Minutes of Work Session
June 23, 2021
The Board of Directors
Clarinda Community School District
A Work Session of the Board of Directors of Clarinda Community School District was held Wednesday, June 23, 2021, beginning at 4:00 PM in the Middle School Commons.
1. Call to Order
President Jones called the meeting to order at 4:04 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
3. Roll Call
The following Board members were present: President Jones, Vice President Pulliam, Bergren, Meyer, and Sunderman.
4. Discussion Concerning Roles
Harry Heiligenthal and LouAnn Gvist from the Iowa Association of School Board, and Kristy Latta district counsel from Ahlers and Cooney led the session. Discussion included
roles of the Board, superintendent, staff and community; Board’s legal authority; complaint forms and process; and following policies. The Board cannot get in the weeds and
deter the work of staff; they rely on staff to meet expectations in policies and handbooks. Day to day operations are under the superintendent. There is a balance of transparency
and confidentially with the Board. By law the Board has to protect and keep student and staff information confidential. By law the Board is charged to be judge and jury in
situations such as student expulsion and staff termination so they cannot be gathering or receiving information before a hearing. If too much information is known ahead of time,
the Board member needs to recuse themselves from the case. The Board works as a team, not individually, and in the public. On a five person board a quorum is three or more and
they cannot meet outside of scheduled meetings or informational postings. Complaint process, communication channels and those policies were discussed; complaints need to
start with the source and closest to the situation. Per policy the public cannot speak on items that are not on the Board meeting agendas.
5. Other
None
6. Adjournment
A motion was made by Sunderman, seconded by Bergren, to adjourn the meeting at 6:11 p.m. Motion carried 5-0.
