handbook for the 2022-23 school year for them to review. After discussion, Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the certified staff handbook for the 2022-23 school year. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a new classified staff handbook for the 2022-23 school year that was created this summer which included the newly adopted wage scale and associated benefits. Brent Bode made motion to approve the new classified staff handbook for the 2022-23 school year. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board a 2022-23 budget timeline for August and September. He also shared with them the preliminary budget/levies according to estimated valuations.
Mr. Childers presented to the Board the revised elementary student handbook for the 2022-23 school year. After discussion on the changes made, Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the elementary student handbook for the 2022-23 school year. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Mr. Luhr presented to the Board an invoice from CWP Architects for $33,666.09 for their continued work for our additions/renovations. Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the invoice from CWP Architects for $33,666.09 for their continued work for our additions/renovations from the building fund. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
After discussion on enrollment numbers at the elementary, Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve that the district is at capacity for preschool and kindergarten. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the option request of Taylor Hall, 7th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to deny the option request of Carter McClain, kindergartner, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on that the kindergarten class is at capacity. Sean Lindgren seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Sean Lindgren made a motion to deny the option request of Lane Murphy, kindergartner, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on that the kindergarten class is at capacity. Brent Bode seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Brent Bode made a motion to approve the option request of Cora Daily, 5th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time, and that she attended Battle Creek Public Schools prior to moving out of the district. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to deny the option request of Alivia Rajaee, 6th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on that the 6th grade is at capacity. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Sean Lindgren made a motion to approve the option request of Taya Daily, 7th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time, and that she attended Battle Creek Public Schools prior to moving out of the district. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Brent Bode made a motion to approve the option request of Braxton Merlenbach, 8th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time, and that he attended Battle Creek Public Schools prior to moving out of the district. Toby Thompson seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Toby Thompson made a motion to approve the option request of Alexis Rajaee, 10th grader, for the 2022-23 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time. Paul Kuchar seconded the motion. On roll call vote, the motion carried with five ayes.
Paul Kuchar made a motion to approve the option request of Amber Schurman, 11th grader, for the 2022-2023 school year. This request was based on available room in the class at this time, and that she attended Battle Creek Public Schools prior to moving out of the district. Toby Thompson 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 7:19 P.M.
Submitted by,
Jake Luhr, Secretary Board of Education