West Sioux Comm School District Packet Summary — 2026-08-17
Meeting: 08/17/2026 - 05:15 PM Regular Monthly Meeting - August 2026 Board Meeting
Scheduled time: 5:15 PM
Location: Hawarden City Council Chambers, 1150 Central Ave., Hawarden, Iowa
The West Sioux Comm School District Board is scheduled to consider personnel changes, a $76,640 middle/high school security-system upgrade, an amendment to the district's state-funding transfer agreement, and multiple rounds of policy updates. The packet also includes July financial reports, construction updates at the elementary schools, and information about the district's voter-approved PPEL funding question.
Key Items on the Agenda
$76,640 Middle/High School Access-Control Upgrade
The administration recommends approving a Kidwell proposal to update door access and security controls at the middle/high school and associated district facilities. The proposed system would use Verkada equipment, bringing these facilities onto the same security platform already used at both elementary buildings.
The recommended package consists of:
- $40,715 base bid for equipment and installation.
- $35,925 for a 10-year Verkada licensing option.
- $76,640 total recommended cost.
The project scope includes 19 card readers, two video-intercom card readers, new controller equipment, cabling work, door contacts, and programming. Controllers are also planned for the bus depot and maintenance shed.
The Kidwell proposal offers a lower-cost five-year licensing option of $18,185, but the administration specifically recommends the 10-year option. The base proposal requires 50% down before work begins and notes that sales tax is not included.
State Funding Transfer Agreement Amendment
The board is scheduled to consider an amendment to its agreement with Northwest Area Education Agency concerning the transfer of state AEA special-education funding.
The existing agreement was signed previously. The proposed amendment changes the payment schedule so transfers would occur in four quarterly payments each school calendar year, rather than monthly, aligning the transfers with the Iowa Department of Management's state-aid payment schedule.
The packet states that no other changes are being made to the original agreement, and the administration recommends the amendment.
Personnel Contracts and Resignations
Personnel matters are listed as action items. Proposed contracts include:
- Kasadee Anderson — Associate: $16.72 per hour, up to 7.5 hours per day and 37.5 hours per week during the 2026-27 school year.
- Yanira Bueso — Counseling/Social Worker: The accompanying contract identifies the position as At-Risk Coordinator and provides a $50,200 salary for 2026-27. The superintendent's report describes the position as providing support for social, emotional, attendance, and family needs at Ireton Elementary.
- Esperanza Lopez — Assistant Volleyball Coach: $2,671 for the 2026-27 school year, calculated at 7% of a $38,152 salary base.
- Vicki Warrad — Sign Language Interpreter: $35 per hour, with up to 24 hours per week as assigned and eligibility for the employer medical plan at 75% of the classified-staff benefit rate.
The agenda also lists resignations from Katie Carroll, IE Para, and Erica Smith, MSHS Para.
The superintendent reports that recent resignations have created additional paraprofessional openings and that staffing remains active as the district prepares for the school year.
Policy and Governance Items
The packet contains several substantial groups of policy work at different stages of review.
Annual Policy Review and Name Updates — Second Reading
A group of annually reviewed policies is returning for a second reading. The packet says no substantive changes are recommended to the policies subject only to annual review.
Separate updates to equal educational opportunity and Title IX materials reflect a change in the high school principal's name. The materials include Policy 102 and associated nondiscrimination and grievance documents, along with Policy 106.
Annual-review subjects include:
- Long-range needs assessment.
- Parent and family engagement.
- Education records access.
- Student directory information.
- Student library circulation records.
The agenda materials identify most of this group as second-reading items, while several student-record-related documents are labeled as first-reading drafts in the agenda's policy list.
2026 Legislative Policy Updates — Second Reading
A larger set of Iowa Association of School Boards policy updates is scheduled for a second reading. The changes stem from Iowa's 2026 legislative session and address subjects including public meeting notices, elections, student conduct, technology, student expression, open enrollment, medication, special education, gifted and talented programming, and public records.
Among the changes described in the packet:
- Meeting Notice — Policy 210.05: Updated for new public-notice requirements.
- Board Elections — Policy 201: Reflects a change moving school-board candidate filings from the board secretary to the county auditor.
- Student Activity Program — Policy 504.06: Includes optional language allowing eighth-grade students to participate in high-school interscholastic competition.
- Technology and Instructional Materials — Policy 605.04: Addresses new requirements and limitations involving digital instruction and one-to-one device programs.
- Gifted and Talented — Policy 604.03: Addresses uniform procedures for screening, identifying, and serving gifted and talented students.
- Student Expression — Policy 502.03: Incorporates changes concerning protected student speech.
- Employee Eligibility — Policy 401.01: Reflects requirements to screen employment eligibility before employment.
- Basic Instruction — Policy 603.01: Reflects statutory curriculum changes from the 2026 legislative session.
The IASB update also identifies Policy 603.04, Multicultural/Gender Fair Education, and Policy 603.10, Global Education, as rescinded in its legislative update materials.
Disruptive Behavior Policy — First Reading
The board is also scheduled for a separate first reading of updated Policy 503.11 — Disruptive Behavior and related regulations.
IASB revised these materials following additional Iowa Department of Education guidance concerning state and federal law for violent and nonviolent classroom disruptions.
The underlying legislative update says the policy framework addresses procedures for multiple nonviolent disruptions, violent disruptions, repeated removals, and special provisions for students with individualized education programs. The legislation also calls for an oversight committee involved in developing policy governing the readmission of students following classroom removal.
Financial Policy Updates — First Reading
A separate first-reading package focuses on school finance and governance. IASB describes the underlying work as a comprehensive review of finance policies, including requirements connected with federal funding.
Topics include:
- Board conflicts of interest.
- Secretary and treasurer responsibilities.
- Transfers of funds and financial records.
- Fiscal management.
- Investments.
- Purchasing and bidding.
- Federal procurement requirements.
- Expenditures for a public purpose.
- Federal awards compliance.
- Time-and-effort reporting.
- Publication of financial information.
- District records.
- Technology and data security.
Two notable additions in the IASB materials are a federal-awards compliance policy addressing internal controls, procurement, documentation and reporting, and a time-and-effort reporting policy governing documentation for employee compensation charged to federal programs.
Major Financial Items
July General Fund
The July treasurer's report shows:
- Beginning cash balance: $2,149,239.11.
- July receipts: $1,773,754.10.
- July expenditures: $142,576.77.
- Payables: $947,087.36.
- Receivables: $157,578.82.
- July 31 cash balance: $2,990,907.90.
The FY2027 general-fund budget report lists a total budget of $11,628,382.60, with $142,576.77, or 1.23%, recorded as year-to-date expenditures through July.
State aid accounted for $1,712,784 of July receipts.
July Fund Balances
The special-revenue report lists July 31 balances including:
- Activity Fund: $283,835.68.
- Management Fund: $1,916,743.30.
- Capital Projects / GO Bond: $3,089,833.30.
- Capital Projects / SILO: $1,678,000.95.
- PPEL: $1,840,451.28.
- Debt Service: $274,809.74.
- School Nutrition: $128,702.25.
- Daycare: $44,442.78.
The student activity report shows a combined fund balance of $289,709.79, with $20,176.54 in revenues, $17,417.43 in expenses and no outstanding accounts payable shown in that report.
Invoices and Prepaids
The invoice report includes expenditures across operating, nutrition, student activity, construction, PPEL and management funds.
Notable listed invoices include:
- $272,366 to EMC Insurance Companies for FY2027 property insurance.
- $236,900.72 to Nelson Commercial Construction for Pay Application #17.
- $137,664.50 to Hoogendoorn Construction for Pay Application #16.
- $59,584.50 to Northwest AEA for AEA flowthrough.
- $45,125.52 to SiteLogIQ for the elementary building project.
- $39,694.26 to Ireton Christian School for non-public transportation.
- $34,502.07 to Boyden-Hull Community Schools for the shared superintendent.
- $15,940 to Lifestyle Landscape Solutions for site improvements.
- $11,000 for a 2026-27 Hudl subscription.
- $10,850 to Door Werks LLC for a handicap door operator at Ireton.
The invoice report totals $241,801.33 for its operating and school-nutrition checking account, $13,844.27 for student activities, $463,309.38 across listed capital-project and PPEL accounts, and $311,064 for the management-fund invoices shown.
The separate prepaid report totals $5,180.32, consisting of $2,475 for a Dordt College football camp and $2,705.32 for retiree insurance.
The July Visa report lists a $12,300.33 grand total, including $5,120.33 in general-fund purchases, $6,161.90 in activity-fund purchases and $1,018.10 in schoolhouse-fund purchases.
Facilities and Back-to-School Updates
Elementary Construction
The superintendent reports that Hawarden Elementary has reached the final punch-list stage. Remaining work includes downspouts and gutters, while exterior grounds are being prepared for irrigation, reseeding and fencing.
At Ireton Elementary, landscaping block and cement work are complete, and exterior grading is underway in preparation for a playground installation planned for next spring or summer. Interior cleaning continues as contractors turn completed spaces back over to the district.
Furniture is arriving at both elementary buildings, with staff assisting with assembly.
The elementary principal's report says Hawarden Elementary is ready while renovations at Ireton were still underway as the meeting approached. The goal was to provide all Ireton teachers access to their rooms by August 21.
Start of the 2026-27 School Year
The elementary report says four new elementary teachers started August 12. All teachers were scheduled to return August 18, with all-staff meetings August 19.
Other upcoming dates include:
- August 20, 5–6 PM: Elementary Meet the Teacher Night.
- August 24: Middle-school athletic practices begin.
- August 25: Volleyball at West Lyon and cross country at Hinton.
- August 28: Football at Sheldon.
- September 4: Middle/high school Picture Day.
Elementary registration included 25 new students, according to the principal's report.
The middle/high school report welcomes three new teachers and a new dean of students. New-teacher training occurred August 12–13, with new teachers paired with mentors or instructional coaches.
The superintendent's report says an informational pamphlet concerning continuation of the district's voter-approved Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) and income surtax is complete and ready for distribution.
The district plans to provide information electronically to parents and the broader West Sioux community about the PPEL question and upcoming vote. The materials are intended to explain what PPEL is, legally permitted uses of the revenue, examples of previous district spending, future needs, and information on participating in the vote.
The superintendent identifies facilities, infrastructure, technology, transportation and equipment as areas with future needs for which PPEL is part of the district's long-term financial and facility planning.
Consent Agenda
The board is scheduled to consider a consent agenda containing:
- Minutes from the July 20, 2026 regular monthly meeting.
- Minutes from the July 30, 2026 special meeting.
- July financial reports.
- July invoices.
The packet recommends approval of the consent-agenda items.
What to Watch at the Meeting
- Security investment: Whether the board accepts the recommended $76,640 Verkada access-control package, including the 10-year licensing commitment rather than the less expensive five-year option.
- Personnel: The board has multiple proposed hires and two paraprofessional resignations before it as the district prepares for the start of classes.
- Policy workload: The agenda combines second readings of annual and legislative updates with first readings of disruptive-behavior and financial-policy revisions.
- Disruptive behavior rules: The proposed policy framework addresses classroom removals and procedures involving both violent and nonviolent disruptions, including provisions for students with IEPs.
- Elementary projects: Construction and building preparation are nearing completion as teachers and students return, with Ireton Elementary still undergoing final work.
- PPEL communication: The superintendent plans to provide the community with information about the upcoming voter-approved PPEL question and its connection to future district facility, technology, transportation and equipment needs.
The next regular board meeting listed in the packet is September 21, 2026.
This packet summary is based on publicly available meeting materials from West Sioux Comm School District.
Civic Translator summarized publicly available meeting materials.
