Meeting Overview
The Columbus Community School District Board of Education is scheduled to hold a Regular Board Meeting on August 24, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting is listed for the Columbus Administration Building - Board Room, 1208 Colton Street, Columbus Junction, IA 52738.
The agenda includes public hearings, consent agenda items, administrative reports, policy considerations, new business items, and board reports.
Key Items on the Agenda
Instructional Support Program Public Hearing
The board is scheduled to hold a hearing on a proposed Resolution to Continue Participation in the Instructional Support Program. The proposal describes continuing participation in the program for five years beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2028.
The packet states that additional funding would be determined annually and would not exceed 10% of the total regular program district cost for the budget year and related amounts described in the resolution. The proposed funding sources include instructional support state aid, property tax, and an instructional support income surtax.
The hearing agenda includes an opportunity for public comments on the proposed resolution.
Consent Agenda Items
The board is scheduled to consider approval of a consent agenda that includes financial reports, previous meeting minutes, bills, personnel items, fundraisers, and contracts or agreements.
Financial and Administrative Items
The consent agenda includes the July financials and approval of minutes from the July 20, 2026 Regular Meeting and the August 7, 2026 Special Meeting.
The agenda also includes August 2026 bills for consideration.
Personnel Items
The consent agenda includes personnel recommendations involving resignations, hires, and volunteer coaching assignments. Items listed include hires for coaching positions, kindergarten associates, a high school associate, a school security officer, and volunteer coaching roles.
Fundraisers and Agreements
The board is scheduled to consider student and school-use fundraiser requests, including activities involving cross country, volleyball, student council, community foundation support, music boosters, and football.
The consent agenda also includes contracts and agreements for Hands Up Communications and an Instructure, Inc. Canvas renewal.
Administrative Reports
The agenda includes reports from district administrators and building leaders.
Activities and Instruction
The Activities Director report includes updates on the start of the school year, coach meetings, athlete participation numbers, Homecoming planning, and a Tyson Foods Louisa County sponsorship providing free admission for Columbus 7-12 students at home events during the school year.
The Director of Instruction report highlights curriculum alignment, professional learning, instructional systems, and plans for district-wide professional development opportunities. The report also references exploration of secondary assessments and math curriculum pilots.
Building and District Updates
The Elementary Principal report identifies building goals focused on attendance, literacy, mathematics, communication, and culture and climate.
The Secondary Principal report includes updates on building leadership teams, professional development, curriculum work, communication efforts, and other school improvement activities.
The Superintendent report includes updates on Apples with Administrators, special education planning, review of the OPN facilities study, Friday night football parking assistance, and a planned September board work session.
Policy and Governance Items
Policy Updates
The board is scheduled to consider a first reading of changes to multiple policies, including rescinding Policies 603.04 and 603.10 and revising Policies 201, 503.11, 503.11-R(1), 503.11-R(2), 604.03, 604.03-R(1), 605.04, and 605.04-E(1). The packet states these updates are related to the 2026 Iowa legislative session.
The agenda also includes a final reading of Policy 504.06, 504.06-R1, and 504.06-E1 under unfinished business.
IASB Legislative Priorities
The board is scheduled to consider the 2026 Iowa Association of School Boards legislative priorities. The agenda notes that the board needs to select four priorities for support.
Major Financial and Operational Items
Staff Replacement Laptops
The board is scheduled to consider a quote for 10 replacement Apple MacBook Air laptops for staff members. The packet lists the cost as $13,740 and includes a recommendation to approve the quote.
Wrestling Agreements
The board is scheduled to consider approval of 2026/2027 boys and girls wrestling 28E agreements with WMU. The packet states these agreements are the same as the previous year.
Additional Special Education Transportation
The board is scheduled to consider approval of a second SPED bus route. The packet states that, after considering SPED student needs, an additional route is needed and recommends a route driven by Traci Orr.
Tyson Student Athletic Event Donation
The board is scheduled to consider acceptance of a $5,000 donation from Tyson Foods for student athletic event admissions for grades 7-12.
Student Programs and Community Impact
Norwegian Language Study Program
The board is scheduled to consider approval of a Concordia Norwegian Language Program for high school foreign language elective credit. The packet states the program involved a month-long Norwegian language camp for high school language credit and is proposed to meet two credits, or 180 hours, of the district’s high school foreign language elective requirement.
Mentor Teachers and Leadership Teams
The board is scheduled to consider approval of first- and second-year mentor teachers for the 2026-27 school year. The packet notes there will be four new mentor teachers and five second-year mentors.
The board is also scheduled to consider adding Tera Rees to the Roundy BLT team after the packet notes the member was accidentally left off.
The agenda includes an informational item on bus inspections. The packet states the district had zero deficiencies in the referenced inspection report and notes that annual deficiencies have declined from 24 in the 2016-17 school year to 2 in 2025-26, representing a 92% reduction.
The transportation update also identifies a goal of continuing driver recognition and reporting practices to address vehicle concerns before they become larger safety, reliability, or compliance issues.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- The board’s consideration of the proposed continuation of the Instructional Support Program and related funding structure.
- Proposed policy changes connected to the 2026 Iowa legislative session.
- Financial and operational requests, including replacement laptops, transportation expansion, and the Tyson student athletic event donation.
- Approval requests involving student opportunities, including the Norwegian Language Study Program and mentor teacher program.
