This summary was created from publicly available agenda, packet, minutes, reports, and other official materials published for the Newton Community School District School Board meeting.
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Newton Community School District Packet Summary — August 10, 2026
The Newton Community School District Board of Education is scheduled to hold a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. on August 10. The packet combines proposed action on contracts, personnel, a student trip and board policies with updates on elementary construction, technology, student activities and preparations for the new school year.
Key Items on the Agenda
Six Contracts on the Consent Agenda
Staff recommends approval of a consent agenda that includes six contracts or agreements:
A Newton YMCA aquatic facility rental agreement covering August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027. This agreement was tabled from the July 27 meeting.
An agreement with Secured Tech for an iPad and MacBook community buyback program.
An Ampact/AmeriCorps agreement providing two Reading Corps and one Math Corps support staff positions.
An agreement with Jasper County Conservation for an environmental awareness program.
AIA Change Order #5 for the Aurora Heights Elementary project.
A 2026-2027 agreement between Newton Community School District and Red Oak Community School District.
The Secured Tech quote covers 460 ninth-generation 256GB iPads, 70 M1 MacBook Airs and 25 Intel MacBook Airs. It lists a maximum payout subtotal of $88,135, although actual proceeds depend on device condition, eligibility and, for participating devices, the program's tiered pricing and sales.
The Jasper County Conservation material describes environmental education programming and field trips across grade levels. A supporting invoice identifies Newton Community School District's share of the Environmental Awareness Program for the 2025-2026 school year as $3,448.
Cross Country Trip to Minneapolis
The board is scheduled to consider a request for the boys and girls cross country teams to travel to the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 18-19, 2026. Staff recommends approval and describes the trip as an opportunity for Midwest competition and team bonding.
Aurora Heights Cornerstone Request
Another discussion/action item asks the board to consider a request to lay a cornerstone for the new addition at Aurora Heights Elementary School. The packet includes a supporting brochure on the laying of cornerstones but does not state a staff recommendation for this item.
Personnel Reports and Bills
Staff recommends approval of separate licensed and classified personnel reports as part of the Human Resources Update. The Business Services agenda also calls for approval of the district's August 10 bill listing for payment.
The superintendent's report includes another update on the district's two elementary construction projects. The packet records previously completed contract awards of:
$12,895,000 to Graphite Construction Group of Des Moines for the Aurora Heights Elementary project, awarded October 28, 2024.
$5,492,748 to Bi-State Contracting, Inc. of West Burlington for the Thomas Jefferson Elementary project, awarded September 30, 2024.
The Aurora Heights timeline also records an October 24, 2024 bid opening, October 28 public hearing and resolutions, November 6, 2024 pre-construction meeting and November 10, 2025 project walking tour. The Thomas Jefferson timeline lists a September 26, 2024 bid opening, September 30 public hearing and resolutions, and November 6, 2024 pre-construction meeting.
The consent agenda separately includes AIA Change Order #5 for Aurora Heights Elementary, while the main business agenda includes the cornerstone request for the new addition.
Summer Work and Back-to-School Readiness
Maintenance and grounds staff are expected to report on preparations for the start of school and summer projects. Transportation staff are scheduled to cover planning for the new school year, staffing and the district fleet.
Technology, Student Devices and Activities
Artificial Intelligence Policy and Implementation
The technology report is scheduled to include an update on the district's AI Task Force, with a focus on board policy and implementation, along with summer technology projects. The packet specifically references Policy 605.08, Artificial Intelligence in the Education Environment, and its accompanying regulation.
Marching Band Cell Phone Use
The superintendent's report also addresses how Policy 503.09, Student Use of Personal Electronic Devices, would apply to marching band. The policy prohibits personal electronic-device use during instructional time, while placing implementation of administrative regulations with the superintendent working with building principals.
The packet identifies educational uses of student phones during outdoor marching rehearsals, where carrying school-issued devices is described as impractical. Proposed permitted uses include:
Ultimate Drill Book
Google Classroom
Band Application
Tonal Energy tuner
The packet says the administrative regulations would include student cell-phone use for those identified applications. Uses outside those purposes could constitute violations of board policy and the student handbook.
Eighth-Grade Participation in High School Activities
Staff will also present the process developed under Policy 504.06, Student Activity Program, which allows eighth-grade students to be eligible for participation in high school activities. The policy calls for the superintendent, working with the activities director, to develop the associated regulations and procedures.
A separate fundraising update is also on the superintendent's report, supported by updated procedures for student activity account fundraising.
Policy and Governance Items
Transportation Eligibility — Second Reading
The board is scheduled for a second reading of revised Policy 711.01 and Regulation 711.01-R(1), Student School Transportation Eligibility. Staff recommends approval of the revisions prepared by the board policy committee.
Long-Range Needs Assessment
Staff recommends approval of the annual review of Policy 103 and Regulation 103-R(1), Long-Range Needs Assessment. The packet notes that this policy must be reviewed annually.
Background material says the district conducted a needs assessment in spring 2024 and subsequently worked on areas identified through that process, with the School Improvement Advisory Committee focusing on selected components during the 2024-2025 school year.
Mandatory Annual Policy Review
A separate action item asks the board to approve its annual review of a list of policies required to be kept current. The packet identifies policies and related regulations or exhibits covering:
505.08 — Parent and Family Engagement Districtwide Policy
506.01 — Education Records Access
506.02 — Student Directory Information
506.04 — Student Library Circulation Records
The packet explains that certain policies mandated by state or federal law must be reviewed annually by local school boards.
Operational Updates
Food Service Finances
The Food Service supervisor is scheduled to present a year-end report and discuss deficit account balances. The packet identifies those subjects for discussion but does not characterize a board action or outcome.
Open Enrollment
The consent agenda includes review of Iowa open-enrollment applications in which Newton Community School District is listed as either the resident district or the district requested.
Open Forum
The agenda provides an Open Forum for people attending either in person or through Zoom. Public comments are limited to three minutes.
What to Watch at the Meeting
Several agenda items connect district policy to day-to-day operations. The board is expected to review how its electronic-device policy will accommodate specific instructional uses by marching band students, hear about implementation of its artificial-intelligence policy, and receive the process governing eighth-graders' participation in high school activities.
The meeting also puts multiple facilities matters in front of the board at once: an elementary construction update, Aurora Heights Change Order #5 on the consent agenda, and a separate cornerstone request for the school's new addition. Meanwhile, supervisors' reports are expected to provide a broader look at food service finances, transportation staffing and fleet conditions, summer facilities work, technology projects and preparations for the new school year.
The next regular board meeting listed in the packet is August 24, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the EJH Beard Administration Center and via Zoom.
