The June 15 regular meeting focuses on preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year while also addressing ongoing facility projects and routine financial oversight. Major action items include approval of revised student and staff handbooks, a school flexibility fund resolution, an educational out-of-state trip, substitute staffing services, and construction-related contracts.
Facilities remain a significant topic. The board is expected to consider awarding the electrical metering project at Anamosa High School after rebidding the work. District administrators recommend accepting the lowest responsible bid from Corridor Electric following revisions to the project specifications. The board will also review change orders related to the high school gym addition.
The meeting also includes several staffing changes. Multiple teacher, coaching, and paraeducator resignations are presented for approval, while additional personnel appointments are expected through a separate personnel update. Families should also note proposed handbook revisions affecting cell phone procedures, discipline responses, attendance-related expectations, tardies, academic integrity, and student conduct.
Students and parents will also hear a presentation from Extended Learning Program (ELP) students requesting approval for a November 2026 educational trip to Orlando, Florida. The proposal emphasizes science, engineering, ecology, and college exploration opportunities and would require board approval before planning proceeds.
Major Discussion and Action Items
High School Electrical Metering Project
The board is expected to revisit a project that was previously tabled after bids received earlier in the year. District staff revised the project specifications and sought new bids.
Three contractors submitted proposals. Corridor Electric of Ely submitted the apparent low responsible base bid of $13,000, substantially below the other proposals. Engineering consultant Shive-Hattery reviewed the bids, found no irregularities, and recommended awarding the contract to Corridor Electric, subject to the required bonding and insurance documentation.
This project affects district infrastructure and utility operations at Anamosa High School and represents continued investment in facility improvements.
School Flexibility Fund Resolution
The board is scheduled to formally authorize expenditures from the district's School Flexibility Fund.
District materials explain that funds were transferred into the flexibility account during fiscal year 2024 and that the required public hearing was completed during the May board meeting. Approval of this resolution authorizes spending consistent with the stated purposes established during the transfer process.
Supporting materials specifically reference $10,000 for professional development, indicating that staff training is among the intended uses of these funds.
Extended Learning Program Orlando Trip
ELP students will present their proposed November 2026 educational trip to Orlando.
The itinerary emphasizes educational experiences rather than recreation, including visits to Kennedy Space Center, Florida ecology sites featuring manatees, Disney Imagineering programming, museums, and a Florida university.
The estimated cost is approximately $1,300 per participant. Approximately 24 juniors and seniors are eligible, although district materials note that participation is expected to be lower than the total eligible population. Students propose using rental vans for transportation and lodging in an Airbnb.
Board approval is required because the trip involves out-of-state travel during the 2026-2027 school year.
Approval of 2026-2027 Handbooks
The district is seeking approval for multiple updated handbooks covering employees, students, preschool programs, and Kids Club operations.
Among the notable high school handbook revisions are:
- New cell phone "earn back" procedures and designated storage requirements.
- New discipline response language.
- A new skipping class policy.
- Revised tardy consequences.
- Updated detention procedures.
- Clarified dress code language regarding midriff coverage.
- Revised academic dishonesty consequences.
- Clarified in-school suspension extracurricular expectations.
- Updated faculty and staff listings.
Middle school and coaching handbooks are expected to return for board consideration in July.
Personnel Changes
The board is asked to approve several resignations affecting instructional and extracurricular programs.
Resignations include:
- Faith Zabran, Business Teacher.
- Erin White, Elementary Special Education Teacher.
- Nicholas Weers, Assistant Varsity Cross Country Coach.
- Steven Lueck, Assistant Middle School Girls Wrestling Coach.
- Jake Wulf, Head Varsity Girls Wrestling Coach.
- Courtney Dirks, Special Education Paraeducator, who will continue serving as a substitute paraeducator.
Additional hiring recommendations are expected through a separate personnel update presented during the meeting.
District Communication with the City of Anamosa
The board will revisit a previously tabled discussion concerning district communication with the City of Anamosa.
Rather than reviving the matter, Superintendent Darren Hanna recommends allowing the motion to expire without action because discussions with city administration are continuing. If no board member moves to remove the item from the table, it will officially die and could be reintroduced later if circumstances warrant.
Financial Matters
Routine financial oversight includes approval of bills, claims, and monthly financial reports showing balances for governmental funds along with activity, nutrition, and daycare accounts.
The largest identifiable financial items include:
- Proposed award of the high school electrical metering project to Corridor Electric for a $13,000 base bid.
- School Flexibility Fund expenditures including $10,000 designated for professional development.
- Renewal of the GWAEA SubCentral substitute management agreement. The annual cost would increase from $3,973.65 during 2025-2026 to $4,130.42 for 2026-2027, reflecting the district's prorated participation cost.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The primary governance action is approval of the resolution directing expenditures from the School Flexibility Fund following the previously completed public hearing.
Board members are also asked to approve updated student, employee, preschool, Strawberry Hill, and Kids Club handbooks for the coming school year. Several high school policies receive substantive revisions involving student behavior, discipline, attendance, technology use, academic integrity, and dress expectations.
The board is also expected to decide whether to let the previously tabled communication proposal involving the City of Anamosa expire without further action.
Teaching and Learning includes a student presentation highlighting the educational value of the proposed Orlando trip.
Administrative reports, the superintendent's report, committee reports, and board comments are scheduled, although the packet provides limited detail regarding their contents.
Committee assignments continue for policy, labor negotiations, facilities planning, and the Jones County Conference Board.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Board action includes approval of multiple resignations spanning classroom instruction, special education, coaching, and support staff.
The separate personnel update may include additional hires or staffing adjustments needed before the 2026-2027 school year begins.
Updated handbook materials also reflect changes to faculty and staff listings, including additions of new instructional personnel.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Construction and facility improvements continue with two significant items.
The board will review change orders associated with the Anamosa High School gym addition.
The electrical metering project represents another infrastructure upgrade intended to improve building operations. Engineering consultants have recommended award of the contract after reviewing revised bids.
Operational planning also includes renewal of substitute teacher management services through GWAEA's SubCentral program to support staffing throughout the upcoming school year.
Community members may provide public input during the meeting's visitor and community comment period.
No new public hearings are scheduled in the packet. The required public hearing related to the School Flexibility Fund occurred during the May 18 meeting, allowing the board to proceed with the expenditure resolution at this meeting.
Students participating in ELP may gain access to a significant educational travel opportunity emphasizing STEM, environmental science, engineering, and college exploration.
Families should review updated student handbook provisions because changes affect classroom technology expectations, attendance, discipline, tardies, dress standards, and academic integrity.
Employees are affected through handbook updates, personnel actions, professional development funding, and continued substitute staffing support.
Taxpayers benefit from continued oversight of construction projects, competitive bidding for facility improvements, and formal approval of district financial reports and expenditures.
- How will participants finance the proposed Orlando educational trip?
- What educational outcomes will be measured following the ELP travel experience?
- What benefits will the electrical metering project provide for district operations or energy management?
- Why were project specifications revised before rebidding the metering project?
- What priorities guided the use of School Flexibility Fund dollars?
- How will the district recruit replacements for resigning teachers and coaches?
- What prompted revisions to the high school cell phone and discipline policies?
- How will revised tardy and skipping policies be implemented consistently?
- Are additional facility improvements planned after the gym addition and metering work?
- How will the district evaluate the effectiveness of the updated handbook changes?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- June 15, 2026: Board considers financial reports, personnel actions, facility contracts, handbook approvals, the School Flexibility Fund resolution, and the Orlando field trip.
- November 2026: Proposed ELP educational trip to Orlando, contingent upon board approval.
- July 2026 Board Meeting: Middle school and coaching handbooks are expected to be presented for approval.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Updated employee, student, preschool, and Kids Club handbooks would take effect if approved.
- Following Board Award: Electrical metering project proceeds with contract execution, bonding, insurance review, and construction planning.
Key Takeaways
- The board is preparing district operations for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Corridor Electric is recommended for the $13,000 electrical metering project.
- The district plans to authorize School Flexibility Fund expenditures, including $10,000 for professional development.
- ELP students seek approval for a November 2026 educational trip to Orlando.
- Several teachers, coaches, and support staff have submitted resignations.
- Multiple district handbooks receive updates before the new school year.
- Student handbook revisions emphasize technology use, discipline, attendance, and academic integrity.
- The SubCentral substitute service agreement would increase modestly to $4,130.42.
- Change orders for the high school gym addition remain under board review.
- The previously tabled city communication proposal is recommended to expire without further action.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Anamosa Community School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Anamosa, iowa
- County: Jones
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Anamosa Community School District, Anamosa Board of Directors, June 15 2026 meeting, School Flexibility Fund, professional development, electrical metering project, Corridor Electric, Shive-Hattery, high school gym addition, ELP, Orlando field trip, Kennedy Space Center, student handbook, employee handbook, Kids Club, Strawberry Hill Preschool, GWAEA, SubCentral, personnel resignations, facilities planning, school finance, board policy, technology policy, student discipline, Jones County, Raiders
