School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Belmond-Klemme Community School District – July 16, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Belmond-Klemme Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/16/2026 - 07:00 PM Regular Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-16
• City: Belmond
• County: Wright
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031815&MID=31629
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031815
• Public Body Website: https://www.belmond-klemme.k12.ia.us/page/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The Belmond-Klemme Community School District Board of Education's July 16 regular meeting centers on preparing for the 2026-2027 school year. Major action items include approving updated student and employee handbooks, hiring staff and activity sponsors, confirming coaching assignments, approving leadership stipends, reviewing numerous board policy revisions required by recent changes in Iowa law, and approving annual contracts related to concurrent enrollment and Area Education Agency funding.

The most significant policy discussion involves a large package of first-reading revisions affecting governance, student discipline, employee leave, technology use, student records, special education, open enrollment, classroom disruptions, family engagement, and public access to district records. Several proposed changes reflect new state legal requirements rather than locally initiated policy shifts.

Staffing actions include appointments for extracurricular sponsors, a full-time bus driver, a paraeducator, and building leadership team members who will receive Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) stipends. The board is also expected to approve coaching assignments for football, volleyball, cross country, cheerleading, and weight room supervision before fall activities begin.

Although financial reports, bills, and reconciliations are included in the consent agenda, the packet does not provide readable financial detail or budget totals. Likewise, the superintendent's report is listed but no substantive written report is included in the accessible packet.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Student and Employee Handbooks for the 2026-2027 School Year

The board is expected to approve updated Preschool, Jacobson Elementary, Jr./Sr. High School, and employee handbooks.

The Jr./Sr. High handbook reflects updated expectations for academics, attendance, student conduct, extracurricular eligibility, technology use, AI guidance, student discipline, safety procedures, and graduation requirements. The handbook also incorporates references to recently enacted Iowa laws and updated board policies. Approval establishes the operational rules that students, families, and employees will follow during the upcoming school year.

Comprehensive Board Policy Update

One of the meeting's largest agenda items is the first reading of dozens of policy revisions.

Many changes align district policies with recent Iowa legislation. Proposed revisions include updated election filing procedures, expanded conflict-of-interest thresholds, revised meeting notice requirements, employment eligibility screening before hiring, new employee leave protections following workplace assaults, updated open enrollment procedures, expanded student publication guidance, revisions to student records terminology, updates to parent engagement expectations, changes affecting technology use, gifted education reporting, classroom discipline procedures, and public records access.

The board is only considering the first reading, meaning additional review and future action will occur before these revisions become final.

New Student Discipline and Classroom Removal Procedures

Several proposed policies focus specifically on classroom management and disruptive behavior.

The packet includes a proposed new policy allowing teachers to remove students from class following nonviolent or violent disruptions. Under the proposal, elementary students could be removed from class for at least 30 minutes, while students in grades 6-12 could remain out of class until the following school day. Additional regulations establish procedures for students receiving special education services under Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

These proposals represent some of the most significant operational changes because they directly affect classroom instruction, teacher authority, and student behavior expectations.

Staffing and Activity Appointments

The consent agenda includes several personnel recommendations supporting the upcoming school year.

Recommended appointments include:

• Angela Dodge as FCCLA sponsor with a $2,908 annual stipend.
• Richard Sherrard as SkillsUSA sponsor with a $2,908 annual stipend.
• Eric Dougherty as full-time bus driver beginning August 2026 at Step B with three years of experience.
• Felicia Werner as Jr./Sr. High paraeducator at Step A with an hourly wage of $17.33.

The board is also asked to approve $1,000 TLC leadership stipends for Kendra Haugen, Claudia Guerrero, Linzey Smith, Trinity Valenzuela, and Callie Stein.

Athletic Programs and Coaching Assignments

Preparation for the fall athletic season includes approval of coaching assignments across multiple programs.

Appointments include varsity and junior high football coaches, volleyball coaches, cross country leadership, cheer sponsors, and the district's weight room coordinator. Confirming these positions before practices begin ensures extracurricular programs are fully staffed for the 2026-2027 school year.

Concurrent Enrollment and Educational Partnerships

The board will consider approval of the annual NIACC concurrent enrollment agreement and the annual transfer of state funding to Central Rivers Area Education Agency.

The packet does not include readable financial details for either agreement, but these annual contracts support college credit opportunities for high school students and continued educational services provided through the AEA system.

Financial Matters

The accessible packet identifies several financial actions but provides limited readable dollar detail.

Personnel recommendations include:

• FCCLA Sponsor stipend: $2,908 annually.
• SkillsUSA Sponsor stipend: $2,908 annually.
• Building Leadership Team members: $1,000 stipend each.
• Paraeducator hourly wage: $17.33 per hour.

The board will also review June preliminary fund balances, reconciliation reports, monthly bills, the Central Rivers AEA funding transfer, and the FY2027 NIACC concurrent enrollment contract. However, detailed financial statements, vendor payments, and contract values are not readable in the extracted packet.

No grants, gifts, or bequests are recommended for acceptance at this meeting.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Annual review is scheduled for Policies 103, 103-R(1), and 506.04 with no recommended changes.

The first-reading policy package updates governance, employment, student services, instructional programming, records management, technology, family engagement, special education, student conduct, and district operations to reflect current Iowa law and district practice.

Notable governance revisions include:

• Election filings moving to the county auditor.
• Higher conflict-of-interest reporting threshold.
• Consolidation of secretary and treasurer responsibilities.
• Updated public meeting notice requirements.
• Expanded public records provisions addressing vexatious requests.

Because these policies are only receiving a first reading, additional board action will be required before adoption.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The agenda includes a superintendent's report, although no detailed written report is included in the accessible packet.

The packet instead provides extensive informational material through the proposed Jr./Sr. High student handbook. Highlights include:

• Graduation requires 26 credits.
• Financial literacy remains a graduation requirement.
• Beginning with the Class of 2027, students must achieve at least 60% on the citizenship test.
• Expanded concurrent enrollment expectations.
• Updated academic eligibility rules.
• Revised extracurricular conduct expectations.
• Updated graduation, attendance, technology, and student support information.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel recommendations focus on preparing district operations before the school year begins.

Appointments include extracurricular sponsors, transportation staff, instructional support personnel, coaching assignments, and building leadership positions.

The board will also approve Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) leadership assignments for the coming year, helping support instructional coaching and school improvement efforts.

No retirements, resignations, or board appointments are identified in the accessible packet.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

No major construction or capital improvement projects are presented in the readable packet.

Operational matters primarily involve annual preparations for the school year, including handbook approval, staffing, transportation, extracurricular programming, and instructional planning.

The meeting is scheduled to take place at Jacobson Elementary School in Belmond.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents may provide comments during the public communication portion of the meeting.

Board policy allows approximately three minutes per speaker. The board notes that it will generally not respond during the comment period and asks speakers to avoid defamatory statements.

No formal public hearings, bond hearings, or public notices requiring testimony are listed in the accessible packet.

Community Impact

Students and families will be most affected by updated handbooks, revised discipline expectations, technology policies, extracurricular eligibility standards, graduation requirements, and classroom behavior procedures.

Employees may be affected by updated employment policies, revised leave provisions, hiring requirements, and new classroom removal procedures that provide additional authority and protections for teachers.

Athletes and activity participants will be affected by coaching appointments, eligibility expectations, and revised Good Conduct Code provisions.

Taxpayers and community members should pay particular attention to the extensive policy revisions because many govern district operations, transparency, public records, and board governance even though they may not immediately change taxes or spending.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• Which proposed policy changes are required by new Iowa laws, and which are local district decisions?
• How will the proposed disruptive classroom policy be implemented consistently across schools?
• What training will teachers and administrators receive before the new discipline procedures take effect?
• How will the revised technology policy affect classroom instruction in elementary grades?
• What criteria are used when evaluating the district's one-to-one device program?
• How will families be notified if handbook changes occur during the school year?
• What services are included in the Central Rivers AEA funding transfer?
• How many students are expected to participate in NIACC concurrent enrollment during FY2027?
• How will the updated parent engagement policy change communication with families?
• Are additional handbook revisions anticipated before students return for the new school year?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 16, 2026: Board considers consent agenda, handbook approvals, staffing actions, coaching assignments, and first reading of policy revisions.
• August 2026: Recommended start date for newly appointed full-time bus driver Eric Dougherty.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Approved handbooks, staffing assignments, and leadership appointments would take effect.
• Future Board Meeting: Second reading and potential adoption of the proposed policy revisions is expected following this initial review.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting primarily prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Student and employee handbooks are scheduled for board approval.
• A large package of policy revisions reflects changes in Iowa law and district practice.
• New classroom disruption procedures are among the most significant proposed policy changes.
• Four personnel appointments are included in the consent agenda.
• Five building leadership team members would each receive $1,000 TLC stipends.
• Coaching assignments are being finalized before fall athletic seasons begin.
• The district will consider annual agreements with NIACC and Central Rivers AEA.
• No grants, gifts, or bequests are recommended for acceptance.
• Residents have an opportunity to address the board during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031815&MID=31629
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031815
• Public body website: https://www.belmond-klemme.k12.ia.us/page/board-of-education
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Belmond-Klemme Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Belmond, iowa
• County: Wright
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Belmond-Klemme Community School District, Belmond, Wright County, Iowa, school board, regular meeting, July 16 2026, student handbook, employee handbook, board policies, classroom discipline, disruptive behavior policy, TLC leadership, concurrent enrollment, NIACC, Central Rivers AEA, athletics, coaching assignments, FCCLA, SkillsUSA, bus driver, paraeducator, technology policy, open enrollment, education records, parent engagement, graduation requirements, Good Conduct Code, Jacobson Elementary