School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Fort Madison (FMCSD) – July 15, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Fort Madison Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-15
• City: Fort Madison
• County: Lee County
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031089&MID=31736
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031089
• Public Body Website: https://www.fmcsd.org/district1/school-board
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The Fort Madison Community School District Board's July 15, 2026 regular meeting is primarily focused on preparing the district for the 2026-2027 school year. The agenda combines routine governance with significant operational decisions involving staffing, employee compensation, student handbooks, annual policy updates, interdistrict agreements, and district finances.

One of the meeting's biggest themes is readiness for the upcoming school year. Board members are scheduled to consider approval of numerous district handbooks covering students, teachers, administrators, support staff, custodians, bus drivers, substitutes, preschool, and activities, along with updated AFSCME hourly pay rates and a new 28E swimming agreement. These documents establish expectations and procedures that will affect students, employees, and families throughout the year.

Personnel is another major focus. The board is asked to act on nine resignations, approve multiple new hires across instructional and support positions, review contract modifications, and consider other employment-related matters. Filling these positions before the start of classes is important for maintaining educational and transportation services.

Financial oversight also occupies a substantial portion of the meeting. The consent agenda includes district financial reports, accounts payable, student activity fund reports, donations, grants, and fundraising summaries. Available financial reports indicate the district finished the fiscal year with a strong operating position, while student organizations continue to maintain numerous activity accounts supporting athletics, music, career and technical education, clubs, and class organizations.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Annual handbooks for the 2026-2027 school year

The superintendent recommends approval of a broad package of updated handbooks governing virtually every major district operation. These include the Junior/Senior High student handbook, activities handbook, elementary handbook, preschool handbook, certified staff handbook, substitute handbook, bus driver handbook, support staff handbook, AFSCME handbook, administrator handbook, and custodian/maintenance handbook.

These documents establish student expectations, employee procedures, operational rules, and administrative practices for the coming school year. Annual approval ensures district guidance reflects current policies and operational needs before students and staff return.

Personnel changes before the new school year

The consent agenda contains extensive staffing actions.

The board will consider nine resignations, including positions involving robotics, elementary associates, bus transportation, athletics, and classroom instruction.

The board is also scheduled to approve approximately ten new hires, including a junior high volleyball coach, behavior interventionists, teachers, associates, therapeutic support personnel, bus drivers, and summer workers. Contract modifications, leave requests, and open enrollment requests are also included for consideration. These actions are intended to ensure schools are fully staffed before the academic year begins.

AFSCME compensation and employee matters

Board members will consider approval of updated AFSCME hourly wage rates for the 2026-2027 school year.

Because AFSCME employees perform many of the district's operational functions—including maintenance, transportation, custodial services, and support work—these compensation decisions affect district budgeting, employee recruitment, and retention.

28E swimming agreement

The board is scheduled to consider approval of a 2026-2027 28E high school swimming agreement.

28E agreements are cooperative arrangements authorized under Iowa law that allow governmental entities to jointly provide services or educational opportunities. Approval would continue cooperative swimming opportunities for participating students during the coming school year.

MTSS goal stipend

The Director of Curriculum and Student Services recommends approval of a stipend related to Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) goals.

MTSS is the district's framework for providing academic and behavioral supports to students. The stipend appears intended to compensate qualifying work associated with district MTSS goals. The item requires board approval before payment.

Annual policy review

The board will review a substantial package of board policies and administrative regulations.

The review includes foundational governance policies covering legal status, educational philosophy, equal educational opportunity, Title IX grievance procedures, board meetings, employee relations, student release procedures, homeless students, individualized instruction, dual enrollment, field trips, advertising, unmanned aircraft, employee leave, student conduct, disruptive behavior, open enrollment, student activities, and board elections.

These reviews represent part of the district's ongoing policy maintenance process and help ensure compliance with changing legal requirements and Iowa school governance standards.

Financial oversight

Routine financial oversight includes review of balance sheets, revenue reports, expenditure summaries, student activity reports, accounts payable, and district financial statements.

The board is also scheduled to review donations, grants, and approved fundraising activities supporting district programs and student organizations. These recurring reports provide transparency regarding district operations and financial management.

Financial Matters

The packet includes review of the district balance sheet, revenue summary, expenditure report, student activity fund report, and multiple accounts payable listings covering general, nutrition, student activity, and American Express accounts.

Available financial information indicates:

• General Fund ending balance of approximately $13.1 million.
• Revenue totaling approximately 93.7% of the revised $27.4 million budget.
• Expenditures totaling approximately 80.8% of the revised $29.2 million budget.
• Student activity fund balances totaling more than $531,000 across numerous student organizations.

The donations report includes community support such as:

• $2,000 from Swim Boosters for the swim team.
• $1,000 from Jody and Paul Schulte supporting cheer.
• Additional donations benefiting the Class of 2026 and Building Trades program.

Fundraising reports identify activities supporting elementary programs, HOSA, music, athletics, and cheer, including elementary PTO events, music booster fundraising, and student organization sales. These efforts help finance uniforms, registration costs, supplemental educational activities, assemblies, and other student opportunities.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

A major governance component of this meeting is the annual review of district policies.

The packet includes updates or reviews affecting:

• Equal educational opportunity
• Title IX procedures
• Board meeting procedures
• Student release policies
• Homeless student protections
• Employee probationary status
• Student conduct
• Student expression
• Disruptive behavior procedures
• Dual enrollment
• Student activities
• Advertising
• Drone policies
• Open enrollment procedures
• Board elections
• Employee leave policies

The board also considers approval of numerous operational handbooks governing students and employees throughout the district.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Routine informational reports include district financial statements, revenue and expenditure summaries, activity fund balances, donations, grants, fundraising reports, and other operational updates.

The packet also includes discussion items from the Director of Curriculum and Student Services, the Superintendent, and the Board Secretary/Business Manager.

A discussion regarding future board meeting date adjustments appears on the agenda, allowing the board to consider scheduling changes before future meetings.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel actions include:

• Nine employee resignations.
• Approximately ten recommended hires.
• Contract modifications.
• Leave of absence requests.
• Open enrollment requests.

Positions affected include instructional staff, coaches, associates, therapeutic support personnel, behavior interventionists, transportation employees, and seasonal workers.

These staffing decisions are important because they directly affect classroom instruction, transportation services, student support programs, extracurricular activities, and district operations entering the new school year.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

The meeting focuses more heavily on operational readiness than capital construction.

Operational matters include:

• Transportation staffing through bus driver appointments.
• Custodial and maintenance handbook approval.
• Administrator and support staff handbook updates.
• Activities handbook revisions.
• Student handbook revisions.
• Cooperative swimming agreement.
• Districtwide operational procedures for the coming school year.

These items collectively prepare district operations before students return.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

The agenda includes:

• Recognition of guests.
• Comments from the audience.
• Regular public board discussion.
• Legislative update.
• Discussion items prior to board action.

No formal public hearing is identified within the available packet materials.

Community Impact

Students and families will be affected by updated student handbooks, activities policies, transportation staffing, behavioral support initiatives, and cooperative athletic opportunities.

Employees are affected through updated compensation schedules, handbook revisions, contract modifications, staffing approvals, and annual policy updates.

Taxpayers benefit from routine financial oversight, review of expenditures, and monitoring of district fund balances.

Student organizations continue to benefit from community donations, grants, and fundraising that supplement extracurricular programming and educational opportunities.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What are the most significant changes in the 2026-2027 student handbooks?
• What factors were considered when establishing the new AFSCME hourly wage schedule?
• How will the MTSS stipend improve student academic and behavioral outcomes?
• What schools participate in the new swimming 28E agreement?
• Are additional staffing vacancies expected before the school year begins?
• How will the district continue recruiting employees in difficult-to-fill positions?
• Which policy revisions were required by changes in state or federal law?
• How are donations and fundraising priorities determined among student organizations?
• What trends are reflected in the district's year-end financial reports?
• Are additional handbook revisions anticipated before classes begin?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 15, 2026: Regular Board Meeting with action on staffing, compensation, policies, handbooks, financial reports, and agreements.
• August 19, 2026: Next scheduled regular board meeting.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Implementation of approved handbooks, employee compensation schedules, staffing decisions, and operational policies following board approval.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Numerous employee and student handbooks require board approval.
• AFSCME hourly wage rates are scheduled for approval.
• A new 28E swimming agreement is under consideration.
• Multiple personnel resignations and new hires are on the agenda.
• District financial reports indicate a strong year-end operating position.
• Donations and fundraisers continue supporting student programs.
• Annual board policy review covers governance, students, and employees.
• MTSS stipend approval supports district instructional initiatives.
• The next regular board meeting is scheduled for August 19, 2026.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031089&MID=31736
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031089
• Public body website: https://www.fmcsd.org/district1/school-board
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Fort Madison Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Fort Madison, iowa
• County: Lee County
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Fort Madison Community School District, Regular Board Meeting, July 15 2026, Lee County, Bloodhounds, school board, AFSCME, employee handbook, student handbook, elementary handbook, preschool handbook, MTSS, stipend, 28E agreement, swimming, personnel, resignations, new hires, policy review, Title IX, equal educational opportunity, financial reports, student activity fund, donations, grants, fundraisers, open enrollment, transportation, curriculum, Iowa