School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Lone Tree Community School District – July 22, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Lone Tree Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/22/2026 - 06:00 PM Special Board Meeting Board Regular Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-22
• City: Lone Tree
• County: Johnson
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031864&MID=32290
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031864
• Public Body Website: https://www.lone-tree.k12.ia.us
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@lonetreeschool

Source material reviewed from the meeting packet extraction.

What Community Members Should Know

This special meeting is focused on a relatively small number of decisions that could have meaningful effects on district operations before the 2026-2027 school year begins. The largest issues involve staffing approvals, potential collaboration with Highland Community School District on shared positions and extracurricular programming, proposed changes to admission pricing for school activities, and planning for a future bond measure related to HVAC improvements.

The board is expected to consider several employment recommendations for coaching, sponsorship, communications, and extracurricular positions. Most of these are replacement positions, while the proposed Marketing & Communication Director is identified as a new district position with an annual salary of $8,000.

Another major topic is regional cooperation with Highland Community School District. The board will discuss sharing a Nutrition Director position and consider a formal agreement creating a shared high school football cheerleading program beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The agreement outlines joint administration, shared oversight, fundraising expectations, and a review later in 2026.

The packet also includes discussion of making student admission to school activities free during the 2026-2027 school year. Finally, board members will discuss language for a community petition supporting an HVAC bond proposal that must be approved in August and submitted to the county auditor by August 26 in order to appear on the November election ballot.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Staffing Recommendations for the 2026-2027 School Year

The board will review several employment recommendations supporting extracurricular activities and district operations before the upcoming school year.

Recommended appointments include:

• Jeff Yoder as Marketing & Communication Director, a new district position with an annual salary of $8,000 beginning August 1, 2026.
• Sophia Evans as Yearbook Advisor with a stipend of $2,412 beginning August 24, replacing Kyle Holderness.
• Austin Dell as Junior High Football Coach with a stipend of $2,110.50 beginning August 3, replacing Mikie Tharp.
• Ashley Lee as Sophomore Class Sponsor with a $475 stipend.
• Donda Nebergall as Sophomore Class Sponsor with a $475 stipend.

These positions support student activities, communications, athletics, and student leadership programs before the new academic year.

Shared Nutrition Director with Highland

The board will discuss whether to share a Nutrition Director with Highland Community School District.

Although the packet provides limited operational details, the proposal reflects an effort to cooperate across districts on administrative staffing. Shared positions can help smaller districts recruit specialized personnel while distributing costs and responsibilities between participating districts.

Board discussion is expected before determining whether to proceed.

Shared High School Football Cheer Program

The packet includes a proposed extracurricular sharing agreement between Lone Tree and Highland Community School District under Iowa Code Section 280.13A.

Key provisions include:

• Effective during the 2026-2027 school year.
• Students from both districts participate together as Highland-Lone Tree (HLT).
• Lone Tree serves as the employing district for the shared coach or sponsor.
• Athletic directors and administrators from both districts jointly oversee scheduling and operations.
• Fundraising is intended to be the primary funding source for shared expenses.
• Any remaining school costs would be jointly determined by both districts.
• The shared program will be formally reviewed by administration, athletic directors, and the coach by November 2026.

The agreement is intended to preserve extracurricular opportunities while using regional collaboration to manage staffing and program resources.

Proposed Free Student Admission to Activities

Board members will consider eliminating admission charges for students attending school activities during the 2026-2027 school year.

The packet does not identify how any resulting revenue loss would be addressed or estimate the fiscal impact. If approved, the proposal would reduce costs for students and families participating in athletic and other school events.

HVAC Bond Planning

The board will discuss proposed language for an HVAC bond petition.

According to the packet:

• Community members must sign the petition.
• The board is expected to formally approve the petition language during the August regular meeting.
• Bond language must be submitted to the county auditor by August 26, 2026.
• Meeting the August deadline is necessary for the proposal to appear on the November election ballot.

The packet does not provide project cost estimates or detailed construction plans, but indicates the meeting is an important early step toward placing the question before voters.

Financial Matters

The packet contains several financial items with direct budget implications.

Employment recommendations include:

• Marketing & Communication Director: $8,000 annual compensation.
• Yearbook Advisor: $2,412 stipend.
• Junior High Football Coach: $2,110.50 stipend.
• Two Sophomore Class Sponsor positions: $475 each.

The football cheer sharing agreement states fundraising will be the primary funding source for shared program expenses. If additional school funding becomes necessary, participating districts would jointly determine responsibility for those costs.

The packet does not identify estimated financial impacts associated with the proposed free student admissions policy or provide financial estimates for the anticipated HVAC bond proposal.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The football cheer sharing agreement establishes governance procedures for a jointly operated extracurricular program, including administrative oversight, staffing responsibility, transportation coordination, student conduct expectations, and annual review.

Discussion of HVAC bond petition language represents an important governance step because Iowa election procedures require board approval before submission to the county auditor.

No broader district policy revisions or ordinance-type actions are described in the packet.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The principal informational update concerns planning for the HVAC bond process.

Board members are expected to review petition language and discuss the procedural timeline necessary to place the measure before voters.

Supporting hiring recommendations provide background information including anticipated start dates, replacement employees where applicable, and compensation for each proposed appointment.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel matters are one of the primary purposes of this meeting.

The board will consider hiring recommendations affecting athletics, student organizations, communications, and extracurricular leadership.

Most recommended appointments replace existing personnel, while the Marketing & Communication Director is identified as a new position. Several appointments begin in early August to prepare for the opening of the school year, while the Yearbook Advisor begins later in August.

The proposed sharing of administrative and extracurricular responsibilities with Highland also reflects organizational planning intended to maintain programs efficiently across districts.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

The principal facilities topic is long-term HVAC planning.

While detailed engineering information is not included, the board is preparing procedural steps needed for a future bond proposal addressing HVAC improvements.

Operational discussions also include shared staffing, extracurricular cooperation with Highland, and possible admission policy changes that could affect attendance at school events.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

The agenda explains the district's public comment procedures.

Citizens generally may speak on agenda topics during board meetings, subject to established time limits. Individuals wishing to address non-agenda topics must provide advance notice to the superintendent by noon on the day before the meeting.

The packet also notes that public comment is generally limited to regular board meetings and is not routinely conducted during special board meetings.

Community participation will also be necessary if the HVAC bond petition moves forward because signatures are required before board approval and submission for the November ballot.

Community Impact

Students and families could benefit from free admission to school activities if the proposal is approved.

Student athletes and participants may gain expanded extracurricular opportunities through the shared football cheer program with Highland.

District employees could experience operational changes through shared administrative staffing and the addition of a Marketing & Communication Director.

Taxpayers should monitor the developing HVAC bond proposal because it represents the beginning of a process that could ultimately appear before voters.

The hiring recommendations help ensure extracurricular programs and communications are staffed before the new school year begins.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What financial impact would free student admission have on activity fund revenues?
• How would lost admission revenue be replaced if admissions become free?
• What responsibilities would each district assume under the shared Nutrition Director arrangement?
• How will success of the Highland-Lone Tree football cheer partnership be evaluated?
• What additional HVAC information will be available before the August vote on petition language?
• What projects are expected to be included in the future HVAC bond proposal?
• Why was a Marketing & Communication Director position created, and what responsibilities will it include?
• How will fundraising responsibilities be divided between Highland and Lone Tree for the shared cheer program?
• What community outreach is planned before the bond petition is finalized?
• What additional board actions will occur before any bond question reaches voters?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 22, 2026: Special board meeting to discuss staffing, shared positions, admissions, and HVAC bond planning.
• August 1, 2026: Expected start date for the Marketing & Communication Director.
• August 3, 2026: Expected start date for several coaching and sponsor appointments.
• August Regular Board Meeting: Planned approval of HVAC bond petition language.
• August 24, 2026: Expected start date for the Yearbook Advisor.
• August 26, 2026: Deadline to submit bond language to the county auditor for placement on the November ballot.
• November 2026: Scheduled review of the shared football cheer program by district administrators and sponsors.
• November 2026 Election: Potential ballot consideration of the HVAC bond proposal if statutory requirements are completed.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting focuses on preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.
• Multiple coaching, sponsor, and communications positions are recommended for approval.
• A new Marketing & Communication Director position carries annual compensation of $8,000.
• Lone Tree may share a Nutrition Director with Highland.
• The districts are considering a shared Highland-Lone Tree football cheer program.
• Lone Tree would employ the shared football cheer coach.
• Students may receive free admission to school activities during 2026-2027.
• The board is beginning formal steps toward a possible HVAC bond election.
• Bond petition language must reach the county auditor by August 26 to qualify for the November ballot.
• Community signatures and future board approval are required before the bond process advances.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031864&MID=32290
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031864
• Public body website: https://www.lone-tree.k12.ia.us
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lonetreeschool

About the Public Body

• Name: Lone Tree Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Lone Tree, iowa
• County: Johnson
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

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