Minutes of the RSAI January
Organizational Meeting
January 18, 2014 at Prairie Meadows
Conference Center
The meeting was called to order at
10 a.m. by Steering Committee Chair Bob Olson.
Thirty-three schools (33) were
represented at the meeting. Also, in
attendance as observers were Tom Downs and Galen Howsare from IASB; and Larry
Sigel and Margaret Buckton from ISFIS.
Approve Proposed Rules for Organizational
Meeting
A motion was made by Karleen Stephens, Second
by Brad Breon to approve the proposed rules for the Organizational
Meeting. Motion carried.
Discuss, Amend and Ratify By-Laws
Discussion was
held and action was taken on the following amendments.
Organizational
Name - Motion by LeeAnn Grimley, Second by Jeff Hiser to adopt the
organizational name as Rural School Advocates of Iowa. Motion carried
Mission statement
- Motion by Jeff Hiser, Second by Brad
Breon to approve the amended Mission Statement as follows - Rural School
Advocates of Iowa will advocate for students
in rural schools to assure a fair, equal, and quality education. Motion carried.
Motion by Dwight
Widen, Second by Jennifer Varallas to approve all by-laws including
amendments. Motion carried.
District organizational meetings were held
and the following were selected
A. RSAI District Representative to serve a term
as defined in the by-laws
Southwest - Gregg
Cruickshank/Sidney and South Page Superintendent
Northeast - LeeAnn
Grimley/Springville Board President
Southeast - Brad
Breon/Seymour and Moravia Superintendent
Northwest - Bob
Olson/Clarion-Goldfield-Dows Superintendent
B. RSAI Legislative Representative
Southwest - Jeff
Hiser/Shenandoah Superintendent
Northeast -
Michelle Arneson/Nashua Plainfield Principal/Curriculum Director
Southeast - Tom
Rembe/Seymour Board Member
Northwest - to be
filled
C. At-Large
Representatives - will serve on the Leadership Group and as liaisons to
Legislative Representatives
Joel Davis/Coon
Rapids-Bayard Board President - 2 year term
Brian Rodenburg/Midland
Superintendent - 3 year term
Kevin Fiene/East
Sac County Superintendent - 1 year term
Motion by Gregg
Cruickshank, second by Jeff Hiser to approve the appointments. Motion carried.
Legislative Priorities - discussion was
held as a group on legislative priorities.
Priorities brought to the attention of the group for further
consideration were.
Transportation - a
cost equalization formula per pupil.
Management Fund -
eliminating the caps based on age and using Management to fund School Business
Officials.
PPEL and SAVE -
providing for greater flexibility for uses.
Local referendums
- expanding the funding of the Instructional Support Levy through local
referendum.
Allowable
growth/supplemental state aid - calling for 4 - 6% for 2015/16 and setting the
number within the first 30 days of the legislative session.
Operational
Sharing - early clarification on funding.
Drop out
prevention - review the formula and provide greater flexibility.
Open enrollment -
only send state aid portion to receiving schools.
A Google survey
will be developed to prioritize legislative initiatives and will be taken under
consideration by the Legislative Representatives and At-Large Representatives.
Authorization of RSAI Leadership
Council
Motion by Joel
Davis, second by Jim Sandy to authorize the RSAI Leadership Council to take all
steps necessary to form an organization according to the by-laws, subject to
law. Motion carried.
Next steps/other business
The
organization website was shared:
rsai.org/home/html
Dues
will be set at no more than $1,000 per district.
Put
board approval for membership on your district’s next agenda.
Get
Legislative Representatives organized and set priorities.
Incorporate
Share job description for a
lobbyist.
Mass email to all districts of 1250
and less that the organization exists.
January 22 Joel Davis and Gregg
Cruickshank will meet with IASB.
Leadership Council webinar scheduled
for January 24 at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully
submitted
Gregg Cruickshank
- Steering Committee Secretary
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