Report of Major Actions Taken During the DMC Board Meeting on July 7, 2008

By Dan Grizzle, Board President and Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent

 

President Dan Grizzle called the meeting to order.

 

Nine (9) of the 12 Directors were in attendance, representing a quorum.

 

Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent; John Steddom, Secondary Principal; Linda Steddom, Director of Curriculum and Assessment; Steve Hocker, Director-Elect; Jody Wohlenhaus, Director-Elect; and Kristi Wohlwend, Director-Elect were also in attendance.

 

Director Todd Goeldner presented devotions and counsel to the Board as a retiring Director. 

 

  1. Stand your watch – for your family, for your church, and for the school.  Be attentive.  Ezekiel wrote, “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.” (33:6)  Heed God’s warnings and commands.

 

  1. Search for wisdom.  The wisdom of God is evident.  Rely on God’s wisdom, not your own understanding.  Allow His spirit to guide you.  People will see and appreciate your wisdom.

 

  1. Uphold your integrity.  You may face ridicule even from your friends.  Trust in God.  Don’t be concerned about vindication in the eyes of others.

 

  1. Please God (versus pleasing others).  God’s ways are not man’s ways.  Isaiah wrote, “8‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. 9‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (55:8-9)  Strive for good relationships with others, but, most importantly, nurture your relationship with God.

 

  1. You may believe you are not equipped to serve as a DMC Board member, but each Board member brings skills and abilities to benefit the school.  In 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, Paul wrote, “4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”  One of your purposes is to serve Him on the Board.  Be active.  God will equip you.  His Spirit will guide you.  He will equip you for His exact assignments on the school board.  Turn to him for strength and guidance and discernment and protection. 

 

Mr. Goeldner opened the meeting in prayer.

 

The Board approved Open Session minutes for the Board meeting on June 2, 2008. 

 

Retiring Director Todd Toulouse was also offered the opportunity to share closing thoughts about his six years of experience as a Board member, and he offered counsel to the new Board.

 

  1. Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith.  Being a Board member can be a blessing and a great challenge.  It’s not going to get easier.  Pray daily for DMCS, fellow Board members, administration, staff, and students.  Guard and protect students and staff on this campus. . . .Keep curriculum and textbooks Christ-centered. . . .Don’t be tempted to raise tuition. . . .Economic times may force many core families to make some difficult choices in the wake of artificially-high gas prices, food prices, etc.

 

  1. Have courage; be strong.  Do not compromise.  Don’t be afraid to stand for our Christian values and principles in the public arena. . . .Have the courage to know and carry-out God’s will. . . . Have the courage to say No. . . .Know your boundaries as a Board member, but don’t be afraid to take a stand.

 

  1. Do everything in love.  Consider your service to DMCS as an act of worship.  You will disagree on issues.  Do so in love.  Don’t let it get personal.  Remember your fellow Board members, administrators, and staff members are also followers of Christ.  Pray together. 

 

  1. Learn to love Board policy.  We are a policy-making Board.  Fulfill that role, and consider it an act of worship.  Use Board policy to protect DMCS.  Learn to take the “long view” – 10-20-30 years out.  Don’t base Board policy on who is currently in administration.  I quote former Board member Chuck Larson – “Follow Board policy, or change Board policy.” 

 

Russ Rowley prayed for retiring Directors Doug Cappel, Todd Goeldner, Todd Toulouse, and Mary Jo Ytzen.

 

As Designated Chair, President Grizzle called the Organizational Meeting of the 2008-2009 Board to order.

 

Mr. Grizzle administered the Oath of Office to new Directors Steve Hocker, Jody Wohlenhaus, and Kristi Wohlwend. 

 

Mr. Grizzle agreed to serve as President Protempore of the Organizational Meeting.

 

The Board elected Dan Grizzle as Board President for the 2008-2009 school year.

 

The Board elected Scott Erickson as Board Vice-President for 2008-2009.

 

The Board elected Debby Doty as Board Secretary for 2008-2009.

 

The Board elected Russ Rowley as Board Treasurer for 2008-2009.

 

President Grizzle appointed Kristi Wohlwend as the Board’s Child Abuse Investigator and Sexual Harassment/Anti-Bullying Investigator for 2008-2009.

 

President Grizzle appointed Bruce Stanley and Jody Wohlenhaus as the Board’s Conflict Resolution Agents for 2008-2009.

 

President Grizzle appointed Bill Woodyard as the Board’s Boy Scout and Girl Scout Troop Representative for 2008-2009.

 

The Board appointed Jeff Krausman as Des Moines Christian’s Legal Counsel for 2008-2009.

 

The Board resolved to define the operating rules and practices of the Board through Robert’s Rules of Order.

 

The Board agreed upon tentative dates, times, and locations of 2008-2009 Board meetings.

 

Each Director committed to leading devotions at one of the monthly Board meetings.

 

Each Director indicated preferences for 2008-2009 Board committee assignments.

 

Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, requested the addition of three Open Session agenda items – an information/discussion item about the development of satellite Des Moines Christian schools, an information/discussion item about the development of a Cedarville Community College at Des Moines Christian, and a discussion/action item for Board action on Educational Program Committee recommendations for 2008-2009 handbook changes.

 

Dr. Stouffer provided the Board with a report about a local design team which senses a leading of God to make a DMC-sponsored Christ-centered school available in the Des Moines area.  Dr. Stouffer reported that a more developed proposal would be available for Board consideration at the Board meeting on August 4, 2008.

 

Dr. Stouffer provided the Board with a report about the possibilities of Christ-centered Cedarville Community College coursework being available on the DMC campus.  Dr. Stouffer reported that a more developed proposal would be available for Board consideration at the Board meeting on August 4, 2008.

 

The Board accepted Dr. Stouffer’s recommendation that a task force make recommendations about the school’s response to the request for nut-free policies and practices at Des Moines Christian.  As the parent of a child with a severe nut allergy, Director Bill Woodyard cautioned the Board about creating policy which does not entirely prevent people from bringing nuts to school.  He also encouraged the administration and nurse to property educate people about what to do when a student has an adverse reaction to the presence of nuts in the school.  Mr. Woodyard agreed to serve as Chair of that task force.

 

The Board adjourned from the Open Session Meeting to Closed Session.

 

Ten (10) of the 11 Directors were in attendance for Closed Session, representing a quorum.

 

Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, and John Steddom, Secondary Principal, were also in attendance.

 

The Board approved minutes of the Closed Session meeting on June 2, 2008.

 

The Board approved Kimberly Kolling as Part-Time Secondary Mathematics Instructor for the 2008-2009 school  year.  

 

The Board approved contracts for the following Fall 2008 athletic coaches: 

 

 

The Board accepted the resignation of Assistant Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Rob Newton, with regrets.

 

The Board approved Chad Parker for the Grades 5-12 Instrumental Music Director’s position for the 2008-2009 school year. 


The Board approved Debi Crews as Part-Time Resource Instructor for the 2008-2009 school year. 

 

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

 

On the Educational Program Committee’s recommendation, the Board adopted the following resources for use with the new Anatomy and Physiology course during the 2008-2009 school year: Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology, 8th ed.; Anatomy and Physiology Coloring Workbook, 9th ed., and the Human Body Atlas (all published by Pearson Prentice Hall Publications).  Linda Steddom indicated that communication would be sent home to the parents and guardians of students in the course to alert them to sensitive content, the use of secular print materials, and the requirement that the teacher create a plan for integration of biblical truth when using the text.

 

On the Educational Program Committee’s recommendation, the Board adopted Geography and Culture, published by Bob Jones University Press, as the textbook for seventh grade Geography class, effective with the 2008-2009 school year.

 

On the Educational Program Committee’s recommendation, the Board approved revisions to handbook language for the K-12 dress code, detention consequences, home schooling, excused tardies, and academic probation.

 

The Board reviewed 17 Board policies.  The Board tabled 9 Board policies listed on the agenda.

                       

Bill Woodyard closed the meeting in prayer.

 

President Grizzle adjourned the meeting.