The Western Dubuque Community School District Board of Education will hold its regular meeting on July 13, 2026, at the Administrative Central Office in Farley. While the agenda is relatively concise, it includes several decisions that affect district operations for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, including student fees, handbook revisions, facility improvements, board policy updates, personnel changes, and approval of agreements supporting instructional and special education services.
One of the most significant items is a proposed update to the district's 2026-2027 fee schedule. Student fees directly affect families across the district and typically establish charges for instructional materials, activities, or other school-related costs for the coming academic year. The board is also scheduled to consider revisions to faculty, student, parent-athlete, and coaches' handbooks before the new school year begins.
Facility maintenance remains another notable topic. The board will review Change Order #1 for the Peosta Elementary pavement replacement project, indicating continued investment in district infrastructure and ongoing management of construction work. Although the packet does not provide financial details for the change order, its placement as stand-alone business suggests board approval may be required before additional work proceeds.
The meeting also includes first readings for a substantial package of board policy revisions. Many of these policies address equal educational opportunity, student rights, health services, civil rights compliance, directory information, school nutrition nondiscrimination procedures, and capital asset management. These updates appear intended to ensure district policies remain aligned with current legal and regulatory requirements rather than represent wholesale changes in district direction.
Major Discussion and Action Items
2026-2027 Student Fee Schedule
The board is scheduled to review and potentially approve updates to the fee schedule for the upcoming school year.
Although the extracted packet does not include the proposed fee amounts or specific changes, annual fee schedules establish charges that families may pay for instructional materials, activities, or other educational services. Adoption before the school year provides clarity for budgeting by both the district and families.
If approved, the revised fee schedule would take effect during the 2026-2027 school year.
Peosta Elementary Pavement Replacement Change Order
The board will consider Change Order #1 for the Peosta Elementary pavement replacement project.
Change orders generally modify an existing construction contract to address additional work, design adjustments, site conditions, or project refinements discovered after construction begins. The packet does not identify the contractor, cost, or scope of the proposed modification, but board review indicates continued oversight of capital improvement work.
Maintaining safe parking lots, drives, and pedestrian areas contributes to school safety, transportation efficiency, and long-term maintenance planning.
District Handbook Updates
Four major handbook updates are scheduled for board consideration:
- Faculty Handbook
- Student Handbook
- Parent-Athlete Handbook
- Coaches/Directors Handbook
These documents establish expectations, procedures, responsibilities, and operational guidelines for the upcoming academic year. Annual revisions allow the district to incorporate legal updates, administrative changes, athletic requirements, and operational improvements before students and staff return.
The packet does not summarize individual revisions, so community members may wish to review the final approved versions once published.
Comprehensive Board Policy Revisions
One of the largest agenda items is the first reading of numerous board policy revisions.
The policies cover several major areas, including:
- Equal Educational Opportunity
- Grievance procedures
- Annual and continuous nondiscrimination notices
- Section 504 rights
- Discrimination complaint procedures
- Witness disclosure procedures
- Complaint disposition forms
- School nutrition civil rights compliance
- Student directory information
- Student photographs
- Library circulation records
- Administration of medication
- Student illness and communicable disease procedures
- Custody and parental rights
- Student special health services
- Class gifts
- Open Night
- Capital assets
Because these are first readings, they represent the beginning of the board's formal policy review process rather than final adoption. Future board action is typically required before revised policies become effective.
Personnel Changes
The consent agenda includes several staffing changes affecting district operations.
Resignations include:
- Logan Brosius, Sophomore Assistant Football, Western Dubuque High School
- Kara Bryte, School Counselor, Drexler Middle School
- Emily Nieman, Assistant High School Drama Director, Western Dubuque High School
Recommended employments include:
- Meg Besler – 7th Grade Volleyball, Drexler Middle School ($3,150.80)
- Samantha Boyes – Freshman Volleyball, Western Dubuque High School ($4,332.35)
- Jake Hosch – Boys' Junior Varsity Wrestling, Western Dubuque High School ($4,726.20)
- Benjamin Wernimont – Assistant Sophomore Football, Western Dubuque High School ($4,332.35)
These appointments support extracurricular programming and athletic operations for the upcoming school year.
Educational Partnership Agreements
The consent agenda includes approval of several educational agreements supporting instructional services and student opportunities.
These include:
- 2026-2027 Concurrent Enrollment Agreement with Kirkwood Community College
- 2026-2028 Field Education Agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville
- 2026-2027 Grant Wood AEA Infinite Campus Support Agreement
- Local Education Agency Special Education Agreement
Together, these agreements support college coursework opportunities, educator preparation partnerships, student information system support, and special education services.
Financial Matters
Financial action primarily occurs through the consent agenda and selected new business items.
The board will review June bills and claims together with district financial reports as part of its routine financial oversight responsibilities.
Personnel recommendations include coaching stipends ranging from $3,150.80 to $4,726.20 for extracurricular athletic positions.
Although financial amounts are not included in the extracted text, the board will also consider:
- The 2026-2027 fee schedule.
- Change Order #1 for the Peosta Elementary pavement replacement project.
- Multiple service agreements supporting concurrent enrollment, special education, student information systems, and educator preparation.
No grants, bond issues, tax actions, fundraising requests, equipment purchases, or donations exceeding $2,500 are listed for approval.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance activity is dominated by a broad package of first-reading policy revisions.
The revisions emphasize compliance with federal and state nondiscrimination requirements, student privacy, Section 504 protections, medication administration, student health services, nutrition program civil rights procedures, and district operational practices.
Notably, there are:
- No second-reading policy revisions.
- No resolutions.
- No equipment or fundraising requests.
- No donations requiring board acceptance.
- No old business carried forward from previous meetings.
The extensive first-reading package indicates the district is conducting a substantial policy review ahead of the coming school year.
The agenda includes the Superintendent's Report, providing district leadership an opportunity to update the board on current operations and upcoming priorities.
The extracted packet does not include the contents of the report, so specific topics cannot be summarized.
District financial reports are also included within the consent agenda, allowing the board to monitor fiscal performance and routine operations.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
The personnel agenda reflects routine staffing activity associated with preparing for the upcoming school year.
Three resignations affect counseling, athletics, and performing arts.
Four coaching appointments are recommended to ensure athletic programs remain staffed before fall activities begin.
No superintendent contract actions, administrative appointments, retirements, board appointments, or organizational restructuring are identified in the extracted materials.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
The principal facilities item involves the Peosta Elementary pavement replacement project.
Review of Change Order #1 demonstrates continued oversight of an active capital improvement project. While project costs and construction details are not included in the packet, pavement improvements generally enhance traffic flow, parking, accessibility, and student transportation safety.
Operational matters also include approval of agreements supporting:
- Infinite Campus technology services.
- Concurrent enrollment programming.
- Field education partnerships.
- Special education cooperation.
These agreements support day-to-day instructional and administrative operations across the district.
An Open Forum is scheduled early in the meeting.
Residents may present comments, suggestions, or concerns even if those topics do not appear elsewhere on the agenda. Individuals wishing to speak should contact Superintendent Mark Frasher no later than 30 minutes before the meeting.
The board notes that official action generally may only occur on items listed on the published agenda.
The packet does not identify any formal public hearings, zoning matters, or scheduled public input sessions beyond the regular Open Forum.
Families may be affected by revisions to the 2026-2027 fee schedule and handbook updates that establish expectations for students, parents, athletics, and school operations during the coming year.
Students participating in athletics benefit from the recommended coaching appointments and the continued staffing of extracurricular programs.
District employees may be affected by faculty handbook revisions and updated equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and employment-related procedures.
Residents and taxpayers have an interest in the Peosta Elementary pavement project, district financial oversight, and continued investment in infrastructure that supports safe school operations.
The educational agreements with Kirkwood Community College, Grant Wood AEA, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, and special education partners help maintain instructional opportunities and support services for students.
- What specific changes are proposed in the 2026-2027 fee schedule?
- What prompted the Peosta Elementary pavement change order?
- Will the pavement project affect school access or transportation schedules?
- Which handbook revisions are expected to have the greatest effect on students and families?
- Are any of the proposed policy revisions required because of new state or federal laws?
- How will updated nondiscrimination policies be communicated to families and staff?
- What services are included in the Grant Wood AEA Infinite Campus agreement?
- How many students are expected to participate through the Kirkwood concurrent enrollment agreement?
- Are additional coaching positions expected before the fall athletic season?
- When will the revised policies receive their final board vote?
Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps
- July 13, 2026: Board meets in regular session at the Administrative Central Office in Farley.
- July 13, 2026: Board considers approval of the 2026-2027 fee schedule.
- July 13, 2026: Board reviews Change Order #1 for the Peosta Elementary pavement replacement project.
- July 13, 2026: Board considers handbook updates for faculty, students, parents of athletes, and coaches.
- July 13, 2026: Board conducts first readings for numerous policy revisions.
- 2026-2027 School Year: Educational agreements with Kirkwood Community College and Grant Wood AEA are scheduled to begin.
- 2026-2028: Field Education Agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Platteville covers a two-year period.
- Future board meetings are expected to include subsequent readings and possible final adoption of the proposed policy revisions.
Key Takeaways
- The meeting focuses on preparations for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Student fee schedule updates are scheduled for board consideration.
- Four district handbooks are being updated before school begins.
- Peosta Elementary pavement replacement remains an active facilities project.
- Numerous first-reading policy revisions emphasize civil rights, student health, and governance.
- Four educational partnership agreements are scheduled for approval.
- Four coaching appointments support upcoming athletic programs.
- Three employee resignations are included in the consent agenda.
- Residents have an opportunity to address the board during Open Forum.
- No old business, resolutions, or major fundraising requests appear on the agenda.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Western Dubuque County Community School District
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Dyersville, iowa
- County: Dubuque County
- Provider: apptegy
Keywords
Western Dubuque Community School District, Western Dubuque Board of Education, July 13 2026, Regular Session, Farley Iowa, Dyersville, Dubuque County, student fees, fee schedule, Peosta Elementary, pavement replacement, change order, board policy, equal educational opportunity, nondiscrimination, Section 504, student handbook, faculty handbook, parent athlete handbook, coaches handbook, concurrent enrollment, Kirkwood Community College, Grant Wood AEA, Infinite Campus, special education agreement, personnel, athletics, school governance
