The regular monthly meeting of the Mount Vernon Community School District School was held on November 14, 2022. The Board also held its required Annual School Finance Meeting, and its Organizational Meeting after the recent School Board election. The following topics were addressed during the meetings:
Annual Meeting: During the Annual Meeting, the Board reviewed the yearly financial summary provided by School Business Officer, Michael Marshall. Overall, the District’s finances remain sound, but the lack of sufficient funding from the state means the District must keep a close eye on its General Fund, Unspent Balance, and Spending Authority when making financial decisions.
Organization Meeting: During the Organization Meeting, Nannette Gunn was elected as Board President and Rick Elliott was elected as Board Vice-President.
Regular Monthly Meeting
Approval Agenda: The meeting agenda was approved as written with no changes proposed.
Superintendent Report: Dr. Batenhorst took time to highlight the positive culture of the Mount Vernon Community, and how the school district and community have maintained a culture of excellence throughout the years. The successes being currently experienced by the district and community are a testimony to the level of excellence and positivity of the culture in Mount Vernon.
Public Comments: No public comments were made during the meeting.
Program Division
Certified Enrollment: The Board reviewed the Certified Enrollment report which revealed an decrease of 1.23 students from the 2021-2022 school year to the 2022-2023 school year. Resident enrollment remained flat due to lower birth rates of school-aged children, and a larger graduating class was replaced in the district by a smaller kindergarten class. Open Enrollment numbers remain strong. When preschool classes are factored in, the District has 1428 students in attendance for grade PK-12.
Leader in Me Program: Dr. Batenhorst provided the Board with information about the Leader in Me program that is being instituted in the schools. The program is based on the Seven Habits of Highly Successful People developed by Stephen Covey, and is a program that will help the district in its work with social-emotional learning and student leadership. The staff is currently completing professional learning related to the program, and this work will move to the student level during the second semester and next year.
Personnel Division: The Board approved the hiring of a series of support staff members.
Facilities Division: Dr. Batenhorst provided a brief overview on the progress with the construction of the new activities complex.
Administrative Division: The Board approved the First Reading of a series of policy updates provided by the Iowa Association of School Boards, along with approving the First Reading of all policies in the 100 and 600 series.
Reports: No reports were offered by Board members during the meeting.
Unfinished Business: Final details for the IASB Convention this week were reviewed.
Consent Agenda: All items in the Consent Agenda were approved as presented.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the School Board is scheduled for Monday, December 12, 2022.