Around Des Moines

There were several agenda items for the March 11, 2008, meeting of the Des Moines Public Schools School Board. Separate posts will be written about the Foundation Feasibility Committee, the Super Block Plan, and the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget discussions. Board Member Teree Caldwell-Johnson was unable to attend due to a family medical situation. Board Member Jeannette Woods participated via telephone for most of the meeting.

This was the first regularly-scheduled board meeting since the superintendent lit a powder keg surrounding Board Member Jon Narcisse at the end of a February board meeting. Since that meeting, Board President Dick Murphy, Board Vice President Ginny Strong, and Board Member Connie Boesen appeared on a couple local radio shows. Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring also was a guest on a talk radio show. The March 11th board meeting appeared to be one of the most civil and cooperative since the school board election last September. There were still signs of conflict, though.

Narcisse got a laugh when he picked up on a theme introduced by Jim Patch during public comments. At a prior meeting, Patch suggested bottled water be removed from school vending machines because it promotes wasteful habits. At the March 11th meeting, Patch opined about the energy costs of bottled water (e.g., manufacturing the bottle). Before casting a neutral vote for the consent agenda, Narcisse said he had some concerns about an item on that agenda. It was an allusion to Taylor Ohde Kitchell, the company managing DMPS’s building renovations, and certain costs it may be allowed to recover, a long-standing irritation for Narcisse. He said, “You would think a company we’re paying $20 million to could afford their own water.”

Two items from the meeting are of immediate importance to residents of the school district. The board voted 5-0 to extend Sebring’s contract as superintendent for another three years. The board also set April 8th as the public hearing date for the district budget. The compensation committee is still conducting research so the board will take up Sebring’s salary and benefit at a future meeting

Contracts included in the consent agenda provide a glimpse at the range of DMPS’s day-to-day operations. Des Moines-based Control Installations of Iowa will be paid a total of $55,033.76 from a Secure our Schools Grant for security cameras. Old Dutch accepted last year’s contract terms with a 3.12% price increase for pretzels/baked chips, at a total cost of $29,850. Under a bid (No. 5154-08) for general and math supplies, a total of $43,610.31 will be paid to 9 separate companies, including Johnson Specialty Sales in Des Moines. Individual items in the 5154-08 bid cost from $100 to over $7,000 dollars. In addition, there was a $676,493 contract from Polk County Empowerment for the DMPS to provide preschool services for families meeting 200% of poverty income guidelines.

Woods raised a question about a contract with United Way of Central Iowa for a Healthy Lifestyles Program. This $50,000 program is being paid for by a United Way Community Response Fund Grant. It’s purpose is to address child obesity by providing before and after school programming. Woods wanted clarification if this was different from a contract approved with Hurdles, INC. at the February 26th board meeting for $25,000 to provide consultation for a child obesity program. There was no statement provided by district staff that this was a completely different contract and Murphy surmised, incorrectly, that the prior action regarding Hurdles, INC. was merely acceptance of that program.

The board gave approval as part of the consent agenda for final payment to Rochon Corporation of Iowa Inc. for construction of Carver Elementary School and its Early Childhood Addition. In a separate agenda item, the board approved plans for renovations to King Elementary School. Marv Larson of BCDM Architects presented an overview of changes to the building. There were no comments from members of the public and no discussion by the board. Construction is planned to begin in June 2008 and to be finished by July 1, 2009. The total budget is $6,400,000.

The board approved final graduation Ends on a vote of 4-1 with Narcisse in opposition. Board Member Connie Boesen read a few minor changes that were included in the board’s approval. Des Moines Education Association President Alan Young said the Ends needed to be better packaged for the public. As now written it is not clear what are the ends and what are the teaching points. Narcisse moved to table the item until Caldwell-Johnson and Woods were present but there was no second to the motion. Board Member Patty Link said she wasn’t sure any more people could be asked for input. Boesen added that the Ends will be reviewed annually by the board as part of Policy Governance monitoring.

M. R. Field covers school board meetings for AroundDesMoines.com.