School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – CARDINAL – July 20, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Cardinal Comm School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-20
• City: Eldon
• County: Wapello
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030892&MID=32008
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030892
• Public Body Website: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030892
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The Cardinal Community School District Board's July 20, 2026 regular meeting focuses on several decisions that could influence the district's long-term direction, including continued planning under "Project 2029," curriculum decisions for high school mathematics, staffing, board policy updates, and the superintendent's professional development plan.

While the packet contains relatively little readable supporting documentation because many attachments were unavailable for text extraction, the agenda itself identifies the district's primary priorities. Board members are expected to review financial reports, invoices, personnel matters, and a significant package of board policy revisions alongside discussion of long-range financial planning.

The meeting also continues routine governance responsibilities through multiple policy readings, administrative reports from Superintendent James Craig and School Business Official Jacki Grant, and consideration of an elementary behavior interventionist position. These items collectively affect district operations, educational programming, staffing, and future planning.

Residents, parents, employees, and taxpayers should pay particular attention to the Project 2029 planning discussion, curriculum decisions, personnel actions, and policy revisions because these topics have the greatest potential long-term impact on district services and governance.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Project 2029 Financial and Planning Update

Project 2029 is scheduled as the primary discussion item before the consent agenda. Based on the agenda, board members will receive a financial and planning update concerning this long-range initiative. Although the supporting presentation is not available in readable form, its placement indicates that it is intended to guide future district planning and financial decision-making rather than serve as a routine informational report.

Community members may wish to monitor how Project 2029 influences future budgeting, capital planning, educational priorities, and district operations.

Board Policy Revision Package

A substantial portion of the meeting is devoted to governance through policy updates.

The board is scheduled to:

• Consider second reading of new Policies 705.05 and 706.04.
• Consider first reading and waive a second reading for numerous existing policy revisions including governance, personnel, students, curriculum, facilities, finance, and operations.
• Consider first reading of new Policies 503.11, 503.11R1, 503.11R2, 604.03R1, and 605.04E1.
• Consider rescinding Policies 603.04 and 603.10.

This represents one of the largest governance actions on the agenda and indicates continued alignment of district policy with updated legal or Iowa Association of School Boards guidance.

Elementary Behavior Interventionist Position

Under old business, the board is scheduled to consider an elementary behavior interventionist position.

Although additional documentation is unavailable, the item suggests the district has been evaluating behavioral support services for elementary students. Approval could affect staffing levels, student support services, and school operations.

High School Math Curriculum

The board is expected to consider the high school mathematics curriculum.

Curriculum adoption decisions typically influence instructional materials, classroom practice, teacher training, and student learning for multiple years. This agenda item indicates the board will review or approve instructional direction for the high school mathematics program.

Superintendent Professional Development Plan

Board members will consider the superintendent's 2026-2027 Individual Administrator Professional Development Plan.

This represents an annual governance responsibility in which the board reviews professional goals, leadership development priorities, and evaluation-related planning for Superintendent James Craig.

Administrative Reports

The superintendent and School Business Official are both scheduled to provide reports.

These updates typically inform the board regarding district operations, finances, staffing, compliance, and upcoming initiatives while providing context for future board decisions.

Financial Matters

The board's consent agenda includes:

• Approval of monthly invoices.
• Approval of the monthly financial report.
• Review of activity account balances.
• Routine financial control documentation.

The packet references multiple financial documents, including bill summaries, warrants, prepaid checks, year-end financial materials, activity fund reports, and a June 2026 financial control sheet. However, the readable packet does not provide the underlying dollar amounts because the attached financial reports were unavailable for text extraction.

Project 2029's financial update may provide additional discussion regarding longer-term fiscal planning beyond routine monthly financial business.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Governance is a major emphasis of this meeting.

Policy actions include:

• Second reading of two new board policies.
• First reading of more than twenty policy revisions.
• First reading of five additional new policies and related regulations.
• Rescission of two existing policies.

The policies span board governance, personnel, student issues, curriculum, instructional programs, operations, facilities, and district administration, indicating a broad annual or periodic policy update.

The board is also scheduled to review superintendent governance responsibilities through the professional development plan.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Scheduled informational reports include:

• Project 2029 financial and planning update.
• Superintendent report from James Craig.
• School Business Official report from Jacki Grant.
• Good News recognition segment.
• Activity account balances.
• Monthly financial report.

The meeting also includes superintendent-board covenants as a standing agenda item, reflecting ongoing governance expectations and board-administration working relationships.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel-related business includes:

• Approval of the personnel report through the consent agenda.
• Consideration of an elementary behavior interventionist position.
• Review of the superintendent's professional development plan.

The readable packet does not disclose specific hires, resignations, retirements, or contract details because the personnel attachment is unavailable in readable text. Accordingly, no unsupported personnel details can be identified.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

The most significant operational topic appears to be Project 2029, which combines financial and planning discussions.

Other operational matters include:

• District financial management.
• Curriculum planning.
• Student behavioral support.
• Ongoing administrative operations through superintendent and business office reports.

No major construction projects, transportation initiatives, or facility contracts are described within the readable packet.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

The meeting provides opportunities for public participation through:

• Open Forum during Public Participation.
• Visitor recognition near the beginning of the meeting.

Meeting details:

• Date: July 20, 2026.
• Time: 6:00 PM.
• Location: Cardinal Jr-Sr High School, 4045 Ashland Road, Eldon, Iowa.

No additional public hearings or formal public comment deadlines are identified in the readable packet.

Community Impact

Students and families may be affected by potential changes to the high school mathematics curriculum and any expansion of behavioral intervention services.

District employees may be affected through personnel actions, revised board policies, staffing decisions, and future administrative planning.

Taxpayers have an interest in Project 2029 because it includes financial planning that could shape future district priorities and resource allocation.

Board policy revisions may affect district governance, student services, instructional practices, personnel administration, and operational procedures over time.

Community members benefit from reviewing the superintendent and business office reports because they provide insight into district priorities and ongoing operations.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What are the major goals and timeline for Project 2029?
• How will Project 2029 affect future district budgets?
• What prompted the proposed high school mathematics curriculum changes?
• What student needs are driving consideration of an elementary behavior interventionist?
• How would the new position be funded?
• Which board policies are changing most significantly, and why?
• Why are Policies 603.04 and 603.10 being rescinded?
• What priorities are included in the superintendent's 2026-2027 professional development plan?
• Are additional staffing or curriculum recommendations anticipated later this year?
• What future board actions will follow the Project 2029 discussion?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 20, 2026: Regular Board Meeting at 6:00 PM at Cardinal Jr-Sr High School.
• July 20, 2026: Board consideration of Project 2029 planning update.
• July 20, 2026: Consideration of elementary behavior interventionist position.
• July 20, 2026: Consideration of high school mathematics curriculum.
• July 20, 2026: Review of superintendent professional development plan.
• Following the meeting, policy revisions receiving first reading would generally return for any required subsequent approval unless waived by board action.

Key Takeaways

• Project 2029 is the meeting's principal strategic discussion.
• The board is reviewing extensive policy revisions affecting multiple district operations.
• High school mathematics curriculum is scheduled for board consideration.
• The board will consider an elementary behavior interventionist position.
• Monthly financial reports and invoices are scheduled for approval.
• Administrative reports will be presented by Superintendent James Craig and SBO Jacki Grant.
• The superintendent's annual professional development plan is on the agenda.
• Public participation is available through Open Forum.
• Routine governance and financial oversight remain significant portions of the meeting.
• Several supporting attachments were referenced but did not contain readable text in the accessible packet, so only supported information is summarized.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030892&MID=32008
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030892
• Public body website: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030892
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Cardinal Comm School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Eldon, iowa
• County: Wapello
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Cardinal Community School District, Cardinal Comets, Eldon, Wapello County, Iowa, Regular Board Meeting, July 20 2026, Project 2029, financial planning, monthly financial report, monthly invoices, activity fund, board policies, policy revisions, superintendent report, James Craig, Jacki Grant, elementary behavior interventionist, high school math curriculum, superintendent professional development plan, consent agenda, Open Forum, governance, personnel report, school board, curriculum, district operations, public participation