The Mason City Community School District Board of Education is scheduled for a special session at 5:30 p.m. on August 3 at the Harding Learning Center Boardroom. The agenda centers on five action items: 2026–2027 student handbooks, open-enrollment requests, a broad set of state-driven policy updates, an amendment to the non-exempt employee pay plan, and a first reading of a fiscal-management regulation.
Key Items on the Agenda
2026–2027 Student Handbooks
Staff recommends approval of student handbooks for six parts of the district: the Alternative School, elementary schools, John Adams Middle School, Lincoln Intermediate, Pinecrest, and Mason City High School.
The packet includes a separate handbook for each of those schools or programs. The requested action is approval of the 2026–2027 handbooks as presented.
Open Enrollment Requests
The board is scheduled to consider staff recommendations on eight open-enrollment requests for the 2026–2027 school year.
The packet lists:
- One kindergarten student seeking enrollment in Mason City Community School District from Central Springs Community School District.
- Three Mason City resident students seeking enrollment in Clear Lake Community School District, in grades 7, 1, and 2.
- Two Forest City Community School District students, in grades 7 and 10, seeking enrollment in the Mason City Community School District Virtual Academy.
- Two Mason City resident students, in grades 4 and 6, seeking enrollment in Clarinda Community School District's Clarinda Flight Program.
Staff recommends approval of the requests presented in the open-enrollment summary.
Policy and Governance
Large IASB Policy Update Set Scheduled for Second Reading
One of the most substantial items is a second reading and proposed approval of changes associated with Iowa Association of School Boards Policy Update Volume 34, Number 5. The package includes revisions, new policies and regulations, and two policies proposed for rescission.
The changes span board governance, employment, student conduct, athletics, instruction, special education, technology, public records, and other district operations. Many are identified in the packet as responses to legislation enacted by the Iowa Legislature.
Notable proposed changes include:
- Policy 201 — Board of Directors' Elections: Changes school board candidate filing provisions in response to HF 2501.
- Policy 210.05 — Meeting Notice: Updates public-notice requirements under HF 2490.
- Policy 401.01 — Equal Employment Opportunity: Adds an employment-eligibility screening requirement tied to SF 2218.
- Policy 409.02: Adds required leave provisions for physical recovery when a teacher is injured because of a student's violent disruption while performing work duties, under SF 2428.
- Policy 501.15 — Open Enrollment Transfers: Updates reporting requirements under HF 2574.
- Policy 502.03 — Student Expression and Student Publications: Updates language to reflect applicable laws and regulations under SF 2231.
- Policy 503.11 — Disruptive Behavior: Adds a new policy under SF 2428, along with regulations establishing removal procedures and provisions addressing nonviolent behavior involving students with IEPs.
- Policy 504.06 — Student Activity Program: Adds an option for eighth-grade students to participate in high school athletics under HF 2591.
- Policy 603.04 — Multicultural/Gender Fair Education: Proposed for rescission.
- Policy 603.10 — Global Education: Proposed for rescission.
- Policy 604.03 — Gifted Education Program: Updated for new requirements under SF 2220, with a new regulation addressing procedures for screening, identifying, and serving students.
- Policy 605.04 — Technology and Instructional Materials: Updated for new limitations and requirements under HF 2676.
- Policy Exhibit 605.04E1: Adds a technology-adoption checklist that the district would retain and make available to the Iowa Department of Education.
- Policy 713 — Responsible Technology Use & Social Networking: Updated with compliance requirements associated with HF 2676.
- Policy 901 — Public Examination of School District Records: Updated in connection with HF 2490.
Staff recommends approval of the IASB update and related policy changes as presented.
Eighth Graders and High School Athletics
The policy package specifically adds Regulation 504.06R3 and Exhibit 504.06E1 in connection with HF 2591.
The proposed regulation addresses eligibility for eighth-grade students to participate in high school athletics. The accompanying exhibit provides an application for parents or guardians seeking high school athletic eligibility for an eighth-grade student.
Student Disruptive Behavior Procedures
The package also proposes Policy 503.11 on disruptive behavior and two related regulations.
Regulation 503.11R1 would establish removal procedures, while Regulation 503.11R2 addresses removal procedures for nonviolent behavior involving students with individualized education programs. The packet connects these additions to SF 2428.
Technology and Instructional Materials
Proposed changes to Policy 605.04 respond to limitations and requirements identified in HF 2676. The packet also includes a new exhibit for a One-to-One Digital Device Program Technology Adoption Checklist.
The agenda summary says the checklist is a district adoption requirement that would be retained by the district and made available to the Iowa Department of Education.
Public Records Policy
Draft Policy 901 continues to establish procedures for public examination and copying of district records. It provides for requests by telephone or in writing, including electronically, and allows the district to require prepayment of copying and mailing costs.
The draft says the district will make every effort to provide a requested public record at no cost beyond copying when producing the record takes less than 30 minutes. It also identifies categories of records that may remain confidential for safety reasons, including security procedures, emergency-preparedness and evacuation procedures, security codes, and passwords.
Employee Compensation
Amendment No. 2 to the Non-Exempt Unified Pay Plan
Staff recommends approval of Amendment No. 2 to the 2026–2027 Non-Exempt Unified Pay Plan.
The proposed amendment would move the Food Service Manager position from Pay Grade 10 to Pay Grade 13. The 2026–2027 schedule already reflects a 3% increase to every step compared with 2025–2026 and includes the Therapeutic Classroom Specialist in Pay Grade 13.
Under the proposed schedule, Pay Grade 13 includes IT Technician II, Therapeutic Classroom Specialist, and Food Service Manager. Its hourly rates range from $22.96 at Step A to $28.29 at Step H.
The packet also documents several previously completed changes to the compensation structure, including earlier additions and adjustments to positions and pay grades. Those historical notes are background to the proposed 2026–2027 amendment rather than new actions scheduled for this meeting.
Fiscal Management
Financial Metrics Regulation Scheduled for First Reading
The agenda includes Board Policy Regulation 701.05R1 — Fiscal Management: Financial Metrics for first reading and approval.
Staff recommends approval of the regulation as presented. This item is separate from the larger IASB policy package, which is scheduled for second reading.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Whether the board approves all six 2026–2027 student handbooks as presented.
- Whether the eight recommended open-enrollment requests receive approval.
- Whether the board advances the extensive IASB policy package on second reading, including new disruptive-behavior procedures, eighth-grade athletic eligibility provisions, technology requirements, and the proposed rescission of Policies 603.04 and 603.10.
- Whether Amendment No. 2 to the non-exempt pay plan is approved, moving the Food Service Manager position from Pay Grade 10 to Pay Grade 13.
- Whether Regulation 701.05R1 on fiscal-management financial metrics receives first-reading approval.
