Starmont Community School District board approves personnel raises, vendor contracts and storm fund resolution; fuel bid fails

The Starmont Community School District board on June 9 approved a slate of personnel raises and vendor agreements, passed a resolution to participate in the Storm Protection Fund and approved a Booster Club plan to revitalize the football and track entry and ticket booth. A proposed fuel contract failed to advance; a Piper Sandler advisor presented funding options for future facilities work via Zoom.

Board President Julie Uhlenkamp called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. in the Starmont High School conference room. The meeting record shows the agenda and consent agenda were approved without objection. The consent agenda included minutes, monthly financial reports, bills (audited by board member Tony Recker), several personnel hires and resignations, volunteer coaches, open enrollments, fundraisers, special education contracts and annual vendor agreements.

Financial and vendor approvals included a 2025–26 milk contract with Prairie Farms (approved 5–0) and a WestEd ICUE Fall 2025 research agreement (approved 5–0). A motion to approve a 2025–26 fuel bid from Mulgrew Oil was recorded as having "died" in the minutes; the record does not include a roll-call tally or final vote count for that motion. The board also approved cooperative agreements, including one with Buena Vista University (approved 5–0).

On district governance, the board completed a second reading and voted to adopt the package of board policies listed on the agenda (motion carried 5–0). The board also approved the Booster Club’s plan to renovate the stadium entry and ticket booth (motion carried 5–0).

The board considered and approved several contract and compensation items for district staff. The minutes record: a 2.5% salary increase for Superintendent Robert Busch (motion carried 5–0); 3.44% increases for Borrett and Weston (motions carried 5–0 as recorded); a $2,500 increase for Principal Hesse (motion carried 4–1, Nay: Tony Recker); and an amended benefit stipend for Swales approved at $2,000 after an initial motion proposing $4,764 was amended and the amendment carried 5–0. An initial motion to approve a 3.44% increase in Business Manager Katie Taylor’s salary (moved by Tony Recker) received no second and died; a subsequent motion by Doug Puffett to approve a 3.44% salary increase for Taylor and a $1,152 increase in her benefit stipend was seconded by Tony Recker and carried 5–0.

The minutes note that Matt Gillispie of Piper Sandler joined the meeting by Zoom to review funding options for future building improvements; the minutes do not record specific financing alternatives or dollar figures presented. Superintendent Busch told the board he will hold interviews for the maintenance director position soon, reported that the football field sprinklers have been inspected and said staff will work on next steps for facilities improvements.

The board approved a resolution to participate in the Storm Protection Fund on a roll-call vote with all five members present voting aye (Jacob Moellers, Vicki Althoff, Tony Recker, Julie Uhlenkamp, Doug Puffett). The meeting adjourned at 9:28 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda: motion by Doug Puffett; second by Tony Recker; carried 5–0. - Consent agenda (minutes, reports, hires/resignations, contracts): motion by Doug Puffett; second by Jacob Moellers; carried 5–0. - Second reading/adoption of listed policies: motion by Doug Puffett; second by Tony Recker; carried 5–0. - Booster Club plan (stadium entry/ticket booth): motion by Vicki Althoff; second by Doug Puffett; carried 5–0. - Milk bid (Prairie Farms): motion by Tony Recker; second by Doug Puffett; carried 5–0. - Fuel bid (Mulgrew Oil): motion by Tony Recker; second by Vicki Althoff; motion recorded as "died"; vote tally not specified. - Storm Protection Fund resolution: motion by Doug Puffett; second by Jacob Moellers; roll-call ayes – Moellers, Althoff, Recker, Uhlenkamp, Puffett; nays – none. - Buena Vista University cooperative agreement: motion by Doug Puffett; second by Jacob Moellers; carried 5–0. - WestEd ICUE Fall 2025 research agreement: motion by Doug Puffett; second by Tony Recker; carried 5–0. - Contract/salary approvals: Superintendent Robert Busch +2.5% (carried 5–0); Borrett +3.44% (carried 5–0); Weston +3.44% (carried 5–0); Principal Hesse +$2,500 (carried 4–1; Nay: Tony Recker); Swales benefit stipend amended to +$2,000 (amendment and final motion carried 5–0); Katie Taylor approved for +3.44% and $1,152 benefit stipend (final motion carried 5–0).

What the minutes do not specify The meeting minutes do not record detailed vote tallies for some motions (for example, the fuel bid motion is recorded as having "died" without a roll-call or yea/nay count). The Piper Sandler presentation is noted but the minutes do not include the specific funding options or figures discussed.