Meeting: 08/10/2026 - 06:00 PM Regular Meeting Board Meeting
Location: 2nd floor Board Room, Central Campus
Meeting access: The packet states the meeting will not be live-streamed but will be recorded and posted afterward.
Key Items on the Agenda
The Board is scheduled to consider district goals for the 2026–27 school year, student handbooks, several board policy changes, personnel and open-enrollment items, and the district's annual fundraising plan. Reports also include updates on the Salem school closure process, summer projects, the James Harlan sculpture, and a request from Central Lee Community School District to join the athletic conference.
The agenda also calls for a closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(a) involving confidential records, followed by consideration and action on the readmission of a student.
District Goals and Professional Learning
The instructional program portion of the meeting is scheduled to focus on proposed district goals and the professional learning plan designed to support those goals during the upcoming school year.
The packet explains that professional learning is developed at both the district and building levels. District leaders plan to work with individual buildings throughout the year to assess progress, while teachers and administrators may use district or building goals to shape their individual professional learning plans.
Later under new business, the Board is scheduled to consider approval of the 2026–27 district goals as presented.
Policy and Governance Items
Student Disruptive Behavior
The Board is being asked to review policy additions and edits, including Policy 503.11 on disruptive behavior and related regulations. The packet identifies the policy as connected to current legislation in SF 2428.
The included Policy 503.11 materials address teacher authority to remove students for violent or nonviolent classroom disruptions while requiring due process and compliance with laws governing students with disabilities. Among other provisions, the policy addresses staff review of IEP and Section 504 requirements, participation in relevant student-plan meetings, training, support following disruptive incidents, and limited paid physical-recovery leave for teachers injured during violent disruptions.
The packet's included Policy 503.11 and Regulation 503.11-R(2) documents are marked as previously adopted. The policy shows an original adoption date of June 25, 2026 and a last revision date of July 8, 2026.
Students With IEPs
The included Regulation 503.11-R(2) provides procedures when a student with an Individualized Education Program is removed from a classroom because of nonviolent disruptive behavior. It calls for an IEP team meeting immediately after removal and identifies educational programming, placement, accommodations, staff supports, and the effect of services in the general-education environment as issues for the team to consider.
The regulation also calls for an IEP team meeting when a student is removed from the classroom five or more times within 15 consecutive school days. Teachers may request an IEP team meeting at any time through the building principal.
Other Policies
The Board is also scheduled to review:
- Policy 504.06: 8th Grade Student Participation in High School Sports.
- Regulation 701.05-R(1): Fiscal Management — Financial Metrics, which the packet says is being reviewed following a meeting with financial representatives from the Iowa Association of School Boards.
The agenda recommendation is to discuss and approve the policies as presented, although the packet identifies this agenda section as a first reading.
Salem School Closure
The superintendent's report includes an update on the planned closing of the Salem school. District leadership says it intends to recognize and celebrate the school's impact on the community, district, and surrounding area while managing the closure process.
Plans described in the packet include:
- Consulting other school districts that have gone through school closures.
- Working with staff and the community to answer questions and communicate information.
- Holding anticipated roundtable discussions to hear and address concerns.
- Identifying resources for students and staff during the transition.
- Providing continuing updates to the Board and community.
Harlan Statue
The Board is expected to receive an update on the James Harlan sculpture currently located at Central Campus. A 2014 agreement between the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and Iowa Wesleyan College placed the sculpture there under a 10-year loan; both organizations ceased to exist in 2023, and the State Historical Society of Iowa has been identified as the state's successor for the agreement.
The State Historical Society has asked whether the district wants a new agreement allowing the sculpture to remain on campus. According to the packet, a new agreement would generally make the district responsible for insurance, conservation costs when treatment is required, and damage occurring while the sculpture is in district custody.
After considering the statue and the additional costs, district administration states that it is not planning to renew the agreement to keep the statue.
Athletic Conference Membership Request
Central Lee Community School District has requested admission to the district's athletic conference beginning with the 2028–29 school year, with middle school sports participation proposed to begin in 2027–28.
If all schools agree, the request would proceed to the state's Conference Realignment Committee for review. Factors being considered include travel distance, Central Lee's number of teams and sports, competitive level, media presence, and opportunities for students in other activities.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda carries a recommendation to approve the listed personnel and open-enrollment items.
The personnel action document includes:
- The resignation of a Van Allen Special Education Paraeducator, effective August 6, 2026.
- Several proposed paraeducator selections for Van Allen, Harlan Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and the Middle School, pending background checks and licensure where indicated.
- A proposed Middle School boys wrestling coach selection with an October 19, 2026 date.
- Transfers involving paraeducator assignments at Van Allen, Harlan, and Lincoln Elementary.
The agenda also includes open-enrollment items, but the extracted packet text does not provide enough substantive detail to summarize the individual requests.
Student Handbooks and Fundraising
2026–27 Handbooks
Administrative teams have reviewed the district's student handbooks to incorporate new policy, update information, or clarify practices. The Board is scheduled to consider approval of the handbooks as presented for:
- High School
- Middle School
- Elementary School
- Preschool
Fundraising Plan
The Board will receive the district's annual 2026–27 fundraising list for consideration. The packet also describes a procedural change for future fundraising requests: they are expected to be placed on the consent agenda for monthly approval so activities can reach the Board within a more appropriate timeframe.
Legislative Priorities
The Board is scheduled to discuss legislative priorities to communicate to groups that advocate for schools at the Iowa Statehouse.
A district survey is included to collect information on Mount Pleasant's priorities. The agenda anticipates discussion of the listed items as well as any additional priorities the Board wants to recommend to advocacy organizations.
Facilities and Summer Projects
Under unfinished business, the Board is scheduled to receive an update on the district's summer project list and the status of that work. The packet does not provide project-by-project details in the extracted text.
Beginning-of-Year Dates
The superintendent's report highlights several events surrounding the start of the school year:
- August 12 at 8:00: New teachers welcomed to the district.
- August 17 at 8:00: All teachers welcomed back.
- August 20, 4:00–6:30: Open house in town.
- August 21 at 8:00: Support staff welcomed back.
- August 21, 4:00–6:30: Open house at Salem.
Financial and Routine Business
The Board is scheduled to consider approval of the prior meeting minutes and claims. The packet states that no financial report will be provided because of the year-end closing process.
The agenda also includes citizen comments, Board committee reports from the Finance Committee and Site/Policy Committee, other Board communications, and information regarding the IASB conference in November.
What to Watch at the Meeting
Several agenda items could shape district operations during the coming school year. The proposed district goals and related professional learning plan establish priorities for instructional work, while the policy agenda addresses student behavior, participation in high school athletics by eighth graders, and district financial metrics.
The Salem closure update is also expected to outline how the district plans to involve and support the community during the transition. Separately, the Harlan statue report signals that district administration does not plan to pursue a new loan agreement, while the Central Lee request could eventually alter the district's athletic conference membership if participating schools and the state realignment process support the change.
