Summary of Main Actions Taken During the May 1, 2006 DMCS Board Meeting

By Todd Goeldner, Board President, and Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent

At 6:00 p.m., the Parent Teacher Fellowship honored all of the Board members – particularly retiring Directors Stephen Darnielle, R. Kim Dreher, and Norm Dixon – with the annual Board Appreciation Dinner in the Multi-Purpose Room.  Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, offered a short program of thanks, honoring each of the retiring Directors with a desk plaque. 

President Todd Goeldner called the Open Session meeting to order in Room E117.

Ten (10) of the 12 Directors were present, representing a quorum.  Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, was also in attendance. 

Dr. Ben Ochs shared devotional material from the book – Jesus, CEO – by Laurie Beth Jones.  Dr. Ochs encouraged the Board to think about what Jesus would do at the points of significant decision-making at DMC.  As leaders, we should be “tuned into God” and focused on developing and equipping the next generation to leaders.  Dr. Ochs then closed his devotional in prayer.

The Board adjourned to Closed Session. 

Ten (10) of the 12 Directors were present, representing a quorum.  An 11^th Director arrived later in the Closed Session.

The Board approved minutes for the Closed Session meeting on April 17, 2006.

The Board approved Karen Landolt as a piano teacher for students at Des Moines Christian.

With regrets, the Board accepted the resignation of P.J. Holmertz.

The Board voted to extend a teaching contract to Rhonda Osborn, currently serving as a fourth grade teacher at DMC.

Director Norm Dixon closed the meeting in prayer.

The Board adjourned from Closed Session and reconvened in Open Session.

Eleven (11) of the Directors were in attendance, representing a quorum.  Dr. Stouffer, Director-Elect Scott Erickson, and Development Director Samona Yentes were also present during this Open Session.

The Board approved minutes for the Open Session meeting on April 17, 2006.

The Board discussed elements of the David Bates Board-administrator  training in January, 2006, integrating the EPC discussion about committee and Board work during their meeting in April, 2006.  Several suggestions were offered for the enhancement of governance at the school – (1) Increasing trust; (2) use of a standard proposal template with major change initiatives, (3) Board members calling the Chairs of committees prior to committee meetings if there are questions about proposals; (4) the Board a “resource,” not “the source” for the Chief Executive; and (5) formal training at the entry to the Board. 

The Board discussed strategic activity related to short-term and long-term lease agreements with faith-based and non-faith-based organizations.  The Board agreed to Director R. Kim Dreher’s suggestion that the Finance Committee study the loan covenants to make the Board aware of all available options. 

The Board approved the pilot for an additional dance during the 2006-2007 school year under the parameters listed by the administration. 

The Board approved continuation of the current chapel uniform program and dress code with the following features:  khaki-polo student uniforms on chapel days, the addition of 2 affordable shirt options, student involvement with selection of new shirt options, and staff dress code to be determined by administration.

The Board discussed the options for filling the remaining open Board position.  No final decision has been made. 

The Board had added a New Business Item, “EPC Recommendation for Home Economics Recommendation,” but not paperwork on the recommendation was available, so the agenda item was tabled until the May 15, 2006 meeting.  Some sense of urgency exists, since scheduling of students for this course still needs to take place; the ideal target is scheduling prior to the end of the 2005-2006 school year. 

Due to time constraints, all Board policies on the agenda were tabled until next meeting. 

Mr. Dreher closed the meeting in prayer.

The meeting was adjourned.