Iowa Schools Buildings and Grounds Association Spring Conference ‘09
Lawton – Bronson / WITCC
Sioux City, IA
Thursday, April 16th, 2009
The thermometer outside closes in on 70 degrees as the spring conference contingent of 38 members converges on the Sioux City Holiday Inn main conference room for the spring gathering of the association. President Ray Rowe calls the meeting to order at 1:03 PM with introductions of Kyle Hueser of WITCC and Dale Erickson of Lawton – Bronson CSD as our hosts and guides for the event.
Dale introduces Jeff Thelander, Superintendent of Lawton – Bronson who was very gracious in his welcome and appreciation for the ISBGA efforts in refining the B&G operations of member schools in Iowa.” I always want to know my audience when I speak, and when I address caretakers of multi million dollar facilities I will chose by words carefully on building terminology”. “I know our staff at Lawton-Bronson believe this – I feel you all do, that some day we will all be gone, but what we do now will remain here. .. . . When we do work for other people it is your legacy. Most of all, it impacts students”. Jeff seems like a ball of energy and admitted he cannot stand still even when speaking. Dale could use him on a snow day with a snow shovel . . .it might slow him down to ‘normal’ speed for the rest of that day – thank you Superintendent Thelander.
Next – Kim Willer, Mid American Energy with yet another program review for the group to consider. This was good information even though not all attendees have MA as their energy supplier. Many of the members benchmarked the offerings and ideas presented by Kim to carry back to their respective districts. Mid America covers a vast area of Iowa and supplies the greater “Sioux Land’ areas that we visited at conference this session.
Next up – Gary Brown, Woodbury County Director of Emergency Services. Gary is perhaps the most knowledgeable person we have run across as a group in regards to emergency communications in the event of a disaster.** Gary was in charge of rescue operations at the jet plane crass at Sioux City airport in 1989. His expertise or better word ‘passion’ for better disaster communications can be seen best when we toured the WITCC campus after his presentation. Gary works with all area and regional law enforcement agencies and gave the group a much better understanding how disaster communications have evolved and how we as school operations would be affected in the event of an ‘incident’. Police, fire, rescue and state troopers are getting tied together better than ever before and results will be better coverage, less radio’ gaps’ and accuracy in real time.
At 3:10 PM the membership boarded the big yellow snub nose buss and rolled east across town to WITCC for a look at the new Security Institute building, a 6+ million dollar, 38,000 symmetrically square feet of beautiful, secure, concrete and wire bar facility that houses a working 911 communications facility jointly run by the city / county and WITCC. Absolutely STATE of THE ART. The invested value of the equipment in the building far outweighs the value of the beautiful structure however. The communications equipment, media center, training rooms, 911 operations, critical operations room, 300’ tower behind the building,12 cyl. diesel 1- meg generator, security cameras, etc. makes this an electricians gadget dream land . All the while classes are conducted in close proximity. Many disaster organizations are tabbing this facility as the model for communications centers heading for the drawing board in several states around Iowa. This was one of those tours that will stick with us for a very long time.
At 3:10 PM the membership boarded the big yellow snub nose buss and rolled east across town to WITCC for a look at the new Security Institute building, a 6+ million dollar, 38,000 symmetrically square feet of beautiful, secure, concrete and wire bar facility that houses a working 911 communications facility jointly run by the city / county and WITCC. Absolutely STATE of THE ART. The invested value of the equipment in the building far outweighs the value of the beautiful structure however. The communications equipment, media center, training rooms, 911 operations, critical operations room, 300’ tower behind the building,12 cyl. diesel 1- meg generator, security cameras, etc. makes this an electricians gadget dream land . All the while classes are conducted in close proximity. Many disaster organizations are tabbing this facility as the model for communications centers heading for the drawing board in several states around Iowa. This was one of those tours that will stick with us for a very long time.
5:30 PM president Ray Rowe calls the meeting to order- Directors Dale E., Pat H. ,Kyle H., Dean B., Todd H. and Exec. Director Gene G. present.
The ISBGA website is now updated and current with our new website manager put in place this past winter. Discussion of ISBGA Treasury CD’s coming mature soon and how to best reinvest – verifying / checking balances with recommendations of an audit from the group by a third party accountant as this has not been done to the recollection of the group. Kyle was asked to inquire with a local accountant for cost projection to perform a general ‘check up’ of our books. A motion to combine our checking account to savings account for better rate return (funds easily transferred when needed anyway)was made by Pat H. and seconded by Dale E. carried – Gene G. said the summer conference committee will need to convene again to begin the finalization of summer conference. Discussion of keynote speaker costs was discussed and options were considered. Gene has two prospects the directors agreed would be a good option and asked that Gene follow up with those two candidates.
Motion to adjourn board meeting by Pat H. and seconded by Dale E. ayes all.
The directors joined the membership for dinner of chicken, roast beef, steamed vegetables, potatoes and the best cheese cake Ron S. from Dubuque has had in a very, very long time.
April 17th, 2009
8:02 AM President Ray Rowe calls the ISBGA business meeting to order.
Elections for select officers are upon us as terms expire with ISBGA President, Secretary and Treasurer due and two board positions open.
No nominations taken from the floor – all three positions reelected by proclamation. Two open positions for board of director seats were filled by single nominations with no opposition (election) conducted. Greg C. from Clinton CSD and Ron S. from Holy Family in Dubuque take those two open positions.
A motion by Dale E., Lawton – Bronson, to approve appointments was seconded by Pat H., Marshalltown – ayes all from membership.
Director Graham reported a ‘leveling off’ of new memberships this year of (2) from last year (30) – economic concerns we all feel is the cause. Renewals are on schedule it appears however. July 14-15-16th dates set for AMES for summer conference, members encouraged to lay groundwork for establishing attendees from their respective district to keep the summer conference viable, productive and active in these lean times. It was reported by Director Graham that there is only one scholarship application in for the yearly scholarship award – May 1 is the deadline – remind those in your staff back home.!
Last workshop – Deb Hale, Chairperson of “Safeguard Iowa” an organization funded by the Iowa Business Council that aids businesses in preparedness training for disasters such as floods, storms, fires, etc. **Deb was in Cedar Rapids one week before the flooding of 2008 and was sad to say the area she was training at was hit hard by flood water 20 feet deep, but – happy to report that some business, one major bank in particular, was able to be back in business (on high ground) within 48 hours using the planning strategy she helped supply during the disaster training for businesses. Eye opening video presentation of flood in progress and post flood damage in Cedar Rapids. School districts that encountered little or no flooding should feel very fortunate after seeing what down town CR had to endue. Very powerful. Deb related some of the strategies and how these could be employed by school districts in a similar situation. Question answer to follow -
At conclusion of program a motion to adjourn spring conference was made by Dean B. from Boone at 10:12 AM and seconded by several members.
If members have questions about conference or their operations, contact Gene Graham at ISBGA ‘world headquarters’ at isbga.gene@cfu.net
Respectfully submitted to the best of my knowledge by Todd Huff, Supervisor of Buildings & Grounds, Mason City Community Schools and Secretary of Iowa Schools Buildings & Grounds Association.
