The Bettendorf Community School District Board is scheduled to meet at 6:00 p.m. at the Administration Center, 3311 18th Street, in the Ray Stensvad Board Room. The agenda combines major bond and construction matters with transportation fees, policy revisions, consent-agenda business, and a planned closed session.
Key Items on the Agenda
Bettendorf Middle School Construction
Bray Architects and Russell Construction are scheduled to provide an update on the Bettendorf Middle School renovation and additions project. The packet's construction materials report Phase 1 as complete and Phase 2 mass demolition nearing completion, with Phase 2 starting in August.
The materials also highlight work on the storm shelter addition, classrooms, offices and conference space, restrooms, corridors, and mechanical space. A ribbon-cutting and open house for the new classroom addition is listed for August 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Bettendorf Middle School.
Transportation Fees
The Board is expected to review a transportation-fee issue identified by the district. According to the packet, fees were calculated differently this year by adding $50 across all options; that method would have resulted in students paying by semester rather than for the full year paying an additional $50.
The packet says the discrepancy was remedied and lists the 2026-27 fees as:
- $450 for annual transportation.
- $225 for one semester, AM and PM.
- $225 for two semesters, AM or PM.
- $112.50 for one semester, AM or PM.
Transportation fees have not been reviewed in several years, and the district plans to study them this year to determine a more accurate transportation cost.
Tennis Court Repairs
The consent agenda includes a proposal from Pro Track and Tennis for repairs and recoating of all three tennis courts. The proposal totals $69,200 for color coating, crack repair, patching and related work on three courts, including 1,200 linear feet of crack-repair system and striping for 10-and-under play.
The proposal calls for a 40% down payment upon acceptance, with the balance due after completion and acceptance. It was dated August 3 and is valid for 60 days, subject to possible market-condition surcharges.
Major Financial Items
Approximately $31.73 Million Bond Sale
A major portion of the agenda concerns approximately $31,730,000 in School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Bonds, Series 2026. The packet provides for sealed bids to be opened by the interim superintendent, Board secretary and municipal advisor and referred to the Board for consideration.
The Board is then scheduled to consider a resolution directing the bond sale. The packet's resolution forms leave the winning bidder, purchase price, net interest cost and true interest rate blank, so those terms are not established in the pre-meeting materials.
The financing documents also propose early redemption of portions of two existing bond issues on September 24, 2026:
- $3,300,000 of Series 2018 bonds, covering maturities from July 1, 2027 through July 1, 2029.
- $875,000 of Series 2019 bonds, covering maturities in 2028 and 2029. The agenda describes this amount as approximately $880,000, while the supporting resolution specifies $875,000.
Bills Recommended for Payment
The consent agenda includes bills recommended for payment. The cover sheet lists:
- General Fund: $1,932,899.05
- Activity Fund: $25,163.57
- Management Fund: $50,647.00
- Revenue Bond Proceeds: $2,000.00
- PPEL Fund: $288,341.07
- Food Service Fund: $29,607.16
- Health Insurance Fund: $841,147.67
- Trust Fund: $2,541.20
$115,000 Athletic Donation
The consent agenda includes acceptance of a $115,000 donation from the Athletic Booster Club for the district's athletic program for the upcoming 2026-27 season.
AmeriCorps Reading Tutors
The Board is scheduled to consider continuing an agreement for AmeriCorps reading tutors at Grant Wood, Mark Twain and Neil Armstrong elementary schools.
The agreement with Reading & Math, Inc., doing business as Ampact, runs from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. Each of the three schools is listed at a Tier 1 cost of $12,000, for a total program cost of $36,000.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
The consent agenda proposes awarding Loffredo Fresh Produce the distribution work for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program at Mark Twain, Grant Wood and Neil Armstrong elementary schools. The packet's scoring sheet gives Loffredo 60 points compared with 40 for Kohl Wholesale and lists Loffredo's average price per serving at $0.41.
Policy and Governance
Graduation Requirements
Board Policy 505.05: Graduation Requirements is scheduled for preliminary review. The packet says potential revisions are needed because of current staffing-structure changes. This is presented as an initial review rather than final approval.
School Improvement Advisory Committee
The Board is scheduled to review Policy 600: Goals and Objectives of the Education Program at a Board member's request. The packet connects the policy with Iowa Code 280.12 and requirements for a School Improvement Advisory Committee, or SIAC.
Under the cited statute, the committee makes recommendations concerning major educational needs, student learning goals, long-range and annual improvement goals, desired student-performance levels, progress toward goals, and harassment or bullying prevention initiatives.
District Logo Use
Policy 909: School Logo Use and Protection Guidelines is also scheduled for review at a Board member's request. The stated focus is community and commercial use of district branding.
Annual Policy Review
The Board is scheduled to conduct its annual review of designated policies as recommended by the Iowa Association of School Boards and required by annual compliance standards. The proposed action is to acknowledge completion of that review.
Human Resources Policies
Two policies are presented for second and final reading based on new or updated IASB-recommended language:
- Policy 411.08: Classified Employee Probationary Status
- Policy 708: Care, Maintenance and Disposal of School District Records
Pending additional Board discussion, the superintendent recommends approval as presented.
2026 Iowa Legislative Changes
A larger group of policies is also scheduled for second and final reading following the 2026 Iowa legislative session. The proposed changes address subjects including public meeting notice, public records, Board elections, open enrollment, student athletics, curriculum, counseling, physical education, technology and digital devices, gifted and talented programming, student expression, employee leave, student conduct, and special education.
Among the changes described in the packet:
- HF 2490 changes public-notice requirements and affects Policies 210.05 and 901.
- HF 2501 moves school board candidate filings from the district's Board secretary to the county auditor.
- HF 2591 provides an option for districts to allow eighth-grade students to participate in high-school interscholastic competition.
- HF 2676 creates requirements involving student fitness testing, digital instruction, one-to-one device programs and a technology-adoption checklist.
- SF 2220 requires uniform procedures for screening, identifying and serving gifted and talented students.
- SF 2428-related revisions address teacher leave following certain student violence, classroom removal of students and employee access to student IEPs when necessary for implementation.
The superintendent recommends approval of the policies as presented, pending additional Board discussion.
Disruptive Behavior Policy Returns for First Reading
Policy 503.11: Disruptive Behavior and associated removal-procedure regulations are being re-presented for a first reading. The materials say the policy was originally presented for first reading on August 3 but was revised following updated IASB guidance issued August 11.
Consent Agenda and Personnel
The consent agenda also includes approval of minutes from the June 30 special meeting, July 22 regular meeting and August 3 special meeting, along with personnel recommendations.
Personnel items include proposed hires, transfers, resignations and corrections. Among the administrative recommendations is hiring Kelli Rohlf as Bettendorf Middle School Dean of Students at $81,003, effective August 13, 2026.
The Board is also scheduled to consider an agreement with School Administrators of Iowa for mentoring beginning administrators. Under the agreement, the district would pay $600 per new administrator participating in the program.
Open enrollment information is included as an informational item. For late requests submitted from June 1 through August 10, the packet reports six students seeking enrollment into the district and four seeking enrollment out.
Reports and Community Participation
The agenda includes reports from student Board representatives, the Bettendorf Education Association, the Bettendorf Educational Support Association and the superintendent. Administrators are also scheduled to provide a debrief from the Center for Model Schools Conference held June 27 through July 1 in Orlando, Florida.
Public comment is included under the president's statement. The packet states that audience members may address the Board on matters of interest or concern, with comments limited to three minutes, and references Policy 213.E1 regarding public input.
Closed Session
The agenda includes a proposed closed session under Iowa Code Chapter 21.5(1)(i). The stated purpose is to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose hiring is being considered, with the individual having requested a closed session. The agenda provides for the Board to return to open session afterward.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The bond financing is one of the most consequential items because the packet does not yet identify the winning bidder or final interest terms for the approximately $31.73 million Series 2026 issue. The Board is also positioned to consider redemption of $3.3 million in 2018 bonds and $875,000 in 2019 bonds.
Other notable items include the continuing Bettendorf Middle School construction project, the corrected transportation-fee structure, the $69,200 tennis-court proposal, and a substantial package of policy revisions driven by the 2026 Iowa legislative session.
