Regular Board Meeting – October 20, 2025 – 5:30 p.m. – Earlville Elementary Library, Earlville, Iowa
Board Members Present –Dabroski, Feldmann, Kunde, Overman, Zietlow
Board Members Absent – None
Staff Present – Supt. Troy Osterhaus, Brenda Becker, Brian Mangold, Tiersa Frasher, Jackie Moorman, Erika Vanderloop and Jill Hoeger
Visitors Present – Mike Putz, Lance Smeins and Mark Smith
Motion was made by Zietlow, seconded by Feldmann to approve the meeting agenda as presented. All ayes. Carried.
Motion was made by Feldmann, seconded by Overman to approve the consent items. All ayes. Carried.
Ten open enrollment requests out were approved in a motion by Overman, seconded by Feldmann. All ayes. Carried.
The following personnel recommendations were approved in a motion by Dabroski, seconded by Zietlow:
Julie Davis – resignation as Paraprofessional
Matt Botos – employed as Custodian
Madison Imler – employed as Middle School Girls Track Coach
All ayes. Carried.
In a motion by Feldmann, seconded by Overman the Board approved out of country Spanish travel request from Mrs. Ries to travel to Costa Rica in July of 2027. All ayes. Carried.
The following board policies were reviewed:
208 – Board Committees (formerly known as Ad Hoc Committees)
208 R1 – Board Committees
208 E1 – Ad Hoc Committees Exhibit (rescinded)
401.01 – Equal Employment Opportunity
502.07 – Student Substance Use
507.05 – Emergency Plans and Drills
710.1E1 – School Nutrition Program – Program Notices of Nondiscrimination
507.02 – Administration of Medication to Students
607.02 – Student Health Services
802.02 – Requests for Improvements
804.05 – Stock Prescription Medication Supply
Motion by Overman, seconded by Feldmann to waive the second reading and adopt these policies on the first official reading. All ayes. Carried.
The Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination was approved in a motion by Dabroski, seconded by Feldmann. All ayes. Carried.
The Board discussed offering an early retirement package to qualifying staff. Further discussion will take place at the November board meeting.
The Board will be attending the IASB Convention in Des Moines November 19– 20, 2025.
Director Overman and Zietlow will serve on the October audit committee.
Supt. Osterhaus shared SAVE and PPEL projections and budget information with the board for FY25, FY26 and FY27. Supt. Osterhaus expressed concern with the PPEL fund balance. Due to some unexpected expenses, the PPEL fund balance will become negative at the end of FY27. There are opportunities to move expenses to other fiscal years or move expenses to the SAVE fund, but Supt. Osterhaus mentioned the possibility of proposing an increase in the Voted PPEL levy. The district currently has the $0.67 Voted approved PPEL and the district currently has one of the lower tax levy rates in the state. Supt. Osterhaus, along with the Board, understand the impact the levy rate has on taxpayers and patrons of the district.
Monticello will be hosting a legislative forum on December 3rd in the high school beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year was certified on October 15th. It appears the district will see a slight increase in enrollment. The 2024-2025 certified enrollment number was 671.89 and the 2025-2026 certified enrollment is 672.02.
In a motion by Feldmann, seconded by Zietlow the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. All ayes. Carried.
