The Johnston Community School District Board of Education's July 13, 2026 regular meeting combines routine district business with several significant policy and operational decisions that will shape the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Board members will consider curriculum investments, staffing actions, employee handbook revisions, district policy updates, financial reports, technology purchases, and facilities improvements while also receiving updates on strategic planning and a federal refugee support grant.
One of the largest financial decisions involves replacing an earlier two-year curriculum agreement with a six-year secondary mathematics curriculum contract with Amplify totaling $538,512.60. The proposal provides digital curriculum, assessments, teacher resources, and instructional materials for middle and high school mathematics through 2032. This represents one of the largest instructional investments in the meeting packet and is intended to provide long-term curriculum stability.
Technology and capital improvements also represent a substantial portion of district business. The consent agenda includes technology replacements, cybersecurity software, classroom audiovisual equipment, scoreboard upgrades, furniture purchases, classroom renovations, and information technology infrastructure funded primarily through the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL). These projects are intended to support instruction, school operations, and facility modernization before students return for the new school year.
The Board will review numerous policy updates driven largely by recent changes in Iowa law. Topics include chronic absenteeism calculations, school board elections, meeting notices, employee leave requirements, open enrollment procedures, student free expression, classroom removal procedures, disruptive behavior policies, and athletic participation opportunities for eighth-grade students. Most of these items receive a first reading, while one student activity policy is scheduled for final approval later in the meeting.
Personnel matters are another major component of the meeting. The consent agenda includes administrative appointments, teacher hiring and transfers, classified employee actions, coaching appointments, resignations, retirements, and leadership assignments. In addition, the Board will consider increasing nutrition staffing at Horizon Elementary to accommodate higher student breakfast participation.
Financial oversight continues through review of May financial statements, accounts payable, contracts, donations, and open enrollment activity. The district will also receive information regarding the federal Refugee School Impact Program grant and hear updates on the district strategic plan before concluding with committee reports and scheduling future board activities.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Strategic Plan Update
The superintendent will provide an update regarding implementation of the district strategic plan. This presentation is expected to discuss progress toward district goals, ongoing initiatives, and future priorities supporting student achievement, organizational growth, staff development, and operational effectiveness.
Refugee School Impact Program Grant
District staff will present information regarding the federal Refugee School Impact Program (RSIP). The presentation will explain the grant, available federal funding, district goals, and how refugee students and families are supported through educational services and student support systems. The report aligns with district goals related to maximizing learning, support systems, and effective operations.
Secondary Mathematics Curriculum Investment
The Board will review a six-year agreement with Amplify valued at $538,512.60 to provide secondary mathematics curriculum, digital licenses, teacher resources, student materials, assessments, and related instructional supports through 2032. The proposal replaces a previously approved two-year agreement and covers grades 6 through high school mathematics.
Employee Handbook Updates
Board members will consider approval of revisions to employee handbooks previously introduced in June. Changes include updated board policy references, E-Verify language, insurance contribution updates, classroom animal expectations, reimbursement procedures, substitute handbook revisions, and terminology updates reflecting current district practices.
Student Board Representatives
The Board will consider appointing Syon Aggarwal and Mary Jurado as student representatives to the Johnston Board of Education for the 2026-2027 school year following completion of the district's selection process.
Nutrition Staffing Increase
Because of increased breakfast participation at Horizon Elementary School, the Board will consider increasing one nutrition employee position from 0.56 FTE (22.5 hours/week) to 0.72 FTE (28.75 hours/week) beginning during the 2026-2027 school year.
District Policy Updates
The meeting includes numerous first readings of updated or new board policies reflecting changes in Iowa law covering attendance, employee rights, student conduct, board governance, open enrollment, free expression, disruptive behavior procedures, and athletic participation. Most will return for future approval after the first reading process.
Financial Matters
Major financial items include:
- Amplify six-year secondary mathematics curriculum agreement totaling $538,512.60 from the General Fund.
- Typing Club license renewal through EdClub for $7,525.00.
- Polk County Early Childhood agreement providing $56,951.70 in preschool program revenue.
- Sale of used MacBook Air devices to Diamond Assets generating $18,240.00 in revenue.
- Veeam software renewal through CDW-G for $6,247.50.
- Bluum purchases totaling classroom technology improvements for multiple schools.
- Wizer cybersecurity phishing software for $7,578.50.
- Virco high school furniture purchase for $35,813.00.
- Apple computer purchase for $8,856.00.
- Dell laptop replacement purchase for $36,648.75.
- Stadium scoreboard upgrade through Daktronics for $16,080.00.
- High school gym scoreboard upgrade through Daktronics for $16,080.00.
- Johnston Middle School art room construction services totaling $12,435.00 plus $885.00 for electrical work.
- Student activity agreement for Impact Show Choir arrangement services totaling $2,000.00.
The Board will also review May financial statements. Governmental funds reported approximately $14.19 million in the General Fund, $12.97 million in PPEL-related balances, and combined governmental cash balances exceeding $60 million across district accounts. Proprietary fund reports include approximately $4.03 million in Nutrition funds and $10.13 million in the Self-Funded Insurance Fund.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Policy topics include:
- Updated chronic absenteeism and truancy calculations.
- School board election procedures reflecting Iowa HF 2501.
- Public meeting notice revisions reflecting HF 2490.
- Equal employment opportunity updates including employment eligibility screening requirements.
- Employee leave revisions reflecting new protections for teachers injured during violent student disruptions.
- Open enrollment procedure updates.
- Student expression and publications revisions.
- Student conduct updates.
- New disruptive behavior policy framework and related regulations.
- Student activity program revisions allowing optional participation opportunities for eighth-grade students in certain high school athletic contests under recent Iowa law.
Policy 504.06 is scheduled for approval after its first reading earlier in the meeting.
Reports scheduled include:
- Superintendent's report.
- Strategic Plan update.
- Refugee School Impact Program overview.
- Monthly financial reports.
- Student report.
- Board committee updates covering legislation, finance, and policy.
- Recognition of district achievements including Coach Dennis Schuessler's statewide Coach of the Year honor, Special Olympics state champions, and multiple academic team awards.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel actions include:
- Hiring a new Johnston Middle School Associate Principal.
- Hiring counselors, special education teachers, instructional leaders, mentors, classified staff, transportation staff, and coaches.
- Multiple employee transfers.
- Several classified and certified resignations.
- Retirement of the Johnston High School Administrative Assistant for Athletics and Activities.
- Appointment of student board representatives.
- Additional nutrition staffing at Horizon Elementary.
- Approval of employee handbook revisions for the upcoming school year.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Operational projects include:
- Classroom technology upgrades.
- New flat panels and audiovisual systems.
- Cybersecurity software implementation.
- Computer replacement program.
- High school furniture purchases.
- Stadium and gym scoreboard modernization.
- Johnston Middle School art room improvements.
- Preschool funding agreement.
- Disposal and sale of surplus district technology equipment.
- Long-term implementation of updated secondary mathematics curriculum.
Community members may address the Board during the public comment period.
Speakers must complete the required form before the meeting, provide identification, and are generally limited to three minutes each, with a total public comment period of 90 minutes, subject to modification by the Board President. The Board generally will not act on topics raised during public comment unless they already appear on the published agenda.
Students will be affected through updated mathematics curriculum, technology improvements, revised student conduct policies, attendance procedures, extracurricular participation opportunities, and expanded nutrition services.
Families may see changes related to attendance expectations, open enrollment procedures, student activities, and district instructional resources.
District employees are affected by handbook revisions, employment policy updates, staffing changes, leave provisions, and organizational appointments.
Taxpayers and community members receive continued oversight of district finances, capital investments, and major instructional expenditures while the Board continues implementing strategic planning priorities.
- How will the six-year mathematics curriculum improve student achievement?
- Why was the previous two-year curriculum agreement replaced?
- What measures will be used to evaluate the success of the Amplify implementation?
- How will the Refugee School Impact Program funding be allocated?
- What prompted the proposed attendance policy calculation changes?
- How will new disruptive behavior policies affect classroom management?
- What benefits are expected from the technology and cybersecurity investments?
- Are additional nutrition staffing needs expected at other schools?
- How will eighth-grade athletic participation be implemented if the policy is approved?
- What additional policy revisions are expected later this year?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 13, 2026: Regular Board Meeting.
- July 14, 2026: Johnston Legislative Action Committee meeting.
- July 15, 2026: Physical Environment Committee meeting.
- July 20, 2026: Joint work session with the City of Johnston.
- July 22, 2026: Policy Committee meeting.
- July 26-August 2, 2026: Iowa Family Week for athletics and activities.
- August 5, 2026: Finance Committee meeting.
- August 10, 2026: Regular Board meeting.
- August 12, 2026: IASB-facilitated Board work session.
- Multiple policy proposals receiving first readings are expected to return for future Board consideration.
Key Takeaways
- The Board will review a broad agenda preparing for the 2026-2027 school year.
- A $538,512.60 mathematics curriculum contract is among the largest proposed expenditures.
- Numerous technology and facility improvements are proposed.
- Financial reports for May will be reviewed.
- Multiple staffing actions are scheduled.
- Student board representatives are expected to be appointed.
- Employee handbook revisions are scheduled for approval.
- Horizon Elementary may receive additional nutrition staffing.
- Several board policies are being updated due to changes in Iowa law.
- Student conduct and disruptive behavior policies receive significant attention.
- Attendance calculations are being revised.
- Open enrollment procedures are being updated.
- Board election and meeting notice policies reflect statutory changes.
- Cybersecurity investments continue.
- Johnston Middle School will receive classroom improvements.
- High school scoreboards are proposed for upgrades.
- The district will receive a presentation on the Refugee School Impact Program.
- Community members have an opportunity to address the Board during public comment.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Johnston Community Schools
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Johnston, iowa
- County: Polk
- Provider: simbli
Keywords
Johnston Community Schools, Johnston Board of Education, July 13 2026, Regular Board Meeting, Amplify, secondary math curriculum, strategic plan, Refugee School Impact Program, RSIP, employee handbook, board policies, chronic absenteeism, disruptive behavior, student conduct, open enrollment, student activity program, technology upgrades, PPEL, financial reports, Horizon Elementary, Johnston Middle School, Daktronics, cybersecurity, nutrition staffing, student representatives, Iowa school board, Polk County, preschool funding, facilities improvements, governance
