School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – Waterloo Community School District – July 13, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Waterloo Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: 07/13/2026 - 05:00 PM Board of Education Meeting Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-13
• City: Waterloo
• County: Black Hawk
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031478&MID=31705
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031478
• Public Body Website: https://www.waterlooschools.org/our-district/board-of-education
• Meeting Video URL: Not available
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUWrixRTArzQZ8Wy-c0-Cg/streams

What Community Members Should Know

This meeting combines routine governance with several significant financial and operational decisions that will influence Waterloo Community School District's capital improvement program, instructional support services, insurance coverage, facility operations, and long-term borrowing strategy. The agenda also includes recognition of community service and student achievement while advancing several agreements needed for the upcoming school year.

One of the largest issues before the board is financing the District's ongoing One High School Project. Administrators propose an approximately $80 million SAVE Revenue Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) financing package while simultaneously restructuring portions of existing SAVE debt to preserve the district's bond rating after recent Iowa law changes redirected more SAVE revenue toward property tax relief. The proposal includes redeeming approximately $6.027 million in 2018 SAVE bonds, escrowing approximately $2.930 million in 2020 SAVE bonds until their call date, and positioning the district for future financing through approximately 2031.

The board is also being asked to approve multiple agreements with Central Rivers Area Education Agency (CRAEA). Iowa's restructuring of Area Education Agency funding requires districts to directly contract for services that previously flowed through statewide funding mechanisms. The district proposes approving a $498,970 district service plan along with an automatic transfer of 90% of state AEA special education support funding to CRAEA for 2026 through 2029, as required under state law. The contracts support literacy coaching, mathematics intervention, behavioral systems, professional development, and other educational consulting services.

Financial oversight represents another major theme. Board members will review unaudited fiscal year 2025-26 financial reports, approve bills and vendor payments, consider a property, casualty, and workers' compensation insurance package estimated at $2,026,547, and review several contracts related to instructional programming, driver's education, and higher education partnerships. The insurance proposal includes a hail deductible buy-down for five major district buildings.

Operationally, the meeting includes adoption of a new Facilities Usage Manual intended to create consistent rules for community use of district buildings, annual athletic cooperative sponsorship agreements with neighboring school districts, routine personnel actions, open enrollment decisions, and a first reading of dozens of board policy revisions spanning governance, personnel, finance, student services, technology, emergency operations, and district administration.

Residents will also see the board recognize longtime educator and volunteer Bev Boveia for 56 years of service to Waterloo Schools and celebrate the Waterloo United Girls Golf Team's successful inaugural season as a combined East and West program that culminated in state qualification. These recognition items are informational and highlight community contributions alongside the board's business agenda.

Major Discussion and Action Items

Recognition of Bev Boveia

The board will honor Bev Boveia for 56 years of service to Waterloo Schools. Her contributions include classroom teaching, curriculum committees, policy review work, and decades of service on the Policy Review Committee after retirement. The recognition marks her retirement from committee service and acknowledges her long-term influence on district governance and educational improvement. This is an informational item.

Waterloo United Girls Golf Team Recognition

Board members will recognize the first combined Waterloo East and Waterloo West girls golf team. The unified program increased participation, competitiveness, and collaboration while qualifying for the state tournament. Coaches and student-athletes are expected to discuss how combining the programs improved team culture and student experience.

Cooperative Athletic Sponsorship Agreements

The district will present annual cooperative athletic sponsorship agreements involving Waterloo schools and neighboring districts including Dunkerton, Wapsie Valley, Hudson, Union, Columbus Catholic, and Don Bosco. The agreements cover multiple sports including bowling, soccer, swimming, tennis, and wrestling. Although many approvals are administrative renewals, the board continues reviewing them annually for transparency.

Central Rivers AEA Service Agreements

The board will consider a comprehensive service plan with CRAEA to provide educational consulting and professional development under Iowa's revised AEA funding system. Services include literacy implementation, Science of Reading support, LETRS training, mathematics intervention, behavioral systems coaching, and leadership development. Supporting contracts include literacy consulting agreements totaling $117,192 and three additional consulting contracts of $29,298 each, along with other professional learning services.

SAVE Financing Strategy and One High School Project

The district proposes a multi-step financing strategy designed to preserve its SAVE bond rating while completing the One High School Project. Administration recommends redeeming outstanding 2018 SAVE bonds, escrowing portions of 2020 bonds, issuing approximately $80 million in BAN financing during October 2026, and later converting that debt through future SAVE bonds. The strategy is intended to maintain favorable borrowing costs despite reduced SAVE revenue coverage caused by recent state legislation.

New Facilities Usage Manual

The board is asked to approve a new Facilities Usage Manual to accompany Board Policy 905.01. The manual establishes application procedures, rental fees, user responsibilities, cancellation procedures, and facility rules intended to provide equitable community access while protecting district property.

Insurance Program

Board members will review renewal of the district's comprehensive insurance program through the IASB Safety Group Plan. The recommendation includes property, casualty, liability, automobile, and workers' compensation coverage, along with hail deductible reductions for five major buildings.

Board Policy First Reading

Dozens of policies covering governance, employees, students, finance, purchasing, technology, emergency operations, and district administration receive their first reading. Several outdated policies are also recommended for deletion. Because this is a first reading, additional review is expected before final adoption.

Financial Matters

The packet contains numerous significant financial items, including:

• Approval of approximately $80 million in SAVE Revenue Bond Anticipation Notes to support district capital improvements and the One High School Project.
• Engagement of D.A. Davidson & Co. as underwriter or placement agent. Compensation would equal 0.375% of principal for BAN financing or 0.425% if structured as amortizing revenue bonds, with fees contingent upon successful closing.
• Approval of a $498,970 district service agreement with Central Rivers AEA for educational consulting services during the 2026-2027 school year.
• Transfer of 90% of state AEA special education support funding to CRAEA through quarterly ACH payments under Iowa law from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
• CRAEA instructional consulting contracts including one literacy contract totaling $117,192, three additional consulting contracts of $29,298 each, Science of Reading implementation funding of $16,120, and mathematics consulting of $13,746.
• Approval of the 2026-2027 comprehensive insurance program with an estimated premium of $2,026,547 funded through the district's Management Fund.
• Driver's education services through Hawkeye Community College at $465 per student, with district subsidies based upon free and reduced-price meal eligibility.
• Ongoing review and approval of district bills, vendor payments, financial reports, and monthly financial statements.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

The board will conduct the first reading of an extensive package of policy revisions affecting board governance, employee practices, student attendance, open enrollment, financial management, purchasing, technology, emergency operations, and district records.

Policies proposed for deletion include several outdated personnel, open enrollment, research, retirement, community participation, and district cell phone policies.

The board will also consider resolutions authorizing advance funding and redemption of 2018 and 2020 SAVE bonds together with escrow agreements supporting the district's revised financing strategy.

Additional governance items include approval of prior meeting minutes, authorization to destroy eligible closed-session recordings after required retention periods, routine open enrollment denials, and adoption of the Facilities Usage Manual.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

Informational reports include:

• Unaudited fiscal year 2025-26 financial statements through May 2026.
• Superintendent's report.
• Information from board members.
• Athletic program updates highlighting the Waterloo United Girls Golf Team.
• Strategic Plan priorities emphasizing attendance, achievement, and culture.
• Recognition of longtime community volunteer and educator Bev Boveia.
• Annual review of cooperative athletic sponsorship agreements.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Routine personnel appointments and adjustments are presented for approval.

The board will recognize Bev Boveia's decades of service and acknowledge her retirement from the Policy Review Committee.

The CRAEA agreements establish responsibilities for educational consultants supporting district staff while maintaining CRAEA employment status for those consultants.

The packet also includes routine open enrollment application denials for board approval.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

Major operational matters include financing the One High School Project through future borrowing.

The district proposes updating procedures governing community use of school facilities through a new Facilities Usage Manual.

Insurance changes include reducing hail deductibles for West High, East High, Central, Hoover, and Lowell.

Instructional operations include expanded literacy implementation, Science of Reading coaching, behavioral systems support, mathematics intervention, concurrent enrollment with Hawkeye Community College, driver's education services, and cooperative athletic programming with neighboring districts.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may provide comments during the Information from Individuals and Delegations portion of the meeting.

The first reading of board policy revisions provides an opportunity for public awareness before later adoption.

No formal public hearings are identified within the accessible packet materials.

Community Impact

Students may benefit from expanded literacy coaching, mathematics intervention, behavioral supports, concurrent enrollment opportunities, driver's education programming, and continued athletic partnerships.

Families who use district facilities may experience more consistent rental procedures and clearer expectations under the proposed Facilities Usage Manual.

Taxpayers and residents have an interest in the district's long-term borrowing strategy because it affects financing of major capital projects and preservation of the district's bond rating.

District employees may be affected by revised board policies, professional development opportunities, insurance coverage decisions, and CRAEA consulting support.

Community organizations using school buildings could experience updated rental procedures, fee schedules, and operational requirements.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• How does the proposed financing strategy reduce long-term borrowing costs for the One High School Project?
• What risks would the district face if its SAVE bond rating declined?
• How will the $498,970 CRAEA agreement be evaluated for effectiveness?
• Which literacy and behavioral outcomes are expected from the contracted consulting services?
• How will the new Facilities Usage Manual change current community rental practices?
• What future capital projects could become possible once projected SAVE surpluses begin after 2032?
• How will the district measure success from the unified athletic programs?
• Which board policy revisions represent substantive operational changes versus technical updates?
• What effect will the revised insurance program have on future district risk management costs?
• How will driver's education financial assistance be administered for qualifying families?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 13, 2026: Regular Board Meeting.
• July 29, 2026: Escrow agreement date associated with proposed SAVE bond restructuring.
• October 2026: Planned issuance of approximately $80 million in Bond Anticipation Notes.
• August 10, 2026: Next regular board meeting.
• August 24, 2026: First day of school for grades K, 1, 2, 6, and 9, along with a regular board meeting.
• August 25, 2026: First day of school for grades 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12.
• January 1, 2027: Planned redemption of remaining 2018 SAVE bonds.
• February 1, 2027: Deadline referenced in several CRAEA contract renewal and termination provisions.
• June 30, 2027: Scheduled completion of multiple CRAEA service agreements.
• Approximately 2031: Anticipated refinancing of BAN financing through future SAVE bonds.
• 2032: Projected beginning of annual SAVE surplus for future capital projects.

Key Takeaways

• The district is pursuing an approximately $80 million financing package for capital improvements.
• The financing strategy is tied to completion of the One High School Project.
• Iowa law changes prompted restructuring of SAVE bond financing.
• Administration seeks to preserve the district's bond rating.
• CRAEA service agreements total $498,970.
• Additional CRAEA contracts support literacy, mathematics, and behavioral coaching.
• Ninety percent of state AEA special education funding will transfer automatically under state law.
• Comprehensive insurance renewal totals approximately $2.03 million.
• Hawkeye Community College will continue providing driver's education.
• Concurrent enrollment agreements with Hawkeye continue for 2026-2027.
• A new Facilities Usage Manual is proposed.
• Annual athletic cooperative agreements continue with several neighboring districts.
• Numerous board policies receive first reading.
• Several outdated policies are recommended for deletion.
• Unaudited financial statements are presented for board review.
• Routine personnel actions are included in the consent agenda.
• The board will recognize longtime educator Bev Boveia.
• The Waterloo United Girls Golf Team will be recognized for its inaugural combined season and state qualification.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031478&MID=31705
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031478
• Public body website: https://www.waterlooschools.org/our-district/board-of-education
• Meeting video: Not available
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRUWrixRTArzQZ8Wy-c0-Cg/streams

About the Public Body

• Name: Waterloo Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Waterloo, iowa
• County: Black Hawk
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

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