School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – C-M – July 15, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Collins-Maxwell Comm School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 7/15/2026 Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-15
• City: Maxwell
• County: Story County
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150120&MID=31678
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150120
• Public Body Website: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150120
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The July 15, 2026 meeting centers on preparing Collins-Maxwell Community School District for the 2026-2027 school year through a large package of policy updates, handbook approvals, operational agreements, personnel actions, and facilities management decisions. Much of the meeting focuses on ensuring district policies, student expectations, and staff procedures are current before classes begin.

Among the most significant operational proposals is adoption of the GRIDBASE work order and asset management system. District administrators recommend a three-year agreement costing $2,250 annually ($6,750 total), arguing that the software will improve maintenance planning, asset tracking, equipment reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term cost control.

The board is also considering continuation of its partnership with Flourish Counseling through a new two-year agreement. According to the superintendent, the district incurs no direct financial cost because the counseling agency pays the therapist's salary and benefits, while school administrators report positive experiences with the service during the existing partnership.

Additional major topics include approval of multiple student and staff handbooks, review of a new policy governing eighth-grade participation in high school athletics, execution of a lease involving the 83 Main property, updates to authorized bank signers, personnel appointments, and routine payment of district obligations exceeding $563,000 during the reporting period.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Policy Primers and District Handbook Updates

The board reviews both first-reading and second-reading policy primers while simultaneously considering approval of updated Elementary, Preschool, Middle School/High School, Senior Capstone, and Staff Handbooks for the upcoming academic year. These documents establish expectations for students, employees, and district operations before the school year begins. Most handbook approvals occur after prior discussion and review, while additional policy primers continue through the board's normal multi-reading process.

New Policy on Eighth Grade Participation in High School Athletics

A first reading introduces Policy 504.06 governing when eighth-grade students may participate in high school athletics. Participation would remain an exception rather than routine practice. Approval would require a varsity coach recommendation, an administrative conference involving parents and the student, and final superintendent approval. Students must satisfy high school academic, attendance, conduct, safety, physical examination, and eligibility requirements, and once approved for a season cannot return to middle school competition in that sport during the same season. The proposal aligns district practice with recent Iowa legislation and athletic association requirements.

GRIDBASE Maintenance and Asset Management Software

Maintenance Director Bill Lytle recommends implementing GRIDBASE to manage work orders and district assets. Administrators state the software would move maintenance from reactive repairs toward planned preventive maintenance while providing centralized asset records and better operational decision-making. Formal board approval is requested for the three-year subscription.

83 Main Lease and Property Transfer

Board members discuss approving the 83 Main lease together with supporting property documentation. The packet includes a special warranty deed conveying designated property from the City of Maxwell to the Collins-Maxwell Community School District for nominal consideration. The deed notes the property remains subject to FEMA-related floodplain open-space restrictions, including limitations on future structures and long-term reporting requirements.

Student Mental Health Services

Administrators recommend extending the district's partnership with Flourish Counseling for another two years. The superintendent states there is no direct cost to the district because the provider assumes responsibility for therapist compensation. Building principals reportedly value the counseling services already being provided to students.

Governance and Administrative Updates

The board is asked to update authorized bank signers by adding Superintendent Chad Wahls and removing former superintendent Marc Snavely at Maxwell State Bank and Exchange State Bank. This administrative action ensures district banking authority reflects current leadership.

Superintendent Entry Plan

Superintendent Chad Wahls outlines an employee engagement process that includes individual conversations with staff, identification of recurring themes, transparent communication of findings, prioritization of improvements, assignment of responsibilities, implementation of action plans, and follow-up surveys to measure progress. The approach emphasizes visible action following employee feedback to strengthen trust and organizational performance.

Financial Matters

The largest new discretionary expenditure presented is the proposed GRIDBASE software agreement costing $2,250 annually for three years, or $6,750 total. District leadership argues the investment should improve maintenance efficiency, reduce operating costs over time, extend asset life, and improve compliance documentation.

The Flourish Counseling agreement carries no direct district financial obligation because the provider pays therapist compensation and benefits.

Bills presented for payment total approximately $563,342.49 across all district accounts. Significant expenditures include employee benefits, utilities, open enrollment tuition payments to multiple districts, roofing and construction work, gym floor refinishing, educational software renewals, consortium costs, insurance-related payments, district memberships, furniture, technology, maintenance services, and transportation-related expenses. Major individual payments include Employee Benefit Systems ($41,684.92), Iowa Local Government Risk Pool ($45,062.54), Premier Furniture ($65,335.94), and other substantial operational obligations supporting district operations. June financial statements are not yet finalized because the fiscal year has recently ended, so no June financial approval is requested until later in the year.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Governance work primarily consists of multiple policy readings and handbook approvals before the new school year.

Key policy activity includes:

• Second reading of policy primers.
• First reading of additional policy primers.
• First reading of Policy 504.06 addressing eighth-grade participation in high school athletics.
• Approval of updated student and staff handbooks.
• Approval of revised bank signing authority.
• Consideration of the 83 Main lease and related property documents.

The athletic participation policy establishes structured eligibility standards, superintendent approval authority, and season-long participation requirements intended to provide consistency and student safety.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The superintendent's report serves as the primary informational presentation.

Rather than focusing on facilities or enrollment data, the report explains a structured employee listening initiative during the superintendent's transition into district leadership. Planned activities include gathering staff feedback, identifying recurring themes, communicating findings openly, prioritizing improvements, assigning responsibility, implementing changes, monitoring progress, and conducting follow-up surveys.

Employees are specifically invited to discuss district strengths, opportunities for improvement, personal challenges, desired administrative support, and advice for the superintendent as leadership begins. The emphasis is on continuous organizational improvement through employee engagement.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel actions in the consent agenda include:

• Hiring Meredith Jans as School Nurse.
• Hiring Mariah Rethmeier as Elementary Special Education Associate.
• Hiring Sydney Anderson as Junior High Assistant Volleyball Coach.
• Accepting the resignation of Emma Pasquariello as Assistant Girls Basketball Coach.

The meeting also updates district administrative authority by changing official banking signers following the superintendent transition.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Operational priorities include adopting the GRIDBASE maintenance platform to improve work order management and asset tracking throughout district facilities.

The board also considers the 83 Main lease together with supporting property conveyance documents involving land transferred from the City of Maxwell. The deed identifies continuing FEMA flood mitigation restrictions requiring the property to remain open space, limiting future development and establishing ongoing inspection and reporting obligations.

Routine maintenance expenditures also include roofing repairs, gym floor refinishing, HVAC filters, elevator service, building maintenance, utilities, communications, and technology subscriptions supporting district operations before the school year begins.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may submit public comments before the meeting by emailing Board Secretary Kim Hinton or leaving a voicemail by noon on July 15, 2026. Public comments may address agenda items or other district matters.

The packet does not identify any formal public hearings associated with this meeting.

Community Impact

Students and families could see updated expectations through revised student handbooks and the proposed policy governing exceptional eighth-grade participation in varsity athletics.

Employees may benefit from the superintendent's structured listening initiative and planned follow-up process designed to improve workplace communication and organizational effectiveness.

Maintenance personnel could gain improved planning tools through GRIDBASE, potentially leading to more efficient repairs and better stewardship of district facilities.

Students needing mental health support would continue to have access to counseling services without adding direct costs to district taxpayers if the Flourish Counseling agreement is approved.

Taxpayers and board members receive continued oversight of significant operational expenditures while the district prepares for the new academic year.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What measurable outcomes does the district expect from the GRIDBASE software investment?
• How will success of the maintenance system be evaluated after implementation?
• What changes in the policy primers are most significant for families?
• Under what circumstances would an eighth-grade athlete be approved for high school competition?
• How many students currently receive services through Flourish Counseling?
• What are the principal terms of the 83 Main lease?
• How will FEMA deed restrictions affect future uses of the transferred property?
• What priorities are expected to emerge from the superintendent's employee listening sessions?
• When will final June financial statements be presented?
• Are additional handbook revisions anticipated before school begins?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 15, 2026: Board meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
• Noon, July 15, 2026: Deadline for emailed or voicemail public comments.
• Following board action: Implementation of approved handbooks, policy changes, software agreement, banking updates, and counseling agreement as applicable.
• September 2026: June financial statements are expected to be finalized and presented for approval.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Multiple student and staff handbooks are scheduled for approval.
• New Policy 504.06 establishes standards for eighth-grade participation in high school athletics.
• GRIDBASE software would cost $6,750 over three years.
• Flourish Counseling would continue for two years with no direct district cost.
• Banking authority will shift to Superintendent Chad Wahls.
• The 83 Main lease includes review of property transfer documents.
• The transferred property carries FEMA-related open-space restrictions.
• Three new employees are recommended for hire.
• One coaching resignation appears in the personnel report.
• June financial statements will not be finalized until September.
• More than $563,000 in district claims are presented for payment.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150120&MID=31678
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150120
• Public body website: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150120
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Collins-Maxwell Comm School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Maxwell, iowa
• County: Story County
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Collins-Maxwell Community School District, Collins-Maxwell school board, July 15 2026, Maxwell Iowa, Story County, policy primers, student handbook, preschool handbook, staff handbook, senior capstone, Policy 504.06, eighth-grade athletics, GRIDBASE, work orders, asset management, Flourish Counseling, mental health services, 83 Main lease, property deed, FEMA restrictions, bank signer, Chad Wahls, personnel, school nurse, special education associate, board bills, district finances, maintenance, public education