School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Mason City (MCCSD) – July 20, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Mason City Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Board Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-20
• City: Mason City
• County: Cerro Gordo
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150035&MID=30168
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150035
• Public Body Website: https://masoncityschools.org/district/board-of-education/
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The July 20, 2026 meeting focuses on preparing the Mason City Community School District for the 2026-2027 school year through a combination of operational approvals, policy updates, staffing actions, financial oversight, and annual governance requirements. Much of the agenda centers on annual organizational business that establishes how the district will operate during the coming school year.

One of the largest themes is implementation of new Iowa laws. The board will review a substantial package of Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) policy revisions affecting elections, meeting notices, employment eligibility verification, disruptive student behavior, special education procedures, gifted education, technology, athletics, student guidance, public records, and numerous operational policies. Several policies receive a first reading while others in the district's 700-series business operations policies are scheduled for second reading and approval.

The board is also expected to approve multiple agreements supporting preschool services, update substitute employee handbooks, amend the district pay plan to add a new Therapeutic Classroom Specialist position, approve a multi-year agreement with the Central Rivers Area Education Agency, appoint board officers, adopt banking depositories, and review year-end financial reports.

Financial materials indicate the district closed June 2026 with approximately $33.7 million across all major funds, including roughly $4.47 million in the General Fund and nearly $14.0 million in Capital Projects investments. Routine bills, financial statements, and cash flow reports provide the board with its annual fiscal snapshot as the district transitions into the new budget year.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Comprehensive IASB Policy Updates

The board begins review of an extensive package of IASB policy revisions driven largely by recently enacted Iowa legislation. The proposed updates affect board elections, public meeting notices, employment eligibility screening, student conduct, athletics, instructional programs, technology, public records, special education, gifted education, guidance services, and other operational areas.

Among the more notable changes are creation of a new disruptive behavior policy, regulations governing removal procedures, updated provisions for students with Individualized Education Programs, revised technology requirements, updated responsible technology use language, and changes allowing qualified eighth-grade students to participate in high school athletics through a formal application process. These policies receive a first reading before returning for future consideration.

Approval of Business Operations Policies

Separate action is scheduled on the district's five-year review of Series 700 policies governing noninstructional operations and business services.

The board is asked to approve updated policies covering district finances, budgeting, investments, fundraising, purchasing, payroll, audits, transportation, nutrition programs, insurance, technology security, and responsible technology use. New policies include school bus passenger restraints and technology and data security requirements, while several existing policies receive revisions to comply with Iowa law.

Preschool Partnership Agreements

The consent agenda includes renewal or approval of four 28E agreements supporting Iowa's Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.

The district plans to continue partnerships with Charlie Brown Preschool and Child Care Centers, North Iowa Community Action Head Start, and Sugar Plum Preschool while also approving an agreement with Sunbeam Preschool. These agreements allow community preschool providers to partner with the district in delivering state-funded preschool programming during the 2026-2027 school year.

Substitute Staffing and Employee Handbook Updates

District administrators present revisions to both substitute teacher and substitute paraprofessional handbooks before final approval later in the meeting.

Changes include updated district information, revised equal employment and nondiscrimination language, complaint procedures, reporting times, workers' compensation providers, building information, personnel contacts, and substitute compensation reflecting earlier board action. Elementary substitute reporting times are moved to 7:30 a.m., Harding references are updated to Hoover for early childhood programming, and other operational information is revised before publication.

Employee Compensation and Staffing Structure

The board will consider amending the 2026-2027 Unified Pay Plan by adding a Therapeutic Classroom Specialist position within Pay Grade 13.

This action updates the district's compensation framework to recognize an additional position within the salary schedule and supports staffing for specialized student services.

Governance and Annual Organizational Actions

Several routine but important organizational actions prepare the district for the new fiscal year.

These include appointing Ryan Ingersoll as Board Secretary-Treasurer and Amy Graven as Board Recording Secretary, adopting the annual Resolution Naming Depositories that authorizes financial institutions used by the district, approving the annual one-to-one technology checklist, and adopting amendments to the employee handbook governing unpaid leave deductions.

State Funding Transfer Agreement

The board will consider approval of a Contract for Transfer of State Funding between the Mason City Community School District and Central Rivers Area Education Agency covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.

The agreement establishes how certain state education funding will be transferred between the district and the Area Education Agency over the three-year period.

Financial Matters

The board is scheduled to approve routine payment of district bills alongside review of year-end financial reports covering June 30, 2026.

Financial statements indicate total cash and investments of approximately $33.7 million across all district funds at year end. Major balances include approximately:

• General Fund: $4.47 million
• Capital Projects Fund: $13.98 million
• Debt Service Fund: $5.14 million
• Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL): $3.77 million
• Management Fund: $3.05 million
• School Nutrition Fund: $1.44 million

Cash flow reports show General Fund June receipts of approximately $3.46 million and June disbursements of approximately $5.60 million, reflecting the timing of year-end expenditures while maintaining significant cash and investment balances.

Routine expenditures presented for approval include utilities, transportation, instructional software, professional services, open enrollment tuition, staff development, technology services, facilities maintenance, fuel, educational supplies, legal services, and numerous operational purchases supporting district programs.

The district is also considering adoption of its annual depository resolution, continuation of financial reporting oversight, and approval of banking relationships used for district operations.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Policy review represents one of the meeting's largest agenda items.

The first-reading IASB package updates dozens of board policies to reflect recent state legislation affecting governance, employment, student conduct, athletics, instructional programs, gifted education, technology, public records, and district operations.

The board is also expected to approve second-reading revisions to Series 700 operational policies following the district's scheduled five-year policy review. These updates strengthen compliance with Iowa law while modernizing district administrative practices.

Additional governance actions include appointment of statutory board officers, adoption of the annual depository resolution, annual review of the district's one-to-one technology checklist, and revisions to the employee handbook regarding unpaid leave deductions.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Administrators provide year-end financial information through multiple reports, including General Fund balances, monthly financial statements, revenues, expenditures, cash flow, key financial measures, and 13-month cash position summaries.

The superintendent is scheduled to provide an administrative report, while the Director of Finance presents fiscal information supporting board oversight of district operations.

Human Resources presents proposed handbook revisions for substitute employees before formal board approval.

The policy review materials provide board members with explanations of legislative changes requiring district policy updates during the coming school year.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

The consent agenda includes a personnel report for board approval covering recommended employment actions.

The board will consider adding the Therapeutic Classroom Specialist classification to the district pay plan.

Annual appointments include Ryan Ingersoll as Board Secretary-Treasurer and Amy Graven as Board Recording Secretary for the 2026-2027 year.

Substitute teacher and substitute paraprofessional handbooks are updated to reflect revised reporting procedures, compensation changes previously approved by the board, updated personnel information, and administrative revisions.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Although the meeting does not focus on major construction projects, several operational initiatives support districtwide services.

The annual review of the district's one-to-one technology program includes approval of the required implementation checklist supporting student device use.

Operational agreements continue preschool partnerships throughout the community while handbook revisions update daily substitute procedures across district buildings.

Financial reports also provide ongoing monitoring of facilities, transportation, technology, nutrition, and operational expenditures funded through district budgets.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Residents have two opportunities to participate.

Open Forum allows comments on agenda items before board action. Individuals wishing to speak must submit the required request before the meeting begins, and comments are limited to five minutes under Board Policy 213.

Following adjournment of the regular meeting, Public Comments provide an opportunity for residents to address non-agenda topics using the same advance request process and five-minute time limit.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Harding Learning Center Boardroom.

Community Impact

Students and families may see changes resulting from updated student conduct policies, athletic eligibility rules for eighth-grade participation in high school sports, technology policies, preschool partnerships, and revised substitute staffing procedures.

Employees are affected through revised employment policies, substitute handbook updates, compensation plan amendments, unpaid leave procedures, and employment eligibility requirements reflecting changes in state law.

Taxpayers benefit from board review of year-end financial performance, cash balances, routine expenditures, banking resolutions, and continued oversight of district operations.

Community preschool providers continue their partnerships with the district through renewed 28E agreements supporting statewide voluntary preschool programming.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How will the new disruptive behavior policies affect classrooms and student discipline?
• What criteria will be used for eighth-grade participation in high school athletics?
• Why is the Therapeutic Classroom Specialist position being added, and what responsibilities will it include?
• What outcomes are expected from the three-year funding agreement with the Central Rivers Area Education Agency?
• How do the district's year-end cash balances compare with prior years and long-term financial goals?
• What operational improvements prompted revisions to substitute reporting times?
• How will updated technology and cybersecurity policies affect district operations?
• Are additional legislative policy changes expected during the coming school year?
• What measures are being taken to maintain strong financial reserves?
• How will preschool partnership agreements improve access for local families?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 20, 2026: Board meeting and consideration of all consent agenda items and action items.
• July 1, 2026-June 30, 2029: Proposed effective period for the Central Rivers Area Education Agency state funding transfer agreement.
• 2026-2027 School Year: Implementation of approved preschool partnership agreements, substitute handbook revisions, employee handbook amendments, unified pay plan changes, and one-to-one technology checklist.
• Future Board Meeting: IASB policy updates presented for first reading are expected to return for later board action after review.

Key Takeaways

• The meeting prepares the district for the 2026-2027 school year through annual operational approvals.
• Extensive IASB policy revisions implement recent Iowa legislative requirements.
• Multiple preschool partnership agreements are scheduled for renewal or approval.
• The district plans to add a Therapeutic Classroom Specialist to the unified pay plan.
• A three-year state funding transfer agreement with Central Rivers AEA is proposed.
• Annual appointments include the Board Secretary-Treasurer and Recording Secretary.
• Substitute employee handbooks receive significant operational updates.
• Year-end financial reports show approximately $33.7 million across district funds.
• Capital Projects remains the district's largest fund at nearly $14 million.
• Residents have opportunities to comment on both agenda and non-agenda items under Board Policy 213.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150035&MID=30168
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150035
• Public body website: https://masoncityschools.org/district/board-of-education/
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Mason City Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Mason City, iowa
• County: Cerro Gordo
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

Mason City Community School District, Mason City, Riverhawks, Board of Education, July 20 2026, school board, Simbli, IASB policy update, Iowa legislation, disruptive behavior policy, eighth grade athletics, preschool agreements, Charlie Brown Preschool, Head Start, Sugar Plum Preschool, Sunbeam Preschool, substitute teachers, substitute paraprofessionals, Unified Pay Plan, Therapeutic Classroom Specialist, Central Rivers Area Education Agency, depository resolution, one-to-one technology, employee handbook, financial report, General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, public participation, Board Policy 213