Summary of Major Actions Taken During the July 9, 2007 DMC Board Meeting

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

 President Dan Grizzle called the Open Session meeting of the 2006-2007 Board to order.

 Nine (9) of the 11 Directors were in attendance, representing a quorum.

 Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent, was also in attendance.

During a devotional period, Dr. Stouffer challenged and encouraged all of the Board members to make prayer central to decision-making during the 2007-2008 school year, and he presented each retiring and returning Director with a card reminding us that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ should be grateful recipients of the same promise which God gave to Abraham.  Dr. Stouffer prayed at the close of the devotional period. 

The Board approved minutes for the Open Session Board meeting on June 4, 2007.

The Board approved Mary Jo Ytzen to fill the final year of Dr. Ben Ochs’ open 2005-2008 Board term.

President Grizzle announced the retirement of DMC Directors Ken Hockmuth and Cheryl Stenzel.  Director Hockmuth offered words of encouragement to the Board before leaving the meeting.

Serving as Designated Chair, Vice-President Todd Toulouse called the Organizational Meeting of the 2007-2008 Board to order.

Nine (9) of the 10 Directors were in attendance, representing a quorum. 

Dr. Stouffer was also in attendance.

Vice-President Toulouse administered the Oath of Office to Directors Dan Grizzle, Russ Rowley, and Mary Jo Ytzen. 

Vice-President Toulouse presided over the election of the Board President.

The Board elected Director Dan Grizzle as President of the Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

President Grizzle assumed responsibility for presiding over the final actions of the 2007-2008 Organizational Meeting.

The Board elected Director Todd Toulouse as Vice-President of the Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board elected Director Mary Jo Ytzen as Secretary of the Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board elected Director Terry Williams as Treasurer of the Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

President Grizzle appointed Director Todd Goeldner as the Board’s Child Abuse Investigator and Sexual Harassment / Anti-Bullying Investigator for the 2007-2008 school year.

President Grizzle appointed Directors Mary Jo Ytzen and Doug Cappel as the Board’s Conflict Resolution Agents for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board reappointed Jeff Krausman of the Dickinson Law Firm as Legal Counsel for Des Moines Christian and the DMC Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board resolved that the Robert’s Rules of Order, 10^th edition would define the operating rules and practices of the DMC Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board determined and agreed upon the dates, times, and places for regular meetings of the DMC Board for the 2007-2008 school year.

Directors indicated preferences for their leading of upcoming Board meeting devotionals and preferences for 2007-2008 committee assignments. 

The Organizational Meeting of the Board was adjourned.

The Board convened in Closed Session.

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

Dr. Stouffer was also in attendance during the Closed Session meeting.

The Board approved minutes for the Closed Session Board meeting on June 4, 2007.

The Board approved Greg Ambroson as part-time Secondary Bible Instructor and Secondary Chaplain for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board approved Quentin Huisman as Assistant Football Coach for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board approved Kathryn Cooper as a Secondary Substitute Teacher.

The Board approved Emily Kothmann as High School English Instructor for the 2007-2008 school year.  The Board had previously approved Mrs. Kothmann as a Secondary Substitute Teacher.

The Board approved Jessica Herr as an Early Education employee.

The Board approved Mary Stocks as an Early Education Substitute Teacher.

The Board approved Molly Yentes as a paid Development Office Intern for the summer of 2007.

The Board approved Pastor Grants for Pastor Jung and Pastor Whitmore.

The Closed Session meeting was adjourned.

The Board reconvened in Open Session.

During Communication from the Association, John and Linda Steddom requested the Board consider approving the Employee Tuition Benefit for an international student whom they will be hosting during the 2007-2008 school year. 

The Board approved the Employee Tuition Benefit for the international student hosted by the Steddom family during the 2007-2008 school year.

Director Todd Toulouse addressed the Board about his concern for safety and security at Des Moines Christian, given increased terrorism activity worldwide.  Mr. Toulouse said, “We must fear no one but God, and take steps to protect everyone at Des Moines Christian.”  Mr. Toulouse, Mr. Williams, and Dr. Stouffer volunteered to serve on a safety and security committee, which will meet prior to the 2007-2008 school year.  It was also suggested that DMC Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds Cliff Anderson be included as a resource to or member of that committee.   Director Russ Rowley called the entire Board and Association to ongoing prayer for God’s hedge of protection around the school. 

Director Doug Cappel addressed the Board about the current By-laws provision which limits the number of Directors from any given church to 4 in number.  Currently, 5 of the Directors are regular attenders of a single church.  President Grizzle called the Board to prayer about this matter, and the item will be placed on the agenda for additional discussion during the Board meeting on August 6, 2007. 

The Board discussed options for recruiting Association members and filling the 2 open Board positions: shorter term length, lower number of Directors, appointment, election, etc.  The Board agreed to the appointment of 2 Association members to 2 three-year terms (with an indefinite  timeline for accomplishment of this action).  Directors Scott Erickson, Bruce Stanley, and Todd Toulouse agreed to serve as the Board Nominating Committee for this process and the 2008-2011 election – their work beginning immediately.  The Board agreed to pray for God to place the right Association members in open seats. 

The Board approved DMC Business Manager Julia Veenstra and Association Member R. Kim Dreher as DMC representatives to the Heart of Iowa Student Tuition Organization (STO) for the 2007-2008 school year.

The Board approved all recommended changes to the Parent Teacher Fellowship By-laws.

The Board approved the Facilities Management Committee as a permanent standing committee of the Board, effective immediately.

The Board approved the Strategic Prioritization Committee as a permanent standing committee of the Board, effective immediately.

The Board discussed possible approaches to updating the school’s Strategic Plan (approved by the DMC Board on August 1, 2004). 

The Board tabled Board training for the evening but agreed to pursue segments of Board training during upcoming Board meetings throughout the 2007-2008 school year.

Due to time constraints, all Board policy review was tabled. 

Director Russ Rowley closed in prayer. 

The meeting was adjourned.