Key Items on the Agenda
Eighth-Grade Participation in High School Activities
The Board is scheduled to reconsider a proposed protocol governing when eighth-grade students may participate in varsity or high school activities. The item was discussed and tabled at the August 11 special meeting; staff now recommends approval.
The proposed protocol treats eighth-grade participation at the high school level as an exception rather than standard practice. Decisions would consider student safety, educational benefit, competitive readiness, program needs, and the student's physical, emotional, and mental readiness. Before placement, the student, parent or guardian, head coach, and activities director would meet to review expectations and whether participation is in the student's best interest.
Support-Staff Salary Supplement
Staff recommends approving a resolution for distributing FY27 state funding designated for education support personnel compensation. The packet says the one-time funding comes through Senate File 2612 and is about half the amount allocated by the Legislature in each of the previous two years.
Under the proposed resolution:
- Eligible employees must remain in qualifying education support roles and meet attendance and disciplinary requirements.
- Employees must have been present for at least 90% of their scheduled work hours during the applicable period; vacation and personal leave are exempt.
- Staff with an improvement plan, notice of expectations, or disciplinary action during the 2026–2027 school year would not qualify.
- Eligible employees would receive a one-time payment in the June 2027 payroll.
- The distribution formula would provide a larger allocation to employees with more qualifying months of service during FY27.
Second Reading of State-Driven Policy Updates
The agenda includes the second reading of IASB Policy Primer volumes 34 #5 and #6 and Policy 410.01. The first reading of these materials was approved at the July 20 meeting.
The proposed changes respond to multiple pieces of 2026 Iowa legislation and affect areas including:
- Public meeting notices and examination of district records.
- School board candidate filing procedures.
- Eighth-grade participation in high school athletics.
- Curriculum and student guidance requirements.
- Physical fitness testing and one-to-one technology programs.
- Employment eligibility verification.
- Gifted and talented identification and services.
- Student expression and religious-based exclusions.
- Classroom removal, disruptive behavior, and procedures involving students with IEPs.
- Employee leave provisions following violent student disruptions.
- Open enrollment and private instruction.
Policy 410.01 would also revise substitute-teacher provisions. The proposed language would have the Board determine substitute compensation annually and would apply the long-term substitute rate when an assignment extends beyond 10 consecutive days, with retroactive back pay to the first day of that assignment.
Consent Agenda
The packet proposes approval of the consent agenda as presented or amended. Items include July 20 and August 11 meeting minutes, monthly financial reports, bills, personnel changes, student activities, travel, fundraisers, and donations.
Bowling Reinstatement
The consent agenda includes reinstating high school boys and girls bowling for the 2026–2027 season. The packet says the district has received funds and commitments sufficient to meet an $18,000 financial threshold and specifies that the reinstatement applies only to the 2026–2027 season.
Course Catalog and Student Handbook
Middle school administration has revised the 2026–2027 course catalog to align with instructional and educational services, with future changes possible as program and instructional needs evolve.
The consent agenda also includes an amendment to pages 51 and 52 of the 2026–2027 Student & Parent Handbook to reflect a previously approved change in grading for seventh- and eighth-grade students.
Out-of-State Travel and Fundraisers
The Board is scheduled to review annual out-of-state travel plans. Listed trips include activities in locations such as Indianapolis, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Maryville, Miami, Dayton, Minneapolis, Denver, and the Omaha area during the 2026–2027 school year and summer 2027.
The packet also includes the district's annual list of proposed fundraisers for student organizations, athletics, fine arts, and other activities. Proposed fundraising supports expenses such as conference and competition fees, equipment, travel, student activities, costumes, meals, and program supplies.
Donations
The consent agenda includes a $100,000 Dekko Foundation grant for the new tennis courts, pending project completion. The packet also recognizes sponsors of the Panther Pride Student and Promotional T-shirt program, which provided shirts to more than 200 new children last year.
Personnel
Personnel items on the consent agenda include the following proposed contracts and resignations:
- Resignations: Caylee Pettit, paraprofessional; Preston Fleharty, paraprofessional and seventh-grade assistant football coach; Jacob Baudler, seventh-grade head baseball coach.
- Contracts: Brandon Briley, substitute custodian; Avery Fuller, high school paraprofessional and eighth-grade assistant football coach.
Major Financial Items
July Financial Position and August Bills
The July 2026 financial report lists combined ending balances of approximately $25.64 million across the General, Karroll Scholarship, Activity, Management, SAVE, PPEL, Debt Service, and Nutrition funds when investment and cash balances are combined.
The August board bills report lists a $1,593,300.89 grand total across district funds. Among the larger amounts are $667,404 in insurance-related expenditures in the Management Fund and a $272,201.83 capital-project payment to Van Maanen Electric.
Special Education Financial Trend
Materials included with the Business Manager's report compare special education finances from FY20 through FY25. For FY25, the report shows $3,689,542.65 in special education revenue and $4,495,499.33 in expenditures, producing net revenues under expenditures of $805,956.68.
The same comparison shows FY25 special education expenditures increased by $372,376.02 from the prior year, while special education revenue decreased by $70,636.67.
Facilities and Capital Projects
Elementary West Wing and Auditorium
The superintendent's report lists a beginning contingency balance of $738,300 for the elementary West Wing project. Approved change orders total $83,468, leaving $654,832 in the contingency fund.
Auditorium work is reported as complete. The project cost is listed at $1.1 million, funded through SAVE/PPEL, with $58,248.72 in approved change orders and $43,251.28 remaining from its original $101,500 contingency fund.
Proposed Tennis Courts
The proposed tennis court project is estimated at $1.2 million and would use SAVE/PPEL funding. The project financial picture includes a pending $150,000 United States Tennis Association grant and the $100,000 Dekko Foundation grant approved in August 2026.
The packet says the district must comply with USTA standards and specifications before formally submitting the grant application, which the superintendent anticipates within the next month or two. Construction is described as likely to begin next spring.
High School Safe Entry and Office Planning
The district is working with DLR to review space utilization and develop concepts for a high school safe-entry and office remodel. The concept could house high school, central office, and AEA personnel.
No project estimate is provided in the packet. Potential funding sources identified are remaining Early Childhood Center bond funds, ECC project savings, and SAVE/PPEL.
801 N. Elm Street
The district's earlier plan to demolish the vacated school building at 801 N. Elm St. has been paused while a high school office-space utilization study is conducted. The packet gives an estimated demolition cost of $700,000.
Longer-Term Facilities Study
The district plans to work with DLR on a broader educational and facilities study incorporating staff and community input. The process is intended to identify needs, priorities, options, and estimated costs and to provide information for determining whether a future bond proposal may be appropriate.
Reports and Student Recognition
The agenda includes recognition of Avery Staver for earning Iowa Girls All State Softball third-team honors. It also includes a student presentation by Dylan Dornack connected with the National AI Student Senate and the student-developed STUDENTS FIRST Act of 2026, a proposed national framework addressing artificial intelligence in K–12 education.
The Business Manager's report includes monthly financial materials as well as background documents on account codes, special education finances, certified enrollment, and an earlier certified-budget workshop.
The superintendent reports that the district is fully staffed with licensed educators while continuing to hire paraprofessionals, food-service employees, and substitutes.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Whether the Board approves the eighth-grade high school activities protocol after the proposal was tabled on August 11.
- How the Board handles the proposed FY27 formula for distributing one-time state salary supplements to eligible education support personnel.
- Whether the second reading of the extensive state-driven policy revisions moves forward, including changes involving student behavior, technology, athletics, curriculum, gifted education, employment verification, and substitute teachers.
- The consent-agenda decision on reinstating boys and girls bowling for 2026–2027 after the district reports reaching the $18,000 funding threshold.
- The evolving scope and financing of major facilities work, particularly the estimated $1.2 million tennis courts, high school safe-entry planning, the paused $700,000 demolition plan for 801 N. Elm St., and the broader facilities study that could inform a potential future bond proposal.
