School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – CRCSD – July 13, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/13/2026 - 05:00 PM Board of Education Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-13
• City: Cedar Rapids
• County: Linn
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031509&MID=31082
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031509
• Public Body Website: https://www.crschools.us/our-district/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@EngageCRschools/streams

What Community Members Should Know

This meeting is heavily focused on preparing the Cedar Rapids Community School District for the 2026-2027 school year. The Board is scheduled to consider a large consent agenda that covers finances, staffing, curriculum, technology, facilities, transportation, insurance, student programs, and operational agreements. The packet indicates that many of these items continue existing programs while also advancing major district initiatives related to magnet schools, career pathways, instructional improvement, and school reconfiguration.

Financial oversight represents one of the largest themes. Board members will review approximately $29.65 million in May claims, a monthly financial statement showing $169.97 million in receipts, $172.09 million in disbursements, and an investment balance of approximately $214.92 million. The district is also scheduled to approve an inter-fund transfer of $3.72 million related to retired 2020B bonds and review significant investment activity during May.

The district continues to make substantial investments using federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) funding. Numerous purchases—including health science laboratory equipment, instructional technology, digital hall pass equipment, professional learning resources, auditorium sound systems, consulting services, and career pathway initiatives—are proposed using MSAP grant dollars or a combination of grant and local funding sources. These investments support the district's Future Ready magnet initiatives and career academy development.

School facilities and operations also receive considerable attention. The Board will consider fleet replacements, snow removal equipment, asphalt repairs, insurance renewals, multiple construction change orders, and certificates of substantial completion for work completed at Washington and Jefferson High Schools. These actions continue ongoing capital improvements funded primarily through the SAVE program and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL).

Several agenda items address instructional improvement and student achievement. The district proposes replacing some existing assessment and intervention tools with IXL, expanding FASTBridge math screening to satisfy new state requirements, continuing Empowerment Central professional learning, renewing Edmentum virtual learning services, supporting dual-credit opportunities with Kirkwood Community College, and maintaining partnerships with organizations including Junior Achievement, iJAG, Grant Wood Area Education Agency, and the University of Northern Iowa.

Personnel and governance matters are also significant. The Board is scheduled to consider updated employee handbooks reflecting school reconfiguration, revised staffing procedures, substitute pay rates, transportation employee wage increases, administrator contracts, abuse investigator appointments, and revised professional growth policy language. Several of these items specifically reference the district's upcoming school reconfiguration and resulting building closures scheduled after the 2026-2027 school year.

Community members should also note that the meeting begins following an exempt bargaining strategy session concerning union and non-union employee negotiations. During the public meeting, residents will have an opportunity to provide comments under established Board procedures before formal Board action begins.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Financial oversight and monthly reports

The Board is asked to approve the district's monthly claims, budget summary, cash balance report, investment report, and related financial documentation for May 2026. These reports satisfy Iowa statutory and Board policy requirements while providing oversight of district finances.

Magnet Schools Assistance Program initiatives

Numerous purchases and agreements rely on federal MSAP funding, including digital hall pass technology, medical laboratory equipment, Washington High School auditorium improvements, instructional consulting, career pathway programming, professional learning resources, and student support initiatives. The Board is also scheduled to adopt a resolution approving the district's MSAP Voluntary Desegregation Plan, which is required to continue receiving federal grant funding.

Instructional technology and curriculum

The district proposes continuing Edmentum services, replacing iReady with IXL for certain screening and intervention purposes, renewing FASTBridge math assessments, expanding Empowerment Central professional learning, and purchasing additional instructional technology that supports magnet programming and student achievement. Several initiatives respond directly to Iowa legislative screening requirements.

Career pathways and workforce development

Multiple agreements support career-connected learning through Kirkwood Community College, Junior Achievement, Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates (iJAG), Grant Wood AEA, and the University of Northern Iowa Purple Pathway program. These initiatives expand dual enrollment, work-based learning, teacher preparation, career exploration, and technical education opportunities.

Facilities, construction, and fleet modernization

The Board will consider replacing aging maintenance vehicles, purchasing snow removal equipment, completing asphalt repairs, approving construction change orders, and accepting completed work at Washington and Jefferson High Schools. Several approvals are requested now because manufacturers have extended production lead times for heavy equipment.

Student safety and operations

Safety-related proposals include Apple iPads supporting a digital hall pass system, visitor management software through Raptor Technologies, annual insurance renewals, abuse investigator appointments, Police PAL programming, and updated equipment maintenance insurance coverage.

Employee compensation and staffing

The packet includes substitute compensation rates, transportation employee wage adjustments, handbook revisions, administrator contract resolutions, personnel approvals, investigator appointments, and agreements supporting employee development and certification. Several handbook revisions specifically address school closures and district reconfiguration.

Financial Matters

The packet contains numerous financial actions, including:

• Approval of $29,652,034.56 in May 2026 claims.
• Monthly cash receipts totaling $169,965,566.25.
• Monthly cash disbursements totaling $172,094,965.68.
• Investment balance of $214,918,678.76 at May 31, 2026.
• Investment purchases totaling $120,286,645.85 and redemptions totaling $8,305,000.00 during May.
• Inter-fund transfer of $3,722,309.62 from Debt Service to the SAVE Fund after retirement of Series 2020B bonds.
• ELSC South Lot Asphalt Repair contract recommendation of $29,187.
• Washington High School CCR project completion at $59,700.
• Jefferson High School CCR projects completed at approximately $89,500, $377,194.50, $185,500, and $571,199.39.
• Washington auditorium sound equipment funded entirely through MSAP at $57,969.
• School Improvement consulting through Grant Wood AEA funded at $75,905 through ISL.
• Career Technical Education consulting funded at $106,267 through MSAP.
• Empowerment Central funded through approximately $54,002 in MSAP funding and $154,640 in Teacher Quality funding.
• Transportation wage adjustments estimated to increase allocations by $101,509, with total transportation salaries and benefits projected at $4,591,891.
• Multiple insurance renewals covering property, liability, workers compensation, cyber liability, equipment maintenance, and related coverage.
• Numerous purchases using cooperative purchasing contracts to avoid separate competitive bidding while complying with procurement requirements.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The Board is scheduled to approve a revised Professional and Technical Growth policy following prior review.

A resolution would authorize repayment to the U.S. Department of Education for remaining federal interests associated with ESSER II improvements at Arthur and Garfield Elementary Schools following disposition of those properties.

The Board will consider adopting the MSAP Voluntary Desegregation Plan, a federal requirement for continued Magnet Schools Assistance Program funding.

Additional governance actions include annual investigator appointments, administrator contract resolutions, updated employee handbooks, and annual policy maintenance required under district policy review schedules.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The Superintendent and Board are scheduled to provide reports.

Monthly financial reporting includes claims, budgets, cash balances, investments, and fiscal summaries.

Operational reports include insurance renewals, construction progress, facility completion certificates, investment activity, and budget status.

Instructional updates emphasize implementation of the district's revised instructional model, expanded career pathway programming, compliance with new Iowa screening requirements, professional learning, and magnet school implementation.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The Board is expected to:

• Approve the personnel report.
• Approve substitute compensation rates.
• Approve transportation employee wage schedules.
• Appoint Level One and Level Two abuse investigators.
• Renew multiple educational partnership agreements.
• Update employee handbooks.
• Approve administrator contract issuance.
• Continue teacher preparation partnerships through UNI.
• Continue professional learning partnerships and instructional support agreements.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major operational items include:

• Fleet replacement for aging maintenance vehicles.
• Snow plow, dump body, and spreader equipment purchases.
• Apple iPads supporting digital hall pass implementation.
• Medical laboratory equipment for Washington and Jefferson High School health science programs.
• Washington High School auditorium sound system replacement.
• South parking lot resurfacing at the Educational Leadership and Support Center.
• Multiple Washington and Jefferson High School construction change orders.
• Acceptance of completed CCR and Facilities projects.
• Cloud backup storage renewal.
• Visitor management technology deployment.
• Equipment maintenance insurance renewal.
• Point-of-sale system implementation for schools.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents may address the Board during the Public Comment portion of the meeting after submitting a Request to Address the Board form before the meeting begins.

Speakers are generally limited to five minutes.

Written comments may also be submitted to the Board using the district's published Board email address.

The Board notes that members generally do not engage in dialogue with speakers during public comment in order to comply with Iowa Open Meetings requirements.

Community Impact

The proposed actions could affect students through expanded career education, updated assessment tools, enhanced health science programs, improved instructional technology, and continued magnet school programming.

Families may experience improved educational resources, expanded college-credit opportunities, stronger career preparation, enhanced student supervision through digital hall passes, and additional student support services.

Employees are affected by updated handbooks, revised staffing procedures, substitute pay schedules, wage adjustments, professional development opportunities, and administrator contract decisions.

Taxpayers may be interested in the Board's extensive financial oversight, insurance renewals, capital investments, debt-related fund transfers, and continued use of cooperative purchasing contracts intended to improve procurement efficiency.

District operations benefit from facility improvements, fleet modernization, cybersecurity and backup services, construction completion, and long-term maintenance planning.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the district measure the effectiveness of the expanded magnet school investments?
• What outcomes are expected from replacing iReady with IXL in applicable grades?
• How will the digital hall pass system affect classroom instruction and student privacy?
• What long-term savings are expected from current fleet replacement purchases?
• How will school reconfiguration affect staffing assignments beyond 2026-2027?
• What metrics will determine whether Empowerment Central continues after spring 2027?
• How will the MSAP Voluntary Desegregation Plan be implemented and monitored?
• What impact will transportation wage adjustments have on employee recruitment and retention?
• What benefits are expected from expanded health science laboratory investments?
• How will the district evaluate career pathway partnerships with outside organizations?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 13, 2026: Exempt bargaining strategy session followed by the regular Board meeting.
• 2026-2027 school year: Most agreements, contracts, insurance renewals, compensation schedules, technology purchases, and educational partnerships become effective.
• 2026-2028: Purple Pathway partnership continues.
• 2025-2028: Cost-sharing agreements with Kirkwood continue for work-based learning and transition counselors.
• Spring 2027: Planned evaluation of Empowerment Central continuation.
• Approximately April 2027-April 2028: Expected delivery timeframe for several fleet equipment purchases because of manufacturing lead times.
• Following Board approval: Multiple construction closeout payments, partnership renewals, equipment purchases, and operational implementations will proceed.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting primarily prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Nearly $29.7 million in monthly claims are scheduled for approval.
• Monthly investment balances exceed $214 million.
• The district continues significant federal MSAP-funded initiatives.
• New instructional technology and assessment systems are proposed.
• Career pathway partnerships remain a major district priority.
• Multiple construction projects are reaching completion.
• Additional facility improvements continue across district buildings.
• Fleet replacement remains an operational priority.
• Insurance renewals cover numerous district risks.
• Employee handbook revisions address school reconfiguration.
• Transportation wages are proposed to increase.
• Administrator contracts maintain existing practices during reconfiguration.
• Digital hall pass technology is proposed.
• Washington and Jefferson health science labs would receive new instructional equipment.
• Financial oversight includes debt reserve transfers and investment reporting.
• Cooperative purchasing contracts are used extensively.
• Public comment remains available before Board action.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031509&MID=31082
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031509
• Public body website: https://www.crschools.us/our-district/board-of-education
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EngageCRschools/streams

About the Public Body

• Name: Cedar Rapids Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Cedar Rapids, iowa
• County: Linn
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Cedar Rapids Community School District, Cedar Rapids Board of Education, school board meeting, July 13 2026, MSAP, Magnet Schools Assistance Program, Future Ready, SAVE Fund, PPEL, ESSER II, IXL Learning, FASTBridge, Edmentum, Empowerment Central, Grant Wood AEA, Kirkwood Community College, Junior Achievement, iJAG, Purple Pathway, transportation wages, employee handbooks, Washington High School, Jefferson High School, construction projects, digital hall pass, fleet replacement, insurance renewal, budget report, investment report, school reconfiguration