South Tama School Board- seated- Michelle Yuska, president and Mark McFate, vice president.. (Standing, l-r) Jackie Dvorak, Alan Kline and Penny Tyynismaa. -South Tama Schools photo

On Monday night, Jan. 23, the South Tama School Board held a public hearing for a proposal to consider continued participation in the Instructional Support Program.

The Instructional Support Levy is a tax that must be voted on by the Board every five years. The funds collected may be used for any general fund purpose. The tax cannot exceed 10 percent of the total regular program district cost for each budget year it is imposed.

This program is funded by combination of property tax levied annually upon the taxable property within the school district and an income surtax.

Board members determined to continue the current level of services and to fund the ongoing programs of South Tama School District, a continuation of participation in the Instructional Support Program for a period of five years is necessary and in the best interests of the district and its residents and students.

After the public hearing board members determined it is consistent with the five year plan to fund the ongoing programs and services of the STC District and is in the best interest of the school district to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program and to provide additional funding for a period of five years commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

The additional funding for the Instructional Support Program for a budget year will be determined annually. It will not exceed 10 percent of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and money received as a budget adjustment for the budget year. Money received by the District for the Instructional Support Program may be used for any general fund purpose.

Instructional Support Program will be funded by instructional support state aid and a combination instructional support property tax levied annually upon the taxable property with the South Tama School District commencing with the levy of property taxes for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018 and an instructional support income surtax imposed annually, the percent of income surtax to be determined by the board for each budget year to be imposed on the state individual income tax of each individual income taxpayer resident in the South Tama School District.

Unless, within 28 days following the adoption of this resolution, the secretary of the school board receives a petition containing the signatures of eligible electors equal in number to not less than 100 or 30 percent of the number of voters at the last preceding regular school election, whichever is greater, asking that an election be called to approve or disapprove this action of the Board adopting the Instructional Support Program, this action of the board is final and the secretary is authorized to certify a copy of this resolution to the Department of Management.

Personnel

Contracts were approved for Brenda Husak as assistant varsity girls soccer coach effective March 2017; and Todd Banes and James Kesl for a regular bus route driver effective Jan. 24.

Resignations accepted include Cally Thompson as high school junior varsity volleyball coach and Riley Rutledge as assistant high school soft ball coach. Contract terminated was Elizabeth Nunez as elementary bilingual aide effective Jan/ 17.

Approve

LIED Center Consortium

The board voted to approve an agreement to establish a consortium to jointly administer an Instructional Program at Waverly-Shell Rock LIED Center. The agreement between the member school districts include Waverly Shell Rock Community School District (host) is to establish a jointly administered program for the enrollment of students from the host and members school districts to provide quality education and activities for students enrolled from each member district.

The LIED Center program serves students K-12 with significant behavior needs. The program has students enrolled who have been residentially placed at the Lutheran Social Services of Iowa group home facility along with students who have been placed for day programming by the IEP team serving the students resident / attending school district. The program is structured to develop skills based on student need so the student can successfully reintegrate back to a regular school environment.

In other business:

Impact Aid Indian Policies and Procedures were reviewed and approved. It is a requirement of the Impact Aid Indian Education Policies application, for the board to review the policies and procedures

Bills presented for payment the Jan. 23 meeting totaled $1,012,513. Some of the larger bills included the January payment to Garling Construction for the high school addition project in the amount of $432,138; IMAC computers $25,225; groceries and supplies $13,173; insurance premiums including life insurance $6,330, vision plan at $1626, Dental $5882, Wellmark Health Premiums $82,462; 2017 Ford Pickup $27,313; open enrollment with Grinnell-Newburg $54,065; GMG open enrollment $37,170;, Gladbrook-Reinbeck open enrollment $6758; Belle Plaine CSD open enrollment $23,654; BGM Community School open enrollment $143,516; Benton Community School Special education tuition $13,962