School Board Agenda & Packet Summary – WGCSD – July 13, 2026

Meeting Information

• Public Body: Woodward-Granger Community School District
• Organization Type: school-district
• Government Body: school-boards
• Meeting Title: Regular Board Meeting
• Meeting Date: 2026-07-13
• City: Granger
• County: Dallas County
• State: iowa
• Meeting Source URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031354&MID=32223
• Meeting Listing URL: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031354
• Public Body Website: https://wghawks.school/district/school_board/
• Meeting Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/@WGCSDhawks/streams
• Video Channel URL: https://www.youtube.com/@WGCSDhawks

Prepared from the attached packet extraction source.

What Community Members Should Know

The July 13, 2026 regular meeting centers on two major themes: continued progress toward the district's new middle school project and preparation for the 2026-2027 school year. Board members are scheduled to consider major construction-related payments, updated employee and student handbooks, legislative policy revisions, and routine financial and personnel matters.

Construction remains one of the district's largest priorities. The board is being asked to approve a $237,896.57 payment to Story Construction for construction management services and a $35,679.39 payment to DLR Group for architectural and design work associated with the new middle school project. The board will also receive a construction progress update and discuss anticipated general obligation bond financing associated with the project.

The meeting also advances annual governance work before students return to school. Employee, student, and family handbooks are scheduled for approval, while numerous Iowa Association of School Boards model policies have been updated to reflect legislation enacted during the 2026 Iowa legislative session. Equal educational opportunity and Title IX policies also move forward through a second reading.

Financial reports included in the packet show the district closing Fiscal Year 2025-2026 with substantial activity across multiple funds while continuing to invest heavily in facilities, technology, curriculum, and student programs. Open enrollment, staffing changes, and student activity finances also appear on the consent agenda.

Major Discussion and Action Items

New Middle School Construction

The new middle school continues to dominate board business. The agenda includes a construction progress update, approval of significant construction-related invoices, and discussion of additional bond financing if required documentation is completed before the meeting. The financing discussion involves Piper Sandler, with advisor Travis Squires indicating the final round of general obligation bond funding may be ready for board consideration. If documents are not complete, action is expected at a future meeting.

Construction Management and Design Payments

The board is asked to approve payment of:

• $237,896.57 to Story Construction for construction management services covering May 1 through May 31, 2026.
• $35,679.39 to DLR Group for professional services provided during June 2026.

These payments represent ongoing implementation costs for the district's capital construction program.

Employee Handbook for 2026-2027

Board members are scheduled to adopt the updated employee handbook. The packet describes only limited revisions, including:

• Updating the Title IX and Equity Coordinator to Rebekka Maass with revised contact information.
• Updating monthly employee insurance premium schedules for Fiscal Year 2027.

The handbook supports organizational operations rather than introducing broad policy changes.

Student and Family Handbooks

Handbooks for the Early Learning Center, elementary school, Grandwood program, middle school, and high school are scheduled for approval before the upcoming school year. These documents establish expectations, procedures, and operational guidance for students and families across the district.

Legislative Policy Updates

The board will conduct a first reading of numerous Iowa Association of School Boards policy revisions implementing changes from the 2026 legislative session. Topics include board elections, meeting notices, equal employment opportunity, employee leave, open enrollment procedures, student publications, medication administration, special education, physical education, competent private instruction, talented and gifted programming, religious exclusions, counseling programs, stock prescription medications, and public examination of records. This is the first step before final adoption.

Equal Educational Opportunity and Title IX

The board is scheduled to complete a second reading of Policy 102 regarding Equal Educational Opportunity and Policy 106 concerning Title IX discrimination and harassment based on sex, along with associated regulations and exhibits. Second readings generally indicate the policies are approaching final adoption following prior review.

Real Estate Closed Session

Near the end of the meeting, the board plans to enter closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(J) to discuss the purchase or sale of real estate. The packet does not identify the specific property, consistent with Iowa's closed-session provisions for real estate negotiations.

Financial Matters

The packet contains several significant financial actions.

The largest requested action is payment of $237,896.57 to Story Construction for construction management services associated with the new middle school project. The board is also asked to approve $35,679.39 for DLR Group's June architectural services.

Monthly financial reports indicate year-end activity through June 30, 2026. The General Fund reports approximately $18.22 million in year-to-date revenue, approximately $18.27 million in expenditures, and an ending fund balance of approximately $3.48 million. Sales tax, management, PPEL, debt service, nutrition, preschool, and other operating funds are also summarized. Capital Projects Fund 31 reflects a negative ending balance while construction financing continues, illustrating the importance of ongoing bond financing.

Additional capital-related expenditures appearing in the bills include technology purchases, copier replacements, student information system licensing, communications infrastructure, security equipment, AED purchases, classroom equipment, and wellness room furnishings supporting district operations and the new middle school.

Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance

Governance work is a substantial portion of the meeting.

The first reading package incorporates Iowa Association of School Boards model policy revisions responding to recently enacted state legislation. Because these are first readings, additional review and later approval may occur before they become final district policy.

The board also considers second readings for Equal Educational Opportunity and Title IX policies. Completing second readings generally represents one of the final procedural steps before formal adoption. The employee handbook updates likewise incorporate revised Title IX coordinator information and updated insurance premium schedules.

Reports, Presentations, and Informational Updates

The board will receive an update regarding construction progress on the new middle school.

Financial reports summarize year-end revenues, expenditures, and fund balances across district accounts.

Consent materials include open enrollment activity, staffing changes, board meeting minutes, monthly bills, and the TAG report detailing balances and activity for student activity accounts supporting athletics, clubs, fundraising, and extracurricular organizations.

Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters

Personnel changes are included within the consent agenda through the monthly staffing report.

The employee handbook updates formally recognize Rebekka Maass as the district's Title IX and Equity Coordinator.

The board is also expected to review routine staffing changes customary before the beginning of a new school year. The packet does not identify additional personnel actions requiring separate board discussion in the accessible materials.

Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations

The new middle school project remains the district's largest capital investment.

Beyond major construction invoices, the bills list reflects continued investment in facilities and operations, including security systems, fire alarm work, communications infrastructure, copier replacement, software licensing, technology platforms, classroom resources, athletic equipment, utilities, maintenance, and building improvements. Several purchases relate directly to preparing facilities for the upcoming school year.

Public Hearings and Opportunities for Community Input

Community members may address the board during the Communication from the Public portion of the meeting.

The packet does not identify a formal public hearing for this meeting.

Any action on bond financing may occur only if supporting documentation is completed before the meeting; otherwise, the matter will return at a later public meeting.

Community Impact

Residents and taxpayers should expect continued discussion regarding financing and construction of the new middle school, one of the district's largest ongoing public investments.

Students and families will be affected by adoption of updated student and family handbooks before the 2026-2027 school year begins.

District employees will see updated handbook provisions, revised insurance premium schedules, and updated Title IX administrative contacts.

Community organizations, athletic programs, and extracurricular groups continue to show substantial financial activity through student activity funds supporting athletics, clubs, concessions, fundraising, and student organizations. Open enrollment activity may also influence future enrollment and district funding.

Questions Community Members May Want to Ask

• What is the current construction schedule for the new middle school?
• Does the anticipated bond financing represent the final borrowing for the project?
• Have construction costs remained within previously approved budgets?
• What legislative changes required the largest policy revisions this year?
• Were any substantive student handbook changes made beyond routine annual updates?
• How will updated Title IX procedures affect students and employees?
• What factors influenced recent open enrollment gains and losses?
• What additional construction milestones should residents expect over the coming months?
• Are any future capital purchases anticipated beyond those already identified?
• When will remaining policy revisions return for final board approval?

Important Dates, Deadlines, and Next Steps

• July 13, 2026: Regular Board Meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m.
• July 13, 2026: Board consideration of construction invoices, handbook approvals, policy readings, consent agenda, and financial reports.
• Future meeting: General obligation bond financing may return if documents are not finalized in time for this meeting.
• Future meetings: First-reading legislative policy revisions are expected to return for subsequent consideration before final adoption.
• 2026-2027 school year: Approved employee and student handbooks would take effect for the upcoming academic year.

Key Takeaways

• New middle school construction remains the district's highest-profile project.
• The board will consider a $237,896.57 Story Construction payment.
• The board will consider a $35,679.39 DLR Group payment.
• Additional bond financing may be discussed if documentation is complete.
• Employee handbook revisions are limited and largely administrative.
• Student and family handbooks for all schools are scheduled for approval.
• Legislative policy updates affect numerous governance and operational topics.
• Equal Educational Opportunity and Title IX policies advance through second reading.
• Year-end financial reports summarize Fiscal Year 2025-2026 operations.
• Open enrollment, staffing, and student activity reports are included in the consent agenda.
• The meeting concludes with a planned closed session regarding potential real estate transactions.

Official Sources

• Meeting source: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?S=36031354&MID=32223
• Meeting listing: https://simbli.eboardsolutions.com/SB_Meetings/SB_MeetingListing.aspx?S=36031354
• Public body website: https://wghawks.school/district/school_board/
• Meeting video: https://www.youtube.com/@WGCSDhawks/streams
• Video channel: https://www.youtube.com/@WGCSDhawks

About the Public Body

• Name: Woodward-Granger Community School District
• Organization type: school-district
• Government body: school-boards
• Location: Granger, iowa
• County: Dallas County
• Provider: simbli

Keywords

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