Key Items on the Agenda
The Panorama Community School District Board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. on August 10 in the District Board Room. The agenda includes a superintendent report, upcoming school-year dates, consent items, district goals, a heat-pump replacement, and several rounds of policy review.
District Goals
The board is scheduled to consider approval of the district's 2026–2027 goals. The packet identifies the proposed goals as a separate action item rather than part of the consent agenda.
Art Room Heat Pump Replacement
The packet presents two options for the old art room heat pump: repair the compressor for $7,300 or replace the unit with a Daikin 3.5-ton water-source heat pump for $11,920. Staff recommends the $11,920 replacement, citing the age of the current system.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda includes:
- Minutes from the July 13, 2026 regular board meeting.
- August bills and VISA expenditures.
- Financial reports and bank reconciliations.
- Open enrollment.
- Contracts and resignations.
- An overnight/fundraising request.
The fundraising request is from the Panorama Dance Team to work concession stands at Iowa State University football and volleyball home events during August, September and October. The form anticipates 6–11 participating students and says proceeds would support additional uniforms, poms and junior varsity uniforms.
Major Financial Items
Monthly Financial Reporting
The packet's FY26 financial measures report shows $9,591,731 in projected General Fund expenditures and $9,857,600 in projected total revenue. Projected assigned/unassigned General Fund balance is $1,658,289, with a projected solvency ratio of 17.1%.
The all-funds comparison lists $14,454,391 in certified spending authority and $12,396,081 in projected spending, a difference of $2,058,310.
Bills and Capital Spending
The packet includes multiple bill reports covering the General, Activity, Capital Projects and PPEL funds. Among the larger expenditures listed in the August reports are:
- $94,500 to CDW Government for elementary Chromebooks.
- $40,048.85 to Excel Mechanical, including $38,764 for elementary dishwasher replacement and $1,284.85 for high school freezer repairs.
- $26,511.42 to SCI Communications for stadium cameras, east-side high school cameras and elementary doors.
- $23,763 to Doors Inc. for elementary entrance doors.
- $15,649.63 to the City of Panora for electric, water and sewer service across district facilities.
- $13,075 to BDI Signs & Graphics for outdoor signage and weight-room outdoor graphics.
- $7,250 to Anderson, Larkin & Co. for accounting fees.
- $5,965 to Carroll Control Systems for an ASP 3 upgrade.
The July VISA statement totals $14,232.10. Its listed purchases include $6,635 for shop tables and other expenditures for professional development, technology supplies, activity-related travel, district services and instructional or operational supplies.
July Bank Reconciliations
The packet's July reconciliation reports matching bank and school-book balances across the listed accounts. These include $4,050,409.73 for the General/Management grouping and $4,076,001.39 for Capital Projects/PPEL/Debt Service.
The reconciliation also identifies a $2 million PPEL & SAVE certificate of deposit, described as equally split between those funds.
Policy and Governance Items
Gifted and Talented Program — Second Reading
The board is scheduled for a second reading of updates to Policy 604.03, Program for Talented and Gifted Students, along with a new Regulation 604.03-R(1). The packet says SF 2220 requires school districts to use uniform procedures to screen, identify and serve gifted and talented students, and identifies elements districts may consider when establishing those procedures.
Technology and Instructional Materials — Second Reading
A second reading is scheduled for Policy 605.04, Technology and Instructional Materials, and a new Exhibit 605.04-E(1). According to the packet, HF 2676 requires districts to adopt a technology-adoption checklist, retain it and make it available to the Iowa Department of Education.
Disruptive Behavior — Second Reading
The agenda includes a second reading of Policy 503.11, Maintenance of Orderly Conduct, and two related regulations. The packet links these materials to SF 2428, which establishes requirements involving classroom removals and readmission after certain student behaviors.
The proposed framework addresses multiple nonviolent disruptions, violent disruptions and repeated removals for violent disruptions. A separate regulation addresses removal procedures for students with an IEP.
Additional Legal Alignment Updates — Second Reading
The board is also scheduled for a second reading of a group of policy changes described in the packet as Iowa Association of School Boards updates intended to align district policy with state and federal law. The drafts cover:
- Policy 201: Board of Directors' Elections.
- Policy 210.05: Meeting Notice.
- Policy 401.01: Equal Employment Opportunity.
- Policy 409.02: Licensed Employee Leaves of Absence.
- Policy 501.15: Open Enrollment Transfers — Procedures as a Receiving District.
- Policy 502.03: Student Expression and Student Publications Code.
- Policy 503.01: Student Conduct.
- Policy 507.02: Administration of Medication to Students.
First-Reading Policy Review
A separate first-reading item contains additional draft policies and exhibits. Subjects include student medication authorization, the basic instruction program, special education, physical education, private instruction, religious-based exclusion from a school program, student guidance and counseling, responsible technology use and social networking, stock prescription medication supplies, and public examination of district records.
Annual Policy Review
The agenda also calls for the district's annual policy review. Materials identified in the packet include policies and related regulations or exhibits covering long-range needs assessment, parent and family engagement, education-record access, student directory information and student library circulation records.
Superintendent Report and School-Year Timeline
The superintendent report is expected to include updates on the fire alarm system, a branding guide refresh, the district's annual meeting in September, and summer facilities projects.
The packet also highlights several upcoming dates:
- August 17: Teachers report.
- August 19: Middle school/high school open house, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
- August 19: Elementary intake conferences.
- August 19: Sixth-grade orientation at 6 p.m. in the auditorium.
- August 24: First day of school, with an 8 a.m. start time.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The most consequential action items center on the $11,920 recommended heat-pump replacement, approval of 2026–2027 district goals, and a substantial set of policy updates responding to state requirements. The financial packet also provides a year-end look at FY26 finances while documenting significant technology, facilities and security-related expenditures ahead of the new school year.
