School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – SEP – July 16, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Southeast Polk Community Schools
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/16/2026 - 05:30 PM Board Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 07-16-2026
• City: Pleasant Hill
• County: Polk
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150015&MID=22315
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150015
• Public Body Website: https://www.southeastpolk.org/board-of-education/
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: Not available

What Community Members Should Know

The Southeast Polk Community School District Board of Education will consider a meeting agenda focused heavily on operational preparations for the 2026-2027 school year. The packet includes routine governance items such as personnel recommendations, approval of claims, open enrollment requests, and prior meeting minutes, along with several significant business decisions involving food service operations, facilities projects, staffing, and district agreements.

One of the largest themes throughout the meeting is continued investment in district facilities and long-term operations. Board members are being asked to select Hansen Company as Construction Manager at Risk for the Junior High Entrance Project following a competitive qualifications and proposal process involving three construction firms. The project will be financed through the Capital Projects Fund and represents another major facilities initiative following the board's recent approval of a construction manager for a new elementary school project.

Food and Nutrition operations also receive substantial attention. The board is asked to approve a new multi-district 28E cooperative agreement that allows Southeast Polk to continue purchasing food jointly with Waukee, Ankeny, and Saydel Community School Districts. Officials indicate the cooperative purchasing arrangement increases buying power and helps obtain better pricing. Additional action items include awarding a contract for new junior high kitchen combi ovens and reviewing an annual Food and Nutrition program update.

Personnel matters are another significant component of the meeting. The consent agenda contains numerous certified and classified personnel actions, including teachers, coaches, special education staff, instructional leadership positions, and resignations. The board will also consider a classified staffing expansion, with administration indicating the new positions can be sustainably funded through the Food & Nutrition enterprise fund.

Financial oversight remains a central responsibility of the board. Members will review more than $7.72 million in claims covering multiple district funds. The General Fund accounts for approximately $2.39 million of expenditures, while Management Fund expenses exceed $3.59 million during the reporting period. Additional spending spans capital projects, nutrition, insurance, PPEL, SAVE, student activities, and agency funds.

The meeting also includes policy-related operational updates. Board members will review district guidelines implementing new Iowa legislation permitting eligible eighth-grade students to participate in high school athletics, consider updated activity event worker compensation for FY2027, approve a photography services agreement that continues existing athletic photography services without direct district cost, and receive superintendent, construction, and food service reports.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Consent Agenda

The board is scheduled to consider a consent agenda containing certified personnel actions, classified personnel actions, claims totaling $7,721,818.71, approval of June 11 regular and closed session meeting minutes, open enrollment requests, approval of a legal settlement following a previously held closed session, and updated district guidelines governing eighth-grade participation in high school athletics following recent changes in Iowa law. Administration recommends approval of the consent agenda as a single action unless individual items are removed for separate consideration.

Approval of WASS Food Procurement Agreement

The district seeks approval of a new Chapter 28E cooperative agreement with Waukee, Ankeny, and Saydel Community School Districts. The agreement formalizes joint procurement for food and related supplies serving school nutrition programs.

According to the agreement, participating districts share procurement costs equally while maintaining ownership of their own purchased food and supplies. The agreement extends through June 30, 2029, with automatic annual renewals unless a participating district provides notice of withdrawal. District administrators believe the cooperative increases purchasing power, improves pricing, and strengthens compliance with state and federal procurement requirements.

Junior High Kitchen Equipment Purchase

Administration recommends awarding a contract to Culinary Depot for two new combi ovens serving the junior high kitchen.

District staff solicited proposals from multiple vendors after distributing specifications in June 2026. Culinary Depot submitted the lowest responsive proposal, and administration recommends approving the purchase for $40,792.03. Funding will come from the Food & Nutrition Fund.

Junior High Entrance Project Construction Manager

Board members are asked to approve Hansen Company as Construction Manager at Risk for the Junior High Entrance Project.

Three firms submitted qualifications and later full proposals before participating in interviews. Although cost was considered, the district used multiple evaluation criteria to determine overall value.

Published rankings include:

• Hansen Company: total fees of $582,050 (approximately 10.4% of estimated construction)
• Turner Construction: total fees of $629,600
• Miron Construction: total fees of $601,713

Administration recommends Hansen Company based on the overall evaluation process. The project will be funded through the Capital Projects Fund.

Activities Event Staff Compensation

The board will review proposed compensation increases for several event support positions beginning in FY2027.

Examples include:

• Ticket takers: $12.50/hour to $15.00/hour
• Scoreboard operators: $15.00/hour to $20.00/hour
• Game announcers: $30 to $40 per game
• Concessions managers: $20.00/hour to $22.00/hour
• Statisticians/bookkeepers: $15.00/hour to $20.00/hour
• Football security: $15.00/hour to $20.00/hour

The proposal reflects increased compensation for employees supporting extracurricular events.

Classified Staffing Plan

Administration proposes adding new classified positions for the upcoming school year.

The packet states the positions are new and that Food & Nutrition enterprise revenues can sustainably support the staffing additions over the long term. Board approval is requested.

Photography Services Agreement

The district proposes renewing its photography services agreement with Next Level Portrait for the 2026-2027 school year.

The agreement covers athletic team and individual photographs for junior high and high school programs along with Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Night photography. The district states there are no direct financial obligations because the vendor earns revenue through optional photograph purchases by families. The one-year agreement runs August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027.

Superintendent, Food & Nutrition, and Construction Updates

The discussion portion of the meeting includes:

• Superintendent's report
• Food & Nutrition program review presented by the Director of Food and Nutrition
• Construction update

These presentations provide informational updates rather than scheduled board action.

Financial Matters

The packet includes approval of $7,721,818.71 in district claims covering expenditures from June 12 through July 16.

Major fund totals include:

• General Fund: $2,389,958.34
• Management Fund: $3,592,808.13
• Capital Projects Fund: $109,727.87
• PPEL: $601,505.81
• Nutrition Fund: $15,961.02
• Student Activity Fund: $121,933.23
• Self Insurance - Health: $698,132.97
• Additional expenditures from SAVE, dental insurance, flex administration, agency, and other district funds.

Additional financial actions include:

• Approval of a $40,792.03 purchase of junior high kitchen combi ovens.
• Approval of the WASS purchasing cooperative with procurement costs shared among participating districts.
• Selection of Hansen Company for the Junior High Entrance Project with proposed fees totaling $582,050.
• Approval of additional Food & Nutrition staffing supported through the enterprise fund.
• Review of FY2027 activity event staff compensation increases.
• Renewal of the photography services agreement with no direct district payment obligation.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board will review district implementation guidelines responding to recent Iowa legislation allowing eligible eighth-grade students to participate in high school athletics. The packet states the district guidelines establish how Southeast Polk will administer participation opportunities.

Approval of the Chapter 28E WASS agreement establishes the governance framework for cooperative food procurement among four participating school districts through 2029 with automatic renewals thereafter unless terminated according to the agreement.

Board members will also consider approval of a legal settlement discussed previously during closed session under Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(c). The packet does not disclose settlement details.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The superintendent will provide a district update during the meeting.

The Director of Food & Nutrition will present a department program review summarizing food service operations.

Board members will also receive a construction update concerning district capital projects and facilities activities.

The packet includes prior meeting minutes documenting approval of 2026-2027 food vendor contracts, dairy and bread contracts, an interfund transfer supporting Food & Nutrition administration, and selection of Miron Construction as Construction Manager at Risk for the new elementary school project during the June meeting.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Certified personnel recommendations include multiple teaching, coaching, instructional leadership, and special education appointments for the 2026-2027 school year.

Examples include:

• Kindergarten teacher
• Seventh-grade science teacher
• Seventh-grade social studies teacher
• High school language arts teacher
• PK-12 Learning Support Coordinator
• Multiple special education teachers
• Building Improvement Leader
• Athletic coaching positions
• Marching band pit instructor

The packet also includes resignations from two instructional positions.

Separate classified personnel actions are included in the consent agenda, along with a proposal to expand classified staffing funded through Food & Nutrition operations.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

The Junior High Entrance Project represents the largest capital project requiring board action during this meeting, with selection of Hansen Company as Construction Manager at Risk.

Food service operations continue to receive infrastructure investment through replacement of commercial kitchen equipment at the junior high.

Operational preparations for the new school year also include:

• Staffing additions
• Athletic participation guideline updates
• Photography service renewal
• Regional food purchasing cooperation
• Continuing construction progress updates

These actions support district readiness for the upcoming academic year.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may provide public comments during the designated Public Comments portion of the meeting agenda.

The board is also scheduled to discuss multiple operational, financial, staffing, and facilities matters during the public meeting before taking action on applicable agenda items. No separate public hearings are identified within the accessible packet materials.

Community Impact

Students and families may benefit from updated athletic participation guidelines allowing eligible eighth-grade students to compete in certain high school athletics under district procedures.

Food service improvements include continued cooperative purchasing intended to improve buying efficiency and installation of new commercial kitchen equipment.

District employees and applicants are affected through numerous hiring recommendations, staffing additions, and increased compensation for event support personnel.

Taxpayers and residents are affected through board oversight of more than $7.7 million in district expenditures and continued investment in capital construction projects.

Families participating in extracurricular activities will continue receiving photography services without direct district expense under the proposed vendor agreement.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What timeline is anticipated for completion of the Junior High Entrance Project?
• How will the district measure success under the WASS purchasing cooperative through 2029?
• What operational improvements are expected from the new junior high combi ovens?
• How many new classified positions are included in the proposed staffing plan?
• What factors led Hansen Company to receive the highest overall evaluation?
• How will the new eighth-grade athletic participation guidelines be implemented across sports?
• What long-term budget assumptions support the additional Food & Nutrition staffing?
• What factors influenced the proposed increases in activity worker compensation?
• How will construction activities affect students, staff, or visitors during implementation?
• What priorities will be highlighted during the superintendent and construction updates?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 16, 2026: Regular Board of Education meeting and consideration of all agenda items.
• July 28, 2026, 4:30 p.m.: Scheduled closed session.
• July 28, 2026, 5:30 p.m.: Scheduled board workshop.
• August 6, 2026, 5:30 p.m.: Next regular board meeting.
• August 20, 2026, 5:30 p.m.: Subsequent regular board meeting.
• August 1, 2026: Proposed beginning of the FY2027 photography services agreement.
• July 31, 2027: Scheduled expiration of the photography services agreement unless renewed.
• June 30, 2029: Initial expiration of the WASS 28E agreement before automatic annual renewals begin unless terminated.

Key Takeaways

• The board will review major operational items ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.
• Claims totaling $7,721,818.71 require approval.
• The General Fund accounts for approximately $2.39 million of the reported expenditures.
• Management Fund expenditures exceed $3.59 million.
• Hansen Company is recommended for the Junior High Entrance Project.
• The recommended construction management fees total $582,050.
• Culinary Depot is recommended to provide junior high combi ovens.
• The equipment purchase totals $40,792.03.
• Southeast Polk plans to continue participating in the WASS food purchasing cooperative.
• The WASS agreement extends through June 2029 with automatic renewals.
• Multiple certified personnel appointments are recommended.
• Classified staffing additions are proposed for Food & Nutrition.
• Activity event worker pay increases are proposed across several positions.
• New Iowa legislation prompted district guidelines for eighth-grade participation in high school athletics.
• The photography services agreement would continue without direct district payment.
• The superintendent, Food & Nutrition department, and construction teams will provide updates.
• Open enrollment continues to produce a positive net funding impact for the district according to administration.
• The board will consider approval of a legal settlement following a previous closed session.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150015&MID=22315
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150015
• Public body website: https://www.southeastpolk.org/board-of-education/
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: Not available

About the Public Body

• Name: Southeast Polk Community Schools
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Pleasant Hill, iowa
• County: Polk
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

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