Monday’s South Tama County board meeting started off with the absence of Beth Wiese and Megan Thissen as roll call was taken by board secretary Katie Mathen. With the board table looking more empty, it was easy to notice high school language arts teacher and girls golf coach Deanna Zmolek, sitting in the audience.

The meeting opened with a public hearing over the budget and then the updated calendar with the need to make up school hours, pushing school to June 4 for students. Zmolek offered a question regarding high school administrative representation in decisions regarding teacher hours at the end of the year. With two outgoing high school administrators in Robert Boley and Amy Karg, Sam Peska and Janelle Pirkl have been assigned as high school representatives in

administrative meetings according to Superintendent John Cain. Zmolek and Cain grappled verbally back and forth over the decisions that have been made “administratively,” according to Cain.

After another roll call, the mission statement being read and Pledge of Allegiance being recited, public comments were opened up. Zmolek came forth with a letter in hand and started reading. After praising the board for the time and dedication to the district, she urged them to continue to ask questions and be critical of the happenings of the district. She stated at the meeting that schools build community; they are the identity of the community, and some of that responsibility falls on the superintendent and school board. Zmolek pointed out the departure of many veteran teachers over the last few years, and the mishaps in the chain of command process. She posed questions regarding if decisions being made are building community at STC.

In accordance with Iowa’s Sunshine Law, no board member responds or discusses public comments. With no verbal response, the silence was noticeable after the veteran language teacher finished reading. Her letter echoed the sentiments of ex-board member Jackie Ellenbecker, who, in her resignation letter given in October last year, urged the board and district to question their processes and ways of handling school matters.

In other business, April Van Dee was hired as the new Family Consumer Science teacher, a position that has eluded the district for a few years. Van Dee currently works in the middle school library, and has achieved her teaching licensure through alternative means with the state.

Board member Rick Hopper was especially pleased with limited middle school change orders being on the agenda. The middle school nears completion as classrooms are being finished and cleared by the contractors. A target date is set for May 15 for access to the building with hopes of getting students and staff in the building before the end of the school year. A community open house will be scheduled in August.

The board meeting was quick with a motion to adjourn coming at 6:11. The next meeting is scheduled for April 28.