Bergland and Rottinghaus sworn in, Mack and Freund appointed school board president, vice-president

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

New school board members Patricia Rottinghaus and Janiece Bergland were officially sworn in as directors-at-large on the Charles City Community School District Board of Education to start the meeting on Monday.

The two won their seats in the election held Nov. 5. Board member Robin Macomber, who was serving as board president, was defeated in the election. Board member Jason Walker did not seek another term.

Bergland is a retired music teacher in the district and Rottinghaus is a retired Charles City school counselor. School board directors serve a term of four years.

Following approval of the official canvass of votes, the retiring board adjourned and the new board members joined the board.

Superintendent Mike Fisher read a declaration to acknowledge the contributions of Macomber and Walker and voice “appreciation and gratitude” for their service.

“The men and women elected to the school board positions deserve recognition and thanks for their countless hours of volunteer service to public education,” Fisher read. “Jason Walker and Robin Macomber have faithfully served the students and citizens of the Charles City Community School District for five and six years, respectively.”

Once the new board was called to order, Director Scott Dight nominated Director Josh Mack to serve as board president and director Missy Freund to serve as board vice-president. Both Mack and Freund were approved unanimously, and Mack chaired the rest of the meeting.

Committee assignments were then made, with Dight and Bergland assigned to facilities, Freund and Bergland assigned to communications and public relations, Dight and Mack assigned to finance, Mack and Rottinghaus assigned to negotiations and compensation, Freund and Rottinghaus assigned to both policy and the school improvement advisory committee, and Mack appointed as the county conference board representative.

In other action, the board unanimously approved the regular meetings policy, setting the meetings for 6:15 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month — which is the same as it was before. Freund noted for the record that there would only be one meeting in December, on Dec. 9.

Also Monday, Fisher told the board that contract negotiations with the Charles City Community Education Association (CCCEA) were ongoing. He said he’s been impressed with the collaboration and cooperation with the teachers to this point.

“I meet with a teacher negotiation team monthly, and we’ll start support staff negotiations soon as well,” Fisher said. “At some point in the next couple of months the school board will also have to make a determination on early retirement. That’s also a collaborative process with the association, and we appreciate their flexibility in helping us out with that.”

The board also unanimously approved a letter of understanding with the CCCEA to establish an assistant bowling coach position for the 2019-20 school year due to high participation and no position included in the master contract.

“We found that our bowling numbers were so high that we really needed another assistant bowling coach in a compensated position,” said Fisher, who added that such a position was not included as a part of the three-year contract. “We worked with the negotiations group to have a side agreement put in, that will eventually be rolled into the new contract.”

As a part of the approval of the consent agenda, Anthony Slinger was named assistant bowling coach, at a salary of $2,167, effective immediately. The bowling season started Nov. 18.

“I’m glad to see our bowling numbers keep going up,” said Dight. “The position is needed, and the community and the bowling alley in town (Comet Bowl) … really supports the program, so it’s a positive thing to be happening.”

The board then took a recess and moved to the coach’s room at Lincoln for a work session. Harry Heiligenthal of the Iowa Association of School Boards led an informational discussion on better boardsmanship. Topics addressed by Heiligenthal included maximizing governance and board/superintendent leadership, leadership dynamics, response to stakeholder inquires and operating principles.

In other business Monday, the board:
— Approved the resignation of head volleyball coach Madeline Fank, effective immediately.
— Approved the transfer of Kelvin Marvin from North Grand Building custodian and driver to the new position of Washington Elementary head custodian.
— Approved the application to the school budget review committee in the amount of $5,395.22 for special education administrative costs associated with River Hills Consortium and the amount of $8,791.14 with Lied Center Consortium program for the 2020-21 school year.