The July 20, 2026 Marion Independent School District Board of Education meeting combines routine start-of-school approvals with several significant decisions that will influence district facilities, strategic planning, technology, governance, and finances for multiple years.
Among the most consequential items is a recommendation to hire OPN Architects to begin programming, conceptual planning, phasing, cost estimation, and plan review for Marion High School and the Starry site. The board will also discuss potential future use of the Starry property, making facilities planning one of the meeting's central themes.
The board is also being asked to approve the district's updated Strategic Plan priorities, purchase $37,575.60 in Apple iPads for the Marion Home School Assistance Program (MHSAP), approve the FY2024-25 audit, select Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C. as auditor for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, and establish legislative priorities for the 2027 Iowa Association of School Boards session.
In addition, the consent agenda contains numerous operational approvals needed before the 2026-27 school year begins, including student handbooks, professional development, educational partnerships, service contracts, personnel actions, and technology agreements. Board members will also consider extensive policy revisions, review open enrollment requests, conduct a confidential student disciplinary closed session, and tour portions of Marion High School.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Marion High School and Starry Site Planning
One of the meeting's largest decisions is whether to approve a proposal from OPN Architects to begin comprehensive planning for Marion High School and the Starry property. According to the agenda, the work would include educational programming, conceptual design, phased implementation planning, cost estimates, and review of future planning options.
Before taking action, the administration and board will discuss possible future uses of the Starry site. Although the packet does not identify a preferred option, this discussion could shape future capital improvement priorities and long-term district facility investments.
Strategic Plan Update and Board Goals
District leadership will present updated strategic plan progress, review performance on existing subgoals, and recommend strategies for the 2026-27 school year.
The accompanying professional development plan shows continued emphasis on:
- Academic achievement in reading, mathematics, and science.
- Universal Design for Learning.
- High-impact instructional practices.
- Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
- Professional Learning Communities.
- Student behavioral supports.
- Staff recruitment and mentoring.
- Community partnerships.
- Fiscal responsibility.
The board is also expected to formally approve annual Board and Superintendent goal areas aligned with district priorities.
Technology Purchase for MHSAP
Administration recommends purchasing Apple iPads from Apple Education for Marion Home School Assistance Program students at a cost of $37,575.60.
The purchase supports student device availability and continued technology integration for MHSAP instruction.
Audit Review and Multi-Year Audit Services
Board members will review the district's completed FY2024-25 audit before considering formal approval.
Separately, administration recommends selecting Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C. as the district's independent auditor for fiscal years 2026, 2027, and 2028, providing continuity in external financial oversight.
Open Enrollment Decisions
The board will consider two separate groups of open enrollment requests:
- Late applications submitted after Iowa's March 1 deadline that administration recommends approving.
- Additional applications that administration recommends denying.
The packet does not identify individual students because these matters involve protected educational records.
Legislative Priorities
Board members will identify Marion Independent School District priorities for submission to the Iowa Association of School Boards for the 2027 legislative session.
These priorities help shape statewide advocacy efforts on education funding, governance, operations, and other school policy matters.
Policy Review
The board continues an extensive policy update process.
A second reading includes numerous governance, student, instructional, and operational policies, while an additional group receives first reading. Second-reading policies are generally closer to final adoption, while first-reading policies remain subject to additional review before approval.
Financial Matters
Several financial actions have district-wide significance.
The board will consider approval of a $37,575.60 purchase of Apple iPads for MHSAP students.
The district will review and approve its FY2024-25 audit and determine whether to retain Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C. as auditor through FY2028.
Accounts payable included in the consent agenda show substantial operating expenditures supporting instruction, facilities, technology, transportation, insurance, utilities, debt service, curriculum, and student programs. Major expenditures reflected in the packet include:
- Approximately $236,075.80 for Amplify instructional materials.
- $149,334.14 for Apple technology through the PPEL fund.
- $258,923.97 for Metro Interagency Insurance Program services.
- $130,684.77 in utility costs.
- $98,470.53 for educational furnishings through Meteor Education.
- $175,170.00 for remediation services.
- $1,725,886.00 in debt service payments through UMB Bank.
The financial documents illustrate continued investment in instructional technology, curriculum implementation, facilities, insurance, and debt obligations while supporting day-to-day district operations.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance work occupies a significant portion of the meeting.
The board will conduct second readings for multiple existing board policies and first readings for another large group of governance, personnel, instructional, facilities, and student-related policies.
The board is also scheduled to:
- Approve annual Board/Superintendent goals.
- Establish legislative priorities for the 2027 IASB session.
- Designate the official location for posting board agendas through the consent agenda.
- Conduct a legally authorized closed session involving confidential student matters before returning to open session for any required action.
Directors will provide summer project updates, allowing the board to monitor work completed while students were away from school.
The professional development plan included in the packet outlines district priorities for educator growth during 2026-27, including:
- Universal Design for Learning.
- High-impact instructional strategies.
- Reading, mathematics, and science achievement.
- Trauma-informed practices.
- Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.
- Professional Learning Communities.
- Technology integration.
- Mentoring for beginning teachers.
- MTSS implementation.
- Special education compliance and instructional support.
The plan aligns staff development with district strategic goals and student achievement objectives.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel recommendations include appointments, coaching assignments, transfers, contract modifications, and resignations needed before the new school year.
Appointments include instructional mentors, PLC coordinators, special education associates, administrative support staff, classroom teachers, and athletic coaches.
Notable appointments include:
- A Vernon Middle School fifth-grade literacy teacher.
- Operations administrative assistant.
- Multiple new teacher mentors.
- Volleyball, football, and basketball coaching assignments.
The packet also includes one salary lane adjustment for a special education teacher, an internal transfer into special education, and several resignations involving associates, coaches, teaching staff, kitchen staff, and payroll administration.
These actions reflect normal staffing transitions associated with preparation for the upcoming school year.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Facilities planning represents one of the meeting's primary operational topics.
Discussion of the Starry site precedes consideration of architectural planning services for Marion High School and Starry.
Operational approvals within the consent agenda also include:
- Mechanic services.
- Technology agreements.
- Student handbooks.
- Professional development implementation.
- Tanager and Hand In Hand contracts.
- Kirkwood Community College partnership agreements.
- PowerSchool agreement with Grant Wood Area Education Agency.
- Graduation facility agreement with Paramount.
Following formal business, board members will tour the Marion High School library and industrial technology areas.
Residents may address the board during the scheduled Public Comment period before regular business begins.
Individuals are asked to limit remarks to three minutes. The board states it will receive comments but generally will not deliberate or take immediate action on issues raised during public comment in accordance with district policy and Iowa law.
No separate public hearings are listed on this agenda.
Students and families may be affected through updated student handbooks, technology purchases, curriculum implementation, and future facility planning.
Employees will see implementation of the district's updated professional development framework, mentor programs, staffing changes, and strategic priorities.
Taxpayers and community members may be particularly interested in long-range planning for Marion High School and the Starry property, as these discussions could influence future capital projects and district investments.
Families participating in open enrollment will be directly affected by board decisions on approval and denial recommendations.
The district's strategic planning, legislative priorities, and policy updates collectively influence future educational services, governance, and operational direction.
- What long-term options are being considered for the Starry property?
- What timeline is anticipated for Marion High School planning after OPN Architects completes its initial work?
- How will the new strategic plan be measured during the 2026-27 school year?
- Why are new iPads needed for the Home School Assistance Program, and how long are they expected to remain in service?
- Were there significant findings in the FY2024-25 audit?
- Why was Nolte, Cornman & Johnson recommended for another three-year audit engagement?
- Which legislative priorities will the district ultimately submit to IASB?
- What major policy changes are included within the first and second reading packages?
- How will updated professional development initiatives improve classroom instruction?
- What facility improvements are expected following the board's tour of Marion High School?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 20, 2026: Board of Education meeting and scheduled votes on major agenda items.
- 2026-27 School Year: Implementation of the updated Professional Development Plan.
- August 2026: Numerous personnel appointments and mentor assignments become effective.
- 2026-27: Implementation of updated student handbooks and educational partnership agreements.
- Fiscal Years 2026-2028: Proposed audit engagement with Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C.
- 2027 Legislative Session: Submission of district legislative priorities through IASB.
- Future Meeting: Second reading and potential final adoption of policies currently receiving first reading.
Key Takeaways
- Marion High School and Starry site planning are among the meeting's biggest topics.
- OPN Architects is recommended for conceptual planning and cost estimation work.
- The board will review strategic plan progress and approve annual board goals.
- Administration recommends purchasing $37,575.60 in Apple iPads for MHSAP students.
- The FY2024-25 audit will be reviewed and considered for approval.
- A three-year audit contract recommendation is before the board.
- Numerous student handbooks and operational agreements are included in the consent agenda.
- Extensive board policy revisions continue through first and second readings.
- Personnel recommendations prepare the district for the 2026-27 school year.
- Board members will discuss future use of the Starry property and tour Marion High School facilities.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Marion Independent School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Marion, iowa
- County: Linn
- Provider: google-drive
Keywords
Marion Independent School District, Marion Board of Education, July 20 2026, Marion Iowa, Starry site, Marion High School, OPN Architects, strategic plan, board goals, professional development, Apple iPads, MHSAP, audit, Nolte Cornman Johnson, open enrollment, IASB legislative priorities, board policy review, student handbooks, PowerSchool, Kirkwood Community College, Tanager, Hand In Hand, facilities planning, personnel report, MTSS, Universal Design for Learning, Professional Learning Communities, school finance, board meeting
