Author: Yorke Prough

Meeting Agenda
1. Call To Order
2. Roll Call
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Citizen Comments
5. Approval of Minutes, Claims and Financial Report
6. Reports
a. Mount Pleasant Trap Program – John Klopfenstein, Sponsor
b. Superintendent’s Report
1. Iowa Wesleyan Property Purchase Update
2. Grade-Alike Elementary Buildings Update
3. Bus/Maintenance/Central Receiving Facility Update
4. FY23 Statewide Special Education Balances
5. Legislative Update
6. Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference FY24
7. January 17 IASB Regional Workshop: Ready, Set, Govern! HS Media Center @ 5pm
8. January 22 Work Session
9. 2024-2025 School Calendar Planning
c. Board Committee Reports
1. Finance
2. Site Committee
3. Policy Commitee
7. Other Board Communication
8. Consent Items
a. Personnel
b. Open Enrollment
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
a. Review FY23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
b. First Reading of School Board Policy Series 500 Student Personnel
1. Board Policy 502.02 Use of Tobacco or Any Controlled Substance (Motion)
c. Consideration to Approve Modified Supplemental Amount for At-Risk-Dropout (Motion)
d. Consideration to Approve French-Renneker Associates for Site Survey at 1515 E. Monroe (Motion)
e. Consideration to Approve GeoTechnics for Soil Survey at 1515 E. Monroe (Motion)
11. Adjournment

Due to the anticipated forecast Monday evening into Tuesday, the Central Lee Community School District will be rescheduling the January board meeting from January 9, 2024 to January 16, 2024 at 7:00 a.m.

Seven Mount Pleasant Community School District music students have been selected to the Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Bands based on auditions conducted Saturday in Fairfield.

From the Middle School are 7^th grader Michael Gossen on alto saxophone and 8^th graders Chris Carapia-Segundo on tenor saxophone, Swaylin Henderson on clarinet and Carly Mullin on bass clarinet. Mullin was also selected to perform with the All-Iowa 8^th Grade Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band in May.

High School students who earned a spot in the SEIBA High School Honor Band are sophomore Eli Heaton on contra bass clarinet and senior Jolynn Keomanivong as first chair tenor saxophone for the second year. Senior Drake Landau on guitar was selected to the Honor Jazz Band.

These students will join other selectees in a concert on January 20 at the University of Iowa’s Voxman Music Building.

At 3:12 P.M. on January 7, 2024, Wapello Fire and Rescue was called for a UTV rollover accident with injuries on I Avenue approximately 1/2 mile north of County Road G-62 in rural Wapello.

Upon arrival, emergency crews discovered a side-by-side UTV resting on it’s side leaking fuel with two occupants still inside and unable to get out. The occupants were assisted out of the vehicle and moved to a waiting Wapello ambulance for evaluation. Fire crews contained the fuel spill and assisted with removal of the vehicle. Per department policy, the identity of the occupants will not be disclosed.

On Friday morning in North Lee County Court, Roy James Vowels, 34, of Fort Madison was sentenced to two years in prison on conviction of Harassment in the 1st degree. This comes after an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Fort Madison Police Department Detective Bureau.

On May 12^th, 2023, the detectives with the Fort Madison Police Department Detective Bureau received information from the FBI indicating that Vowels had made an online threat to carry out a mass killing at an unspecified daycare facility. The threat was received by an individual located outside of the United States who, with the assistance of a US resident, reported the threat to the FBI.

Vowels was taken into custody by detectives hours later and charged with making a threat of terrorism.  Vowels later plead guilty to an amended charge of Harassment in the 1st degree on October 13^th, 2023.

The Fort Madison Police Department was assisted in this investigation by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Lee County Attorney’s Office.

The Fort Madison Police Department reminds individuals, if they see something, say something. Acts of violence can be prevented if suspicious activity or behavior are reported.

This conviction underscores the importance of reporting suspicious behavior in preventing violence. Only by investigation can we determine just how credible these threats are, and if an arrest is appropriate.

As of January 5th, 2024, it has been confirmed by the superintendent of Mt. Pleasant Community School District, John Henriksen, that the property purchase of former Iowa Wesleyan buildings is complete. In a statement, he mentioned that all documents have been signed and the funds have been transferred to the proper parties.

This central campus includes the Howe Student Activity Center and Ruble Arena, Student Union, Old Main, Pioneer Hall, P.E.O Memorial Building, and the University Chapel.

This does not mean that the property will be used to house the proposed “Central Elementary.” As of this moment, it is unclear what the buildings will be used for, but the school board will discuss this question in future meetings.

KILJ will continue to update the public on this matter as more information is released.

The Greater Iowa Swap Meet and Flea Market brings in visitors from all over for a weekend of trading. The Old Threshers Facebook Page has plenty of information regarding this event coming up on May 24^th and 25^th, but they want to make sure that the correct information is put out to the public. Facebook scammers are always a danger, and they can fool even the smartest of people. Old Threshers wants to be very clear that they do not sell outside spaces for this event in advance, and the inside spaces are sold over the phone with staff or in person at their office. If you are in the market to purchase a ticket, ensure that you are getting it from a staff member.