Montezuma Board of Education canvases election votes

By J.O. Parker

     The Montezuma Board of Education held its November meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the school cafeteria.
      Following the call to order and approval of the consent agenda, Superintendent Rich Schulte shared some good news items taking place in the district. They included:
      Allison Pargeon being named a Regional Teacher of the Year. Pargeon is the second Montezuma teacher to be named a Regional Teacher of the Year.
    FFA’s successful trip to Nationals in October and bringing home two national championships in Farm Business Management and Agriculture Communications.
      The Montezuma Drama Department’s Musical “Monte Python’s Spamalot” and the outstanding work of the students
      Passage of the school bond issue.
      A successful mock trail.
      DECCA and the outstanding work and great showing of the students.
       “These kids take what they learn and use it in life and their future,” said Schulte.
Old business
        The board approved the financial accounting records for FY2025.
       The board received and approved the FY2025 Audit Report from Dustin Opatz with Creative Planning, LLC.   This is the second year the Urbandale-based company has completed the district’s audit.
Election results
         The board approved the canvassing of the election results.
Public Measure SQ
            Yes – Received 554 votes
            No – Received 187 votes
            Total – 761 votes
Public Measure SP
            Yes – Received 557 votes
            No – Received 252 votes
            Total – 809 votes
Montezuma School Director At-Large for the 2025 - 26 school year.
          Matt Mann – Received 652 votes; Jason Meyer – Received 647 votes; Scattering – Received 24 votes; Total – Received 1,324 votes
Organization meeting
           Board secretary Mary Jo DeBruin called the meeting to order at 6:07 p.m. and administered the oath of office to Mann and Meyer.
        Meyer was nominated as the board president and Cori Henkle was named the Vice President of the board.
Appointment of Board Secretary and Treasurer
           Mary Jo DeBruin was appointed board secretary and Karla DeCook as board treasurer.
Establishment of board meeting date, time and location
        The board voted to move the regular monthly meetings to the second Tuesday of the month in the school cafeteria beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Designation of Legal Counsel
            The board appointed Ahlers Cooney as legal counsel for the 2025 – 26 school year.
Name of Official Publication
            Discussed and tabled naming the district’s official publication.
Designate Depository Banks
          The board moved to name Montezuma State Bank and First State Bank as the district’s depository banks.
         Montezuma State Bank will be the district’s depository bank for the Schoolhouse, Activity ($4,000,000), PPEL Fund ($5,000,000), Debt Service Fund ($750,000), Self-Funded Insurance Fund ($100,000), Capital Projects Fund ($10,000,000) and all other funds for the school year 2025 – 26.
          First State Bank will be the district’s depository bank for the General Fund ($5,000,000), Hot Lunch Fund ($300,000), Management Fund ($2,500,000), Trust and Agency Funds ($100,000) and all other funds for the school year 2025 – 26.
Administrative reports
           Principal O’Rourke noted the following:
           Conferences went well.
          PBIS Award Winner and Celebrations: We are currently on month three and continuing to see the impact this makes on the group as a whole.
            Superintendent and secondary principal Schulte noted that conferences went well.
            It was also noted that during the professional development day in November, the secondary teachers had a chance to choose their own path by visiting teachers in other districts to get ideas to improve instruction, attending  conference, working with a colleague onsite, or by working independently on a project related to each of their individual goals. The December professional development will be an externship opportunity with businesses in the area.
Winter Sports Participation
            Girls’ Wrestling – 5
            Boys’ Wrestling – 14
            Wrestling Cheer – 6
            Girls’ Basketball – 13
            Boys’ Basketball – 22
            Dance – 25 Plus Girls
            JH Girls’ Basketball – 16
            JH Girls’ Wrestling – (Starts in January)
            JH Boys’ Basketball – 15 (estimated from sign up)
            JH Boys’ Wrestling – 8
Other News
            The board approved Dylan Wilhelm as girls’ basketball volunteer.
            The board moved to approve a contract modification from full-time to part-time for Suzie Elliott.
            The board approved offering the Voluntary Early Retirement Policy to staff.
            The board approved the Collection Agency service as presented.
            The board approved Marco Technology to update phones in the administrative offices.
            Superintendent Schulte updated the board on the next steps from Denovo.
            Step 1 – district will establish kickoff meetings with user groups to further develop scope and details. This will include:
            Athletic complex and locker room renovation
            MS/HS leaders – validate educational improvements
       Step 2 - Schedule – Will work with the board to determine the best path forward for construction schedule and setting expectations for when specific portions of the project should be completed.
            Step 3 – Bidding and construction.
            The December Board meeting will be held on Dec. 10 in the school cafeteria starting at 5 p.m. due to a Christmas program.