Sergeant Bluff-Luton Regular Board Meeting (09/04/2025)

Mission Statement

In partnership with parents and the community, the SB-L Schools will challenge students to take personal responsibility for their education and to apply their learning to a diverse and changing world.

Attendance

Voting Members

Matt Britton, Board Director

Tammy Matthey, Board Director

Lillyan Rodriguez, Board Director

Jeff Wright, President

Jason Gehling, Vice President

1.Call to Order

The regular September 2025 meeting of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Board of Education was called to order by President Jeff Wright at 6:00 a.m.     The meeting was held at the Northwest AEA, in Room 5.

2.Approval of the Agenda

Motion made by: Tammy Matthey

Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

3.Welcome Visitors & Guests

President Wright welcomed the visitors and asked if anyone present wished to address the board.  No written or oral comments were given.

4.Approval of minutes from the previous meetings

The minutes of the meetings from August 2025 were reviewed by the board.

Motion made by: Jason Gehling

Motion seconded by: Matt Britton

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

5.Approval of Current Bills

The current bills were reviewed by the board.  

Motion made by: Tammy Matthey

Motion seconded by: Matt Britton

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

6.Recognition

• Congratulations to Zayvion Ellington on being named the Sioux City Journal Male Athlete of the year!!

• The Sergeant Bluff School Board, Administration, Staff, Students, and Community on the opening of the new tennis courts!!  Something very special to celebrate!!

7.Administrative Reports

a.Dr. Brown

Dr. Brown presented on middle school and talked about the protectiveness of middle school teachers.  The theme in Middle School is that we are stronger together.  New staff were listed. 

Middle School Mission: Provide a safe and challenging environment that maximizes each student's potential.

Middle School Vision: Empower learners for tomorrow.

Middle School Values: Cooperate, achieve, respect, empower.

Parent and staff feedback for the Fall 2025 was provided.  How to handle behavior and discipline issues were outlined. Master schedule changes were reviewed.

b.Mr. Klingensmith

Mr. Klingensmith shared a presentation slide with the board.

8.Action Items

a.Resignations

Recommendation to approve the new resignations as presented: 

•Buthe, Tim - Bus Driver effective October 30, 2025.

•Jones, Earl - Elementary School Associate 

Motion made by: Matt Britton

Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

b.New contracts

Recommendation to approve the new contracts as presented:

Gooch, Theodore - Kitchen Director $50,000

Young, Richard - Substitute Bus Driver

Hansen, Chastey - Substitute Bus Driver

Wilson, Courtney - MA+15 Step 8 (correction from March 6 board meeting - MA+15 step 7)

Ball, Michelle - Middle School Asst VB Step 5 - $1,817.00

Motion made by: Tammy Matthey

Motion seconded by: Jason Gehling

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

c.Handbooks

Recommendation to approve the handbooks as presented.

Motion made by: Matt Britton

Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

d.Review of the Early Retirement Policy #407.3

Motion to maintain the Early Retirement Policy #407.3 as presented. 

Motion made by: Tammy Matthey

Motion seconded by: Matt Britton

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

e.Resolution to accept the G.O. Bond Petition and call an election

RESOLUTION ORDERING AN ELECTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF $37,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION SCHOOL BONDS WHEREAS, there has been filed with the President of this Board a Petition of eligible electors of this School District asking that an election be called to submit the question of contracting indebtedness and issuing bonds of the School District in an amount not to exceed $37,000,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new Primary School building as an addition to the Elementary building (including demolition of the existing Primary building) and improve the site;

Motion made by: Tammy Matthey

Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

f.1st Reading Title IX Policy

1st Reading - No Action Taken

106.01

106.01E1

106.01R1

106.01R2

106.01R3

106.01R4

106.01R5

g.Vote to consider adding Lewis Central to the MRAC Conference

Motion to add Lewis Central to the MRAC Conference.

Motion made by: Jason Gehling

Motion seconded by: Matt Britton

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

9.Superintendent Report

a.Review of the Insufficient Classroom Space Policy #606.06

The board reviewed the Insufficient Classroom Space Policy #606.06.

b.Enrollment Update

Mr. Janzen will provide the enrollment numbers to the board after the October 1st count date.   

c.East Campus Update

Mr. Janzen shared the East Campus is nearing completion.  The main items to be completed are the scoreboard installation and the retention pond, which needs to completely dry up from rains in order to complete the work.  He also said Nelson Construction will return late in the fall to do some additional seeding as needed.  Work should be nearly complete by September 5th.

d.November 4, 2025 Bond update

Mr. Janzen provided an update on the November 4 bond issue.  He shared a document prepared by CMBA identifying the cost to renovate the existing primary building.  The estimate to renovate the existing primary building is $29 million.  The district is asking for $37 million in the November 4 bond issue to build a new primary attached to the existing elementary and retire the current primary building.  The levy rate would be $1.93, a 32% decrease from the November 2024 bond.  He also shared that it will cost the average homeowner in the district $21/month, a decrease of 34% from the November 2024 bond.  He compared the monthly cost to 7.5 gallons of gas.  Anyone willing to participate on a community team to share information can attend a meeting on September 10 at 6pm in the high school lecture hall.  The district website will be updated with new information in the next couple weeks.  A video tour of the primary building will be available on the district website soon.

10.Adjourn

Adjourn at 7:07 a.m.

Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez

Motion seconded by: Matt Britton

Voting:

Unanimously Approved

Board President

Board Secretary