Retiring Board:
Reviewed the results of the recent board election indicating that Marcia Anderson and Marvin Ness had been elected to the board.

Recognized and bid farewell to outgoing board members Marcia Hove and Selwyn Rash and thanked them for their combined 16 years of service.

New Board:
Board secretary Sue Headley administered the oath of office to new board members Marcia Anderson and Marvin Ness.

Board secretary Sue Headley conducted the election of officers for 2002-03.   Tom Bell was reelected president and Vicki Hill was reelected vice president.

Agreed to continue to hold its regular meetings on the second Monday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Approved a request from the Elementary Booster Club to conduct two fundraising activities, a T-shirt/sweatshirt sale during the upcoming holidays and a carnival in the spring. The board also granted elementary principal Paul Hemphill permission to provide information to students and families about participation in a SchoolMalls program.

Approved the contracts for the following new employees:

• Doug Olson - morning and afternoon bus driver
• Kim Bell - part-time special education aide
• Margi Smith - increased hours to a full-time special needs position

Approved one open enrollment request into the district for a kindergarten student from Northeast Hamilton, beginning with the 2003-04 school year. The board directed the superintendent to write a letter to the Department of Education notifying the department of the board's concern regarding the approval of late open enrollment applications by receiving districts.

Approved the districts' application for modified allowable growth to partially fund the K-12 at-risk program for the 2003-04 school year.

Approved the application to the School Budget Review Committee seeking approval of a modified allowable growth request for an on-time funding adjustment for open enrollment students going out of the district who were not on the previous year's count for whom tuition will be paid during the current year.

Approved a request from softball coach Jolene Voga to pursue expanding the annual Hawkette Softball Tournament if the additional teams can be secured and all logistical details can be worked through satisfactorily.

Approved a request for a change in the 2002-03 school calendar to reschedule a planned vacation day from February 27 to February 28 (Friday) in response to changes in the state wrestling tournament schedule this year.

Received an overview from Supt. Kinley on the purpose of the Instructional Support Program and were informed that this board-approved levy to support this program expires at the end of this fiscal year (June 30, 2003). Kinley outlined some specific needs supported by the program and reviewed a possible timeline for board action. The board will consider this program in more detail at its November meeting and directed the superintendent to develop a chart detailing the various funding combinations available and a plan for anticipated expenses requiring funding support.

The board reviewed and discussed the feedback on possible future sharing arrangements with neighboring districts that they received at the October 7 community meeting. The board set Monday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. as the date and time for a special board work session to further discuss and review potential proposal options.

The board adopted two board goals for 2002-03:
… Work to build relationships and promote partnerships with neighboring districts.
… Provide guidance and leadership in securing and allocating available resources to maintain a high quality educational program for all students.

Discussed plans to attend the upcoming IASB district meeting in Ames on October 24 and the annual IASB Fall Convention in November.

Elementary Principal Paul Hemphill reported on plans for this fall's elementary parent-teacher conferences and that the goal of 100% parent contacts at fall conferences has been set. 
Secondary Principal Steve Gray reported on the recent conferences held at the middle/high school.

The board heard comments from activities director Todd Coy regarding recognition of athletic team achievements.  Mr. Coy and Mr. Bell were asked to study the possibilities and costs of implementing a banner recognition program to reflect the rich tradition and success of South Hamilton and report back to the board in the future.

Supt. Kinley reported that an Evaluation Study Committee, made up of teachers and administrators, will meet soon to review the alignment of the district's current teacher evaluation system with the proposed evaluation model developed by the Iowa Department of Education. Vicki Hill volunteered to serve a board representative in these discussion with Tom Bell serving as the alternate.