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

Source basis: This briefing is based on the July 20, 2026 College Community School District board packet and supporting documents. It prioritizes the most consequential information for the community and omits routine administrative detail where appropriate.

Meeting Information

• Public Body: College Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-20
• City: Cedar Rapids
• County: Linn County
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030849&MID=31408
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030849
• Public Body Website: https://www.crprairie.org/district/board-of-education/
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/@ccsdprairie/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMMTN2A0EYpN1GdM37qUhCA

What Community Members Should Know

The July 20 meeting is largely focused on preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year. Board members are scheduled to review student eligibility guidance, approve numerous instructional and operational contracts, adopt major revisions to student policies, review updated student handbooks, and consider personnel recommendations.

One of the most visible discussion items concerns 8th-grade athletic eligibility following recent state law changes. Supporting materials include parent consent requirements, placement procedures, medical guidance, and district participation policies, indicating the board is reviewing how middle-school students may participate in high school extracurricular athletics.

The consent agenda includes a large number of agreements supporting classroom instruction, student services, technology, concurrent enrollment, preschool programming, and partnerships with Kirkwood Community College and other organizations. Several instructional software renewals and operational agreements are scheduled for approval before the new school year.

The board will also consider sweeping revisions to dozens of student-related policies, annual review of confidential emergency response plans required under Iowa law, updated learner handbooks, and a proposal to increase substitute paraprofessional wages to improve recruitment and retention.

Major Discussion and Action Items

8th Grade Athletic Eligibility

The board's primary discussion item addresses implementation of 8th-grade participation in high school extracurricular athletics. Supporting documents include parent consent forms, placement checklists, medical director procedures, legislative guidance, and district participation policies. The discussion appears intended to establish or clarify district procedures following recent Iowa legislation affecting athletic participation opportunities. Students, families, coaches, and school administrators are likely to be directly affected.

Extensive Contracts Supporting District Operations

The board is scheduled to approve numerous agreements covering instructional software, student services, technology support, preschool operations, concurrent enrollment, workplace learning, facility leases, and research activities. Together these contracts support instruction, technology infrastructure, student programming, and partnerships needed for the upcoming school year.

Comprehensive Student Policy Updates

One of the largest governance actions involves revisions throughout the district's 500 Series student policies. Topics include admissions, attendance, open enrollment, student searches, lockers, electronic devices, discipline, restraint and seclusion procedures, extracurricular participation, wellness, medication administration, transportation, graduation, safety, and numerous accompanying regulations and forms. The board is also reviewing additional student-related policies and proposing a new disruptive behavior policy required to address recent state legislation.

Student and Family Handbooks

Updated elementary, secondary, activities, and early childhood family handbooks are scheduled for approval before the school year begins. These handbooks establish expectations for students and families regarding attendance, academics, behavior, activities, safety, and school operations.

Personnel and Staffing

Personnel recommendations are included in the agenda along with a proposal to increase substitute paraprofessional compensation. District leadership states the increase is intended to improve recruitment and recognize the importance of substitute paraprofessionals supporting students across the district.

Annual Governance and Safety Review

The board will review its preliminary reporting schedule for 2026-2027, acknowledging that the schedule may be adjusted throughout the year. Members will also complete the annual review of emergency crisis plans as required under Iowa law. Those plans remain confidential and are not publicly posted.

Financial Matters

The board will approve July bills, review June cash balances, and receive budget status information. End-of-June cash balances show approximately $36.53 million across district funds, including approximately:

• General Fund ending cash: $2.02 million
• Capital Projects: $6.33 million
• SAVE Fund: $10.12 million
• Debt Service: $2.74 million
• Physical Plant & Equipment Levy: $2.51 million
• School Nutrition: $551,685
• Early Childhood (Day Care): $2.18 million

Major contracts with stated financial amounts include:

• Imagine Learning elementary instructional licenses: $87,500
• Imagine Learning Prairie Rise instructional licenses: $145,000
• Wayground (formerly Quizizz) renewal for Prairie Point Middle School: $11,700
• Kirkwood Community College lease for approximately 10,000 square feet of classroom and office space with annual rent of $85,000.

Additional contracts include RTI Scheduler renewals, Infinite Campus support through GWAEA, Teach to Heal services, Tanager agreements, preschool cooperative agreements, concurrent enrollment, and workplace learning partnerships. While the packet does not provide public summaries for every contract, together they represent significant operational investments before the new academic year.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The meeting includes one of the district's largest annual policy reviews.

Board action is proposed on:

• Extensive revisions throughout the 500 Series student policies.
• Comprehensive review of additional 500 Series policies.
• Revisions to instructional technology, physical wellness, and student promotion/retention policies.
• Adoption of a new disruptive behavior policy and implementing regulations.
• Updates to the Student Activity Program policy.
• Annual review of confidential emergency crisis plans.
• Approval of the preliminary 2026-2027 board reporting calendar.

These updates are intended to align district governance with current Iowa law, Iowa Association of School Boards guidance, operational practices, and district procedures.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Major informational items include:

• Discussion regarding implementation of 8th-grade athletic eligibility.
• Review of June financial reports and cash balances.
• Budget status information.
• Open enrollment activity for 2026-2027.
• Annual board reporting schedule.
• Annual emergency response plan review.
• Academic research request presented for approval.
• Recognition items for the upcoming school year.

Open enrollment materials indicate multiple incoming and outgoing approvals, one incoming application denied because program space was unavailable, and two applications denied because they were filed late without good cause.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel recommendations are scheduled for board approval.

The board will also consider increasing substitute paraprofessional pay from $16.25 per hour to $16.57 per hour, a 32-cent increase. District administration states the goal is to improve recruitment and recognize substitute staff who support students. Beginning in 2026-2027, substitute paraprofessional pay would be maintained at $1.00 below Step 1, Lane 1A of the district paraprofessional salary schedule.

The agenda also includes annual recognitions and multiple closed sessions involving confidential student disciplinary matters as permitted under Iowa Code. Individual student identities and details remain confidential.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Operational matters emphasize preparation for the coming school year.

Key items include:

• Lease of approximately 10,000 square feet of Kirkwood Community College classroom and office space for district programming.
• Technology platform renewals supporting instruction.
• Infinite Campus support agreement.
• RTI Scheduler renewal.
• Preschool cooperative agreements.
• Concurrent enrollment and workplace learning partnerships.
• Annual emergency preparedness review.
• Updated student and family handbooks governing school operations.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may address the board during the public comment period provided under board policy before business items are considered.

The emergency response plans are reviewed confidentially under Iowa law and are not publicly posted.

The agenda also includes several closed sessions involving confidential student disciplinary matters authorized by Iowa Code.

Community Impact

Students and families may experience changes related to athletic eligibility, student handbooks, updated conduct policies, extracurricular participation, and technology used during instruction.

Employees and substitute staff may benefit from updated staffing agreements and the proposed substitute paraprofessional wage increase.

Taxpayers benefit from public oversight of district finances, instructional investments, and operational contracts before the school year begins.

Community organizations continue partnering with the district through fundraising activities, donations, preschool cooperation, higher education partnerships, and student programming.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the new 8th-grade athletic eligibility procedures be implemented?
• What criteria determine eligibility and placement for participating students?
• How will updated student conduct policies affect daily school operations?
• What outcomes are expected from the Imagine Learning and Wayground renewals?
• How will the district evaluate whether instructional software investments improve student learning?
• Why was the substitute paraprofessional wage adjustment set at the proposed level?
• Are additional staffing shortages anticipated for the upcoming school year?
• What measurable goals will be tracked through the annual board reporting schedule?
• How will Kirkwood partnerships expand opportunities for students?
• What future policy updates are expected during the school year?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 20, 2026: Board considers contracts, policies, personnel, financial reports, and handbooks.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Updated policies and handbooks are expected to take effect following approval.
• Annual Board Reports: Preliminary reporting calendar approved with adjustments made administratively throughout the year as needed.
• Annual Emergency Plan Review: Completed each year in accordance with Iowa law.
• Instructional Software Agreements: Most renewals begin for the 2026-2027 academic year following board approval.

Key Takeaways

• Discussion of 8th-grade athletic eligibility is one of the meeting's headline topics.
• The board is considering dozens of student policy revisions.
• Multiple instructional technology contracts are scheduled for renewal.
• Kirkwood Community College partnerships remain a significant operational priority.
• Student handbooks are being updated before the school year begins.
• June financial reports show approximately $36.5 million in ending cash across district funds.
• Imagine Learning renewals exceed $230,000 combined.
• Wayground renewal totals $11,700.
• The district proposes increasing substitute paraprofessional pay to $16.57 per hour.
• Emergency crisis plans receive their required annual confidential review.
• Numerous grants, donations, and fundraising activities support district programs.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36030849&MID=31408
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36030849
• Public body website: https://www.crprairie.org/district/board-of-education/
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/@ccsdprairie/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMMTN2A0EYpN1GdM37qUhCA

About the Public Body

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

Keywords

College Community School District, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Regular Board Meeting, July 20 2026, school board, 8th grade athletic eligibility, student policies, 500 Series policies, disruptive behavior policy, student handbooks, substitute paraprofessionals, wage increase, Imagine Learning, Wayground, RTI Scheduler, GWAEA, Infinite Campus, Kirkwood Community College, concurrent enrollment, preschool agreement, emergency crisis plans, open enrollment, financial reports, grants, donations, fundraising, Prairie Point Middle School, Teach to Heal