Ruthven-Ayrshire Board of Education
Regular Board Minutes
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
The Ruthven-Ayrshire Board of Education held its regular meeting in the board room in Ruthven, Iowa. Present were President Jill
Conlon, Vice President Rob Allen, Director Jaime Dodd, Director Amy Loder, Director Heather Ruehle, Director Stephanie Fay, and
Director Emily Grange. Administration present included Interim Superintendent Jeff Dicks, Principal Courtney Cook, and School Business
Official/Board Secretary Sarah Stillman. All seven board members were present.
Call to Order: President Conlon called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Review of District Mission Statement: Director Dodd read the district mission statement.
Approval of Agenda: Director Allen moved to approve the agenda as presented. Director Loder seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon,
Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Welcome Visitors and Guests/Public Comment: The Board received positive comments regarding Superintendent Dicks and the
direction of the district.
Board Learning: No Board Learning was presented.
Consent Items: Director Fay moved to approve communications; the July 22, 2026 and August 6, 2026 meeting minutes; bills and
claims; financial report; open enrollment; personnel; and 28E Operational Sharing Agreements. Director Ruehle seconded the motion.
Ayes: Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Financial Report: The Board discussed ongoing year-end adjustments and reconciliation work. A prior-year transfer from the School
Nutrition Fund to the General Fund was reviewed, along with the resulting negative Nutrition Fund balance. Administration will continue
monitoring the fund and reviewing the transfer with the auditor.
Open Enrollment: The Board reviewed two open enrollment requests out of the district based on good cause and two late-file requests
into the district that did not meet good-cause requirements.
Personnel: Personnel items approved through the consent agenda included Kari Kinnetz at $15.25 per hour, Ashley Erne as mentor at
$6,000, and resignations as presented.
Old Business:
PACHS Nursing Contract FY27: Director Dodd moved to approve PACHS Nursing Services for the 2026-27 school year at a flat
amount of $6,656 plus $145 per hour for Individual Health Care Planning. Director Grange seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon, Allen,
Dodd, Loder, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Ruehle abstained. Motion carried.
New Business:
Activity Calendar: Director Allen moved to approve the September Activity Calendar. Director Ruehle seconded the motion. Ayes:
Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Moxie Nova Counseling: Director Loder moved to approve Moxie Nova for Behavioral Health Services for the 2026-27 school year.
Director Fay seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried.
Relocation Stipend: Director Grange moved to approve $2,000 relocation stipends for Taurean Rivers and Ms. Nation, for a total of
$4,000. Director Allen seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried.
The Board discussed that future relocation or hiring incentives should be documented in contracts and approved at the time of hire.
Hearing Officers Appointment: Director Allen moved to approve the hearing officers and Board committee assignments as amended
for the 2026-27 school year. Director Ruehle seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder, Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays:
none. Motion carried.
Board Policy: The Board discussed Senate File 2428 and upcoming guidance related to student removal from classrooms.
Administration will continue reviewing the requirements and bring handbook updates to the Board when guidance is finalized. No action
was taken.
Administration Reports/Recognitions/Good News Sharing: Superintendent Dicks discussed ongoing financial and operational work
and proposed beginning monthly joint Board meetings with Graettinger-Terril in October. Principal Cook reported on back-to-school
preparations, professional development, enrollment, staffing, the Stronger Connections Grant, family and community engagement, and
upcoming September activities.
Informational Items: The next regular Board meeting will be September 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Adjournment: Director Loder moved to adjourn the meeting. Director Fay seconded the motion. Ayes: Conlon, Allen, Dodd, Loder,
Ruehle, Fay, and Grange. Nays: none. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
