The July 21, 2026 CAL Community School District Board of Education meeting focuses on routine annual approvals for the upcoming school year while also addressing several operational and long-term planning decisions. Major actions include awarding the district's fuel contract, adopting employee policies, setting meal and childcare rates, renewing the district's communications platform, approving annual banking arrangements, and considering numerous board policy revisions.
Facilities remain a significant theme. Board members receive updates on classroom remodeling, science room improvements, new freezer construction, flooring projects, and demolition work, followed by discussions about future capital priorities and the eventual disposition of the bus barn property. These conversations signal continued investment in maintaining and modernizing an aging campus while planning for future infrastructure needs.
Financial oversight also plays a central role. The consent agenda includes June financial reports, cash balances, bank reconciliations, and claims. The district reports approximately $3.38 million in combined fund balances at the end of June, while also processing substantial tuition payments associated with open enrollment and shared educational services.
Families are directly affected by several proposed changes. The board considers modest increases to breakfast and lunch prices, updated childcare tuition, annual employee handbook revisions, and continuation of ParentSquare as the district's primary communication and website platform. Staffing changes are limited, with one childcare resignation and a temporary technology director renewal included in the personnel report.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Awarding the 2026-2027 Fuel Contract
The district received fuel bids from AgVantage FS and Consolidated Energy. Administration recommends awarding the contract to AgVantage FS because it submitted the lowest bid. Fuel contracts directly affect transportation and operating costs throughout the school year, making this one of the more significant annual purchasing decisions before classes begin.
Annual Financial and Banking Approvals
The board is asked to adopt the annual depository resolution establishing authorized financial institutions and maximum deposit limits. The proposed resolution authorizes deposits up to $5 million at First Bank Hampton and up to $3 million through ISJIT. This annual action establishes where district funds may legally be held during the fiscal year.
Employee Handbook and Personnel Administration
Board members review revisions to the 2026-2027 employee handbook before approval. The packet also includes annual appointments, substitute compensation, and designation of the district's Civil Rights Coordinator covering Section 504, Title IX, Affirmative Action, and Homeless Youth responsibilities. These actions establish employment expectations and required compliance responsibilities for the coming school year.
Childcare and Student Meal Pricing
The board considers updated Cub Cadet childcare tuition along with recommended student meal price increases. Breakfast prices would increase by 10 cents while student lunch prices would increase by 15 cents. Childcare tuition adjustments vary by age group, reflecting annual operating costs while maintaining services for district families.
Administration recommends renewing ParentSquare for three years. ParentSquare serves as both the district's family communication platform and the host of the district website, making this a significant operational technology decision affecting virtually every family and employee.
Comprehensive Board Policy Updates
A substantial portion of the meeting is devoted to governance. Directors conduct second readings of updated 200-series governance policies while introducing first readings across board governance, employment, student conduct, technology, purchasing, finance, records management, medication administration, special education, and instructional policies. Two older curriculum-related policies are proposed for rescission. This represents one of the meeting's largest governance initiatives.
Construction and Facility Planning
The board receives tours and updates on ongoing construction before discussing future improvement priorities and the bus barn property. Current work includes classroom remodeling, new science facilities, flooring upgrades, freezer construction, and demolition projects. These discussions help establish future capital priorities for an aging district facility.
Board Operations
The board considers moving regular meetings to the third Monday of each month beginning with future meetings. Directors also review Iowa Association of School Boards legislative priorities before determining which issues the district wishes to support.
Financial Matters
June financial reports show combined district fund balances of approximately $3.38 million, with the General Fund ending June at roughly $1.43 million and the Cub Cadet childcare fund at approximately $119,174.
July claims total approximately $847,781 from the General Fund, including major expenditures for open enrollment tuition, whole-grade sharing tuition, payroll obligations, utilities, instructional materials, technology subscriptions, transportation fuel, and educational services. Significant tuition payments include approximately $451,934 for whole-grade sharing with Hampton-Dumont and $170,785 in open enrollment tuition.
Other financial actions include:
- Annual depository resolution establishing authorized banking institutions.
- Award of the annual fuel contract.
- Three-year ParentSquare renewal.
- Updated childcare tuition schedule.
- Updated school meal prices.
- Review of substitute compensation with no proposed rate increase.
- Regular approval of monthly bills and financial reports.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
The packet contains an extensive policy review covering board governance, conflict of interest, meeting procedures, employment practices, student conduct, technology, purchasing, financial management, public records, and instructional programs. Several policies receive second readings while numerous others begin first-reading review before later adoption.
The board also considers:
- Annual depository resolution.
- Employee handbook revisions.
- Appointment of the district Civil Rights Coordinator.
- Possible change to the regular board meeting schedule.
- IASB legislative priorities for state advocacy.
- Rescission of selected outdated curriculum policies.
Transportation reports indicate no vehicle repairs were required during June.
Maintenance reports describe extensive summer work including carpet cleaning, classroom painting, wall demolition, installation of a new divider wall, epoxy flooring, freezer preparation, roof work, and removal of the old daycare deck. These projects prepare facilities before students return.
Board members also receive reports from Academic Services, the principal, and the superintendent, along with discussion of CAL Foundation activities and future facility priorities.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel actions include acceptance of Jessica Malimanek's resignation as a childcare teacher effective July 29, 2026, and renewal of Technology Director Steve Waage at $40.75 per hour as a temporary position assisting with technology transition efforts.
The board also considers appointing Jen Koenen as the district's Civil Rights Coordinator for Section 504, Title IX, Affirmative Action, and Homeless Youth responsibilities. Annual substitute pay rates remain unchanged under the proposed schedule.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Summer maintenance activity is extensive and includes classroom renovations, science room improvements, new epoxy flooring, carpet removal, painting, freezer construction, roof work, and demolition associated with both classroom improvements and the former daycare building.
The board will tour construction projects before discussing longer-term facility priorities for an aging campus. Discussion also includes the future of the bus barn property, with the packet noting the city's potential interest in acquiring part of the site after district use concludes.
Community members may address the board during public comment by notifying the board secretary before the meeting. Individual speakers are generally limited to five minutes, with approximately 30 minutes allocated for public participation unless modified by the board president. The board also outlines procedures allowing citizens to petition for future agenda items consistent with district policy and Iowa law. No separate public hearing is identified for this meeting.
Students and families may experience modest increases in breakfast, lunch, and childcare costs while continuing to use ParentSquare for district communications.
Employees are affected through handbook revisions, substitute compensation decisions, staffing actions, and annual compliance appointments.
Taxpayers benefit from public review of financial reports, banking arrangements, purchasing decisions, and ongoing facility planning intended to preserve district assets.
Residents interested in long-term planning should watch discussions regarding future building improvements, capital priorities, and the eventual disposition of the bus barn property.
- What factors led AgVantage FS to become the recommended fuel vendor?
- What long-term capital improvements have the highest priority after current construction concludes?
- How will updated childcare rates affect program affordability and participation?
- What financial assumptions support the proposed meal price increases?
- What employee handbook revisions represent the most significant policy changes?
- Why is the district considering moving regular board meetings to the third Monday?
- What benefits justify a three-year ParentSquare renewal?
- How will the district prioritize future facility projects?
- What is the long-term plan for the bus barn property?
- How are board policy revisions responding to recent state or federal requirements?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 21, 2026: Regular board meeting considering annual contracts, policies, rates, and operational approvals.
- July 29, 2026: Effective resignation date for the childcare teacher.
- 2026-2027 School Year: New meal prices, childcare tuition, handbook provisions, substitute rates, and other annual approvals become effective if adopted.
- August 17, 2026: Next regular board meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the CAL CELL.
Key Takeaways
- Annual operational approvals dominate the July meeting.
- Fuel contract is recommended for AgVantage FS.
- Depository limits of $5 million and $3 million are proposed for authorized financial institutions.
- Student breakfast would increase by 10 cents.
- Student lunch would increase by 15 cents.
- ParentSquare is recommended for a three-year renewal.
- Extensive classroom and facility renovations are underway.
- Summer maintenance includes science room, flooring, freezer, and classroom improvements.
- Board members review a large package of governance and operational policy revisions.
- District finances and nearly $848,000 in General Fund claims receive routine oversight.
- Personnel actions include one resignation and renewal of temporary technology support.
- The next regular meeting is scheduled for August 17, 2026.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: CAL Community School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Latimer, iowa
- County: Franklin County
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
CAL Community School District, CAL Board of Education, Latimer, Franklin County, Iowa, July 21 2026, school board, AgVantage FS, fuel bid, ParentSquare, employee handbook, childcare tuition, Cub Cadet, meal prices, depository resolution, board policies, transportation, maintenance, classroom renovation, science room, freezer project, bus barn, construction projects, financial reports, open enrollment, substitute rates, Civil Rights Coordinator, IASB legislative priorities, school facilities
