Author: Theresa Rose

Mount Pleasant Community School District Superintendent, John Henriksen, announced today(Thursday) that several business owners contacted him about an email they received from All American Publishing regarding the purchase of advertising for Mount Pleasant Community High School FFA  t-shirts.  He also stated that the email mentions FFA advisor, Brady Martin, implying the advisor has endorsed this project. Henriksen expressed that this project is not authorized by MPCSD and is no approved by the District Board of Directors.

However, Henriksen did say that the MPCHS FFA students will soon be taking orders for strawberries which is a School Board approved fundraiser.

AGENDA

 January 12, 2023

Approve Agenda

Approve Minutes

9:00 Caleb Waters, Conservation Monthly Update

9:30 Alicia Yocum Fair & 4-H Budget Request

10:00 Kellie Sloan, Treasurer Budget Request

Other County Business as time allows

Supervisors Sub-Committee Updates

The Mount Pleasant School Board will be expected to approve the FY22 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report at the February board meeting.  Monday night at the January meeting Director of Finance Ed Chabal went over the highlights of the report. The unassigned fund balances all increased except for the activity fund.  That balance saw an $8,588 drop. The general fund went up $975,971 due to the infusion of covid funds from the federal government putting the fund at $4,139,328.  The food service fund also saw an increase of $263,418 due in large part to federal funds used to make lunch free for all students, again because of covid. Total district revenues were $29,943,876, an increase of $1,665,967. Total expenditures were $29,752,173, increasing by $3,203,791 from FY21.

Not included in the Comprehensive Report but also discussed at the meeting was the taxable valuations to be used for FY24.  The valuations increased about $8.2 million to $648,574,431, an increase of 1.32 % from the previous year.

The Mount Pleasant School District Board of Directors continues to assess the district’s facilities and plan for the future.  The Mapleleaf Athletic complex field house needs renovations and now the Athletic Booster Club is preparing to kick-off a fundraising campaign to raise funds for a project to improve the building.  Activities Director Scot Lamm told the school board site committee the maximum estimate cost for the proposed renovations is $250,000.  He said he has been discussing this with the Booster Club and proposes the following improvements….additional toilets, new lighting and flooring, a new entrance/exit door and new lockers.  The site committee supports the project. The committee also agreed that costs related to maintenance like lighting and plumbing should be District costs.

Another building that has come under scrutiny is the bus garage.  It is no long big enough.  At one point the discussion revolved around possibly building a new garage at the High School site on Grand Avenue. However, cost may be prohibitive.  Apparently, there is in opportunity to rent a larger space.  Supt. John Henriksen will get rental costs for the Board’s site committee to consider. The committee also suggesteed that the lot north of the existing bus garage could be purchased and a new garage built on that site.  Henriksen will also be following up with the City regarding that idea.

Fairfield Community School District will dismiss school at 10:00 this morning, January 11. Pence Elementary is without electricity due to a problem with an Alliant transformer. Alliant will work on the system today, and school will resume tomorrow. All schools in the district will be dismissed in the district. After-school activities are as scheduled at the high school. Middle School activities and practices are canceled. There will be no after-school program at Washington, Pence, or Homework club at the middle school. Pence Elementary does not have phone service.

MOUNT PLEASANT, IA – January 10, 2023 – The Mount Pleasant Chamber Alliance is pleased to
announce the selection of its new Executive Vice President. After undergoing a national search, Rachel
Lindeen, a Mount Pleasant native, will assume the leadership position beginning in February.
“Rachel has a wide range of experience in chamber and economic development work. She has an
infectious passion for government relations, workforce development, and employee retention that she
will bring to our community,” said Meg Richtman, Chamber Board President. “Workforce issues
continue to be at the forefront of employer needs. We could not be more thrilled to have Rachel lead
our Chamber Alliance. I am confident her impressive background and commitment to Henry County will
build upon the work of those before her.”
Lindeen has over nine years of experience in the chamber of commerce industry. Most recently, Lindeen
served as the Talent Development & Government Relations Director at the Greater Burlington
Partnership, where she managed workforce and talent recruitment, led government relations activities,
worked on regional workforce initiatives and led numerous events and volunteers.
“The Mt. Pleasant Area Development Commission (ADC) Board of Directors is extremely excited to work
with Rachel Lindeen as the new Executive Vice President. Rachel brings a wealth of knowledge to the
region and the state regarding workforce development, housing, and business recruitment,” stated
Carla McNamee, Vice Chair of the Mt. Pleasant Area Development Commission. “She will be an asset to
the Henry County Community. The ADC Board is excited for the opportunity to work and collaborate
with her to promote economic development.”
Lindeen is an economics graduate of the University of Iowa and has also completed the US Chamber of
Commerce Institute for Organizational Management. She is very active on numerous boards and
volunteer organizations throughout Southeast Iowa.
“I am excited and honored to be given the opportunity to lead the Mount Pleasant Chamber Alliance,
and I am thrilled to be entrusted with this critical work,” Lindeen added. “I look forward to working with
businesses and the community that makes Mount Pleasant and Henry County a success.”
The Chamber Alliance looks forward to working with Rachel Lindeen to continue to enhance the lives of
residents in Henry County through continued economic growth and quality of life. Lindeen will begin
employment on February 13.

Mount Pleasant School District Superintendent John Henriksen told the school board Monday night that the district will likely have to do the budget without knowing what the State Supplemental Aid percentage will be.  SSA are funds allocated by the State legislature for school districts based on enrollment.  The Iowa School Board Association believes the aid won’t be decided on until school choice is resolved.  Basically, school choice and education reform at priorities for Governor Reynolds.  This would include a school voucher system considered by some to be state aide for private schools. Opponents to the system believe state funds should be used for the State’s public school systems.

Supt. Henriksen also told the board that Kate Walton with the  Iowa Area Education Agencies is of the opinion that the Governor’s other priorities will be maternal health, tort reform, property taxes and consolidation of services.  Walton is also of the option that Republican priorities are property taxes, education issues, the budge and lessening licensing requirements while the Democrats are focused on raising wages and lowering costs, protecting reproductive freedom, funding public education and legalizing adult use of marijuana.