Summary of Major Actions Taken by the DMC Board During the Meeting on August 6, 2007

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

President Dan Grizzle called the meeting to order.

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

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

Vice-President Todd Toulouse presented a devotional which was entitled “No Fear.”  The devotional centered on the Psalms and David pouring out his heart to God in Scriptures which are as relevant in our time, as they were to David.  Mr. Toulouse talked about our pouring our hearts out to God, encouraging the Board to pray for the school and to pray that God will continue to “contend for” the school.  Mr. Toulouse asserted that we do not need to be afraid; we can “claim the promises of the Psalms as co-heirs of Christ.” 

Vice-President Toulouse led the Board in a time of corporate prayer at the start of the meeting.

The Board adjourned to Closed Session.

The Board approved Closed Session minutes for the Board meeting on July 9, 2007. 

The Board approved increasing Early Education Instructor Suzi Bryan’s pre-school appointment from part-time to full-time. 

With regret, the Board approved Dan McCool’s resignation from responsibilities as DMC soccer coach.

The Board approved all of the following fall sports season coaches:  Cindy Kostek; Head Varsity Volleyball; Launa Hinrichs, Assistant Varsity Volleyball; Karen DeBruin, Assistant Varsity Volleyball; Don Caves, Head Varsity Football; Matt Waring, Assistant Varsity Football; Brad Green, Assistant Varsity Football; Craig Carlson, Head Junior High Football; and Chad Tierney, Assistant Junior High Football.

The Board approved a Pastor Tuition Grant for Pastor Beth Poppewell.

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

The Board approved Open Session minutes for the Board meeting on July 9, 2007. 

DMC Early Education Co-Directors Priscilla Reynolds and Sheryl VanWeelden were in attendance at the meeting, and they presented the annual report of the Early Education department.  Positives were reported about summer activities and extremely high enrollments in both pre-school and child care. 

DMC Business Manager Julia Veenstra was in attendance at the meeting, and she updated the Board about the school’s positive financial situation at the end of the fiscal year and at the start of the new 2007-2008 school year.   

Mrs. Veenstra and Treasurer Terry Williams answered questions about the Finance Committee’s recommendation for allocation of an additional $40,000 from excess funds at the end of the 2006-2007 school year to qualifying Christian Scholar Grant families.  The Board approved the recommendation.

The Board also approved the allocation of up to $5,000 to finish the equipping and furnishing of the Secondary science laboratories/classrooms, per a Finance Committee recommendation.

The Board approved the following hot lunch prices for 2007-2008 meals provided by the Des Moines Public School, per a recommendation of the administration:

Elementary       $2.35 per lunch

Secondary        $2.35                          

Adult                $2.85              

Addtl Entrée     $1.35              

Milk                 $.30                

On the administration’s recommendation, the Board approved a wage rate increase for the DMC Hot Lunch Coordinators Cindy Darnielle and Sharon Brewer. 

The Board approved new handbook language in order to comply with the state’s recently-enacted anti-bullying / anti-harassment law. 

The Board reviewed all 22 Board policies listed on the agenda.

The Board discussed options for filling the two open Board positions.  Board Nominating Committee Chair Scott Erickson gave an update about progress in considering viable candidates for the two 3-year appointments.  Through consensus, the Board empowered the Board Nominating Committee to recommend candidates as candidates indicate a willingness to serve. 

The Board granted an exemption to Board Policy 201.4, temporarily allowing 5 current Board members to attend one church, with the exemption expiring at the end of this year’s Board term.  Current Board policy mandates that no more than 4 Directors on the Board may attend the same church.  Currently, 5 Directors attend Valley Church in West Des Moines. 

Board training, the update about the DMC emergency response plan, the update about the strategic plan, and discussion about “Quality Management in Education” were tabled due to time constraints.

Director Todd Goeldner closed the meeting in prayer.

The meeting was adjourned.