Sioux Center Comm School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-17
Meeting: 08/17/2026 - 07:00 PM Board of Education Meeting - August 17, 2026 Board Meeting
Location: District Board Room, 550 9th Street NE, Sioux Center, Iowa 51250
The Sioux Center Comm School District Board of Education is scheduled to consider several significant financial, facilities, technology, and policy items. Major action items include proposed Flexibility Account expenditures totaling $130,020, a $192,056.56 E-Rate technology project, theater equipment upgrades, HVAC repairs, and a broad set of policy revisions tied to changes in Iowa law.
Key Items on the Agenda
Flexibility Account Public Hearing and Resolution
The board is scheduled to hold a public hearing on proposed expenditures from the district's Flexibility Account. The hearing notice states that $130,020 in previously unexpended and unobligated funds would be used for specified district purposes.
The proposed spending plan includes:
- $4,700 for paraprofessional leadership stipends.
- $29,465 for curriculum, workbooks, and subscriptions.
- $20,340 for TAG programming.
- $4,665 for a data consultant.
- $11,500 for KidZone programming.
- $39,350 for non-instructional staff professional development.
- $20,000 for membership dues.
The related resolution proposes transferring $70,000 from the FY26 Teacher Leadership and Compensation ending balance and $55,000 from the FY26 Professional Development ending balance into the Flexibility Account. The resolution would authorize up to $130,020 in FY27 expenditures for the listed purposes.
E-Rate Technology Project
Administration is seeking approval for a districtwide technology project through the federal E-Rate program. Riverside Technologies, Inc. was awarded the project through the E-Rate process.
The project has a total quoted cost of $192,056.56, with an estimated district cost of approximately $57,616.97 after E-Rate funding. The work includes upgrades to wireless access points, network switches, cabling, licensing, and implementation services.
The supporting quote includes installation and configuration of 79 Meraki wireless access points, installation and configuration of nine Meraki network switches, and CAT6A cabling work.
TePaske Theater Sound-System Upgrades
Administration recommends upgrades to the sound system in TePaske Theater. The proposed equipment package totals $73,133.58 and includes the base project, a digital mixer, and amplifiers.
The packet states that the project cost would be split among the three joint-use entities.
Middle School Kitchen Rooftop Unit
The board is scheduled to consider a $71,800 quote to replace a rooftop unit at the middle school. The proposal is presented for board approval as a facilities action item.
High School Chiller Repairs
The high school chiller requires replacement of two compressors. Administration is seeking approval for the repair at a cost of $34,400.
Policy and Governance Items
Second Reading and Approval of Legislative Policy Updates
The board is scheduled to consider second-reading approval of a substantial group of policy revisions. The packet says the changes were proposed by the Iowa Association of School Boards and reviewed by district administration, with many prompted by legislation enacted during the 2026 legislative session.
Among the changes highlighted in the packet:
- Policy 210.05 — Meeting Notice: Updated in response to HF 2490 changes to public-notice requirements.
- Policy 901 — Public Examination of School District Records: Reflects a new standard concerning "vexatious persons" and circumstances in which a district may seek legal remedies.
- Policy 201 — Board of Directors' Elections: Reflects HF 2501 changes moving school-board candidate filings from the district's board secretary to the county auditor.
- Policy 504.06 — Student Activity Program: Includes optional language allowing eighth-grade students to participate in high-school interscholastic competition.
- Policy 603.01 — Basic Instruction Program: Reflects curriculum-related statutory changes under HF 2670.
- Policy 607.01 — Student Guidance and Counseling Program: Reflects updated requirements for collaboration in designing counseling programs.
- Policy 603.06 — Physical Education: Reflects HF 2676 requirements concerning physical-fitness measurement using the presidential fitness test.
- Policy 605.04 — Technology and Instructional Materials: Addresses new requirements and limitations involving digital instruction and one-to-one device programs.
- Policy 713 — Responsible Technology Use & Social Networking: Updated for technology-use compliance requirements.
- Policy 401.01 — Equal Employment Opportunity: Reflects employee eligibility-screening requirements under SF 2218.
- Policy 604.03 — Program for Talented and Gifted Students: Addresses uniform procedures for screening, identifying, and serving gifted and talented students.
- Policies 502.03 and 604.05: Include updates associated with student free-speech requirements under SF 2231.
- Policies 409.02, 503.01, and 603.03: Include changes related to disruptive student behavior, employee leave following certain student-caused injuries, classroom removal, and access to student IEPs under SF 2428.
- Policy 705.04 — Expenditures for a Public Purpose: Updated for current law and guidance, including collaboration with the district treasurer.
The second-reading action item contains more than 20 draft policies scheduled for consideration.
First Reading: Disruptive Behavior and Technology Policies
Separate from the second-reading action item, the policy-review portion of the agenda includes first readings of new materials prompted by the 2026 legislative session.
New Policy 503.11 — Disruptive Behavior is intended to provide a framework for an oversight committee responsible for developing district policy governing student readmission after classroom removal. Proposed regulations address procedures for multiple nonviolent disruptions, violent disruptions, repeated removals, and specific provisions for students with IEPs.
The board is also scheduled to review new Exhibit 605.04-E(1) — Technology and Instructional Materials, tied to HF 2676 requirements for a district technology-adoption checklist. The packet also identifies Policies 103, 505.08, 506.01, 506.02, and 506.04 among policies requiring annual review.
Financial Review
The packet includes July 2026 financial reports and highlights as part of the board's financial review and consent materials.
- The General Fund ended July with a cash balance of $12,409,835.36, compared with $7,429,021.69 in July 2025.
- Through July, the district had received 14.95% of budgeted General Fund revenue and spent 1.36% of budgeted expenditures.
- The packet notes that revenue comparisons are affected by the state's shift from 10 monthly state-aid installments to quarterly payments in July, October, January, and April. A General Fund certificate of deposit also matured during July.
- The Activity Fund ended July at $237,734.73.
- The Management Fund ended July at $1,198,436.31.
- Combined SAVE and PPEL capital-project balances totaled $1,420,650.85.
- The Nutrition Fund ended July at $636,730.34.
The August invoice listing presented for approval totals $864,007.43. Among the larger entries are $169,284 for a 2026 72-passenger transit bus, two High School Gym Projection System invoices totaling $73,750, $69,085 for Kinsey roof work, and $42,540.87 for Project Success spring 2026 administrative costs.
Consent Agenda
The consent agenda includes several administrative, financial, personnel, and contractual matters.
Northwest AEA Service Agreement
The board is scheduled to consider the 2026–27 Northwest Area Education Agency Service Delivery Agreement. The agreement covers services from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 and carries a total contracted amount of $24,576.32.
The service plan includes AEA Learning Online, Britannica, PebbleGo and PebbleGo Next, Gale, SeeSaw, technology services associated with Infinite Campus, special-education teacher development, coaching and mentoring, and a special-education dashboard.
Personnel Recommendations
The consent materials include personnel recommendations covering resignations and hires. The packet lists resignations involving custodial, teaching, and coaching positions and proposed hires for kitchen helper, point-of-sale, paraprofessional, and bus-route-driver positions.
Certified Staff Lane Advancements
The board is also scheduled to consider 2026–27 certified staff lane advancements. The supporting document lists eight employees with proposed changes in salary-schedule placement, with two advancements marked as pending receipt of suitable evidence.
Disposal of Bus #05
Administration recommends disposing of bus #05 through a sealed-bid process.
Other Consent Items
The consent agenda also includes:
- Minutes from the July 20, 2026 Board of Education meeting and July 8, 2026 special board meeting.
- August invoices and utilities.
- July financial statements and financial highlights.
- Gifts and donations received during the previous month.
- Personnel recommendations.
- The Northwest AEA service agreement.
- Certified staff lane advancements.
The July gifts-and-donations report totals $4,750, including three FBLA sponsorships totaling $1,750 and a $3,000 Orchestra Foundation Grant from the SC Music Boosters.
What to Watch at the Meeting
The Flexibility Account is a central item because the board is scheduled both to hold the required public hearing and consider the accompanying transfer-and-expenditure resolution. The proposed plan would redirect eligible categorical ending balances toward programming, professional development, curriculum resources, stipends, and membership expenses.
The board also faces several separate capital and infrastructure decisions. The E-Rate technology project, theater equipment, middle-school rooftop unit, and high-school chiller repair represent $371,390.14 in stated project or repair costs before accounting for E-Rate assistance or the theater project's cost-sharing among joint-use entities.
Policy work is another major component of the agenda, with both second-reading approvals and first-reading proposals responding to changes in Iowa law. The subjects range from public records and meeting notices to student conduct, technology use, curriculum, physical education, employee eligibility, gifted education, special education, and student expression.
The official public-body source for this packet is the Sioux Center Comm School District meeting record provided through Simbli.
Official Meeting Source URL:
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=150130&MID=32385
Public body's meeting/document listing page:
https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=150130
Provider: simbli
Provider Meeting ID: simbli-32385
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials.
