[00:00:04] GOOD EVENING. IT IS APRIL 13, 2026 AT 6 P.M. I NOW CALL THIS REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. DENISE, PLEASE CALL ROLL. MR. EMKE. PRESENT BY PHONE. DR. HANSEN. HERE. MS. LEE. MR. MYERS. HERE. MR. MICHELSON. HERE. MR. [IV. Approval of Agenda] MILLER. HERE. DR. SUPIAK. HERE. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. BOARD MEMBERS, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED 6-0. [Items V.A & V.B] CHAD, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT FOR THE GOOD NEWS REPORT FOR EAST MIDDLE AND THEN NORTH HIGH. ALL RIGHT. HOLD ON. [00:08:08] TWO SCHOOL DISTRICT OPERATIONS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED ON TODAY'S MEETING AGENDA. CITIZEN INPUT ACTION AND DISCUSSION ITEMS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME OF DISCUSSION OF EACH AGENDA ITEM. SHANICE, DO WE HAVE ANY? [VII. Consent Action Item(s)] CONSENT ACTION ITEMS. THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS. BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 23RD, 2026, MR. VANDERLOO. BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM MARCH 30TH, 2026, MR. VANDERLOO. BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 1ST, 2026, MR. VANDERLOO. BOARD MEETING MINUTES FROM APRIL 10TH, 2026, MR. VANDERLOO. FINANCE REPORT, MS. BLANKENSHIP. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT ACTION ITEMS? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DENISE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE THAT OPPOSE SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES. CONSENT ACTION ITEMS ARE APPROVED. [VIII.A. Proposed Sioux City School District Budget for FY27 – Patty Blankenship] PROPOSED SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, PATTY BLANKENSHIP. NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE SIOUX CITY JOURNAL ON MARCH 28, 2026, THAT A BUDGET HEARING WOULD BE HELD ON APRIL 13, 2026 AT 6 P.M. ANY INTERESTED PARTY MAY APPEAR AND FILE OBJECTIONS, AND ANY INFORMATION FOR THE AGAINST THE SAME WILL BE HEARD ON THE PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 27 SIOUX CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET WITH THE FINAL DECISION OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS A MATTER OF RECORD. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT FOR THE HEARING? NO. ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD? BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES FOR THE HEARING ON THE PROPOSED SIOUX CITY SCHOOL BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR [00:10:01] 27. [IX. Board Committee Reports] BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS. ARE THERE ANY COMMITTEE REPORTS THAT ANY BOARD MEMBERS WOULD LIKE TO SHARE? I UH FINANCE AND FACILITIES COMMITTEE MET MOST OF THE ITEMS ARE PART OF OUR AGENDA UM FOR LATER ACTION TODAY SO I DON'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING ADDITIONAL TO SHARE IN REGARDS TO THAT ANYONE ELSE ALL RIGHT FUTURE [X. Future Meetings] MEETINGS ARE ON YOUR AGENDA UM AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THE ENTIRE LIST WHICH HAS MAYBE BEEN THE ACTION OF THE PAST I'M GOING TO MOVE [XI. Superintendent's Report] ON TO THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT I WILL NOW TURN IT OVER TO MR. VANDERLOO TO GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A BUSY COUPLE WEEKS, SO I WILL MOVE THROUGH THESE QUICKLY, BUT IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN. I'VE SET UP ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS WITH OUR BOARD MEMBERS, MRAC CONFERENCE SUPERINTENDENT'S MEETING TO APPROVE LEWIS CENTRAL ENTERING THE CONFERENCE HAPPENED TWO WEEKS AGO, STUDENT CENTER COACHING FOR ALL OF OUR COACHES IN THE DISTRICT TOOK PLACE AS WELL, OLLERS TRAINING, SUNSHINE RULES FOR ALL NEW BOARD MEMBERS. AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE TAKING THAT TRAINING SHORTLY. WE HAD THE NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL TITLE PARENT MEETING. WE HAD A MEETING AT MORNINGSIDE COLLEGE TO FINALIZE THE COURSES FOR OUR EDUCATION AND NURSING PATHWAYS FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR FOUR ASSOCIATION GROUPS TOOK PLACE A WEEK AGO. WE HAD THE METRO AREA SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING, THE AEA SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING, THE STATE SUPERINTENDENTS MEETING AS WELL, THE SCA JOINT CABINET MEETING, DISTRICT FACILITIES COMMITTEE. MEETING TOOK PLACE LAST WEEK. WE HAD DLT 101 MEETINGS AS WELL. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT TOOK PLACE A WEEK AGO. I ATTENDED THE CIVICS B COMPETITION FOR ALL OF OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE LAST WEEK AND ALSO ATTENDED THE HUNT ELEMENTARY AT FINE ARTS NIGHT. I MET WITH THE ASSOCIATION BRENDA AND LISA, WHICH I DO EVERY COUPLE WEEKS JUST TO MAKE SURE THE ASSOCIATION IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS WE CAN WORK THROUGH. AND STARTING MEETING WITH ALL ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS IN THE DISTRICT. I HAVE COMPLETED SIX OF THOSE MEETINGS IN THE LAST WEEK AS WELL. THIS WEEK, THE BIGGEST THING WE HAVE GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS WE STARTED OUR STATE OF IOWA TESTING. ISAS TESTING STARTED TODAY, AND THERE'S A TWO-WEEK WINDOW. SO ALL OF OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE SOMEWHAT ON LOCKDOWN. WE JUST HAVE A LOT OF TESTING GOING ON, SO WE'LL LIMIT ACCESS AND LIMIT OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IN THE DISTRICT WHILE WE COMPLETE THE STATE TESTING. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I'LL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF ANYBODY HAS ANY. BOARD, ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. [XII.A. Human Resources Report(s) – Barb Caskey] ITEMS OF PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION, AND OR ACTION. ITEM A IS HUMAN RESOURCE REPORT. BARB KASKY. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HUMAN RESOURCES REPORT? SO MOVED. SECOND. WE HAVE A MOTION. WE HAVE A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. ARE YOU A YES ON THE HR REPORT? MAYBE 5-0. LET'S GO 5-0 WITH LANCE ABSTAINING FOR IT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU CAN NOW. I DID YELL I. APPARENTLY I SAID SOMETHING. OKAY, 6-0. [XII.B. FY27 Budget Adoption – Patty Blankenship] THANKS, LANCE. ITEM B, FISCAL YEAR 27, BUDGET ADOPTION, PATTY BLANKENSHIP. OKAY, SO THE FY27 BUDGET HAS BEEN PRESENTED MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TIMES. WE FOLLOWED THE BUDGET CALENDAR THAT WE LAID OUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THE LAST STEP IS TO APPROVE THE, CERTIFY THE BUDGET. SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ANY OF THE INFORMATION IN DETAIL. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CHANGES SINCE WE'VE LOOKED AT IT LAST, BUT I... CAN FIELD ANY QUESTIONS. BUT THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CERTIFIES THE FY27 BUDGET WITH AN EXPECTED MAXIMUM TAX RATE OF $12.22 AND AN INCOME SURTAX OF 4%. AND THEN KIND OF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE, WHAT I'M SHOWING [00:15:01] THERE IS THAT WE'RE IN COMPLIANCE WITH WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET WAS, WHAT WAS IN THE PUBLICATION. VERSUS WHAT THE ADOPTED BUDGET IS, WE HAVE NO CHANGES, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS THAT THERE'S NO INCREASES. SO THIS ALIGNS WITH EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN PUBLISHED PRIOR. IS THERE A MOTION TO CERTIFY THE FISCAL YEAR 27 BUDGET WITH AN EXPECTED MAXIMUM TAX RATE OF $12.22 PER $1,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE AND AN INCOME TAX RATE OF 4%? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? EARL, THIS IS LANCE. WHAT I WANTED TO ASK PATTY TO EXPLAIN IS WE'VE SEEN IN THE MEDIA THAT WHEN THERE'S A DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE TAX, PROPERTY TAX INCREASE WILL BE FROM OTHER STAKEHOLDERS LIKE THE CITY AND SO FORTH. THERE'S APPARENTLY ADVERTISED IN, WHEN I SAY ADVERTISED, PRESENTED IN SOME DOCUMENT, ONE THAT SAYS THAT THE SCHOOL TAX, THE TAX FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE UP 5%. AND MY READING IS THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOWN FROM WHAT IT WOULD BE LAST YEAR. I KNOW THAT YOUR LEVY RATE IS NOT A GUARANTEE BECAUSE IT ALSO DEPENDS ON YOUR... YOUR PROPERTY ASSESSMENT RATE BUT PATTY WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THAT WE'RE NOT INCREASING PEOPLE'S TAXES BY FIVE PERCENT WELL UM SO YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER BOTH PIECES YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THE LEVY AND THE ASSESSED VALUES SO IF YOU UM DID AN EXAMPLE OF SAY ON A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR HOUSE LAST YEAR AND THAT ASSESSED VALUE INCREASED TO A HUNDRED AND TEN THOUSAND UM AT $12.22, THAT WOULD BE A SMALL INCREASE ON THE TAX BILL. I THINK I CALCULATED IT TO BE JUST A LITTLE OVER 1%, IF I REMEMBER RIGHT. AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE ASSESSED VALUES ARE THE LEVY RATE IS ONLY PART OF THE EQUATION. YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER ASSESSED VALUES. WITH THE LARGE INCREASE. I THINK THE INCREASE IN RESI- THAT WAS AN EXAMPLE FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY. I THINK THE ASSESSED VALUE IS INCREASED BY ABOUT EIGHT PERCENT. SO WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU, EVERYTHING ELSE REMAINING THE SAME, YOU ARE AUTOMATICALLY, YOU KNOW, YOUR, THE LEVY IS AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO GO DOWN, BUT IT DOESN'T CREATE, IT DOESN'T CREATE A TAX DECREASE JUST BECAUSE THE LEVY RATE WENT DOWN WHEN ASSESSED VALUES GO UP. IF I CAN, SORRY, GO AHEAD. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, I'M A HUMANITIES PERSON, SO LET ME SEE IF I UNDERSTOOD YOU CORRECTLY, AND MAYBE THAT WILL HELP THE PUBLIC AS WELL. WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT WE ARE NOT CHANGING WHAT WE WILL COLLECT AS THE ASSESSMENT OF THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTIES WHICH CHANGES, WHICH IMPACTS THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT ASSESSMENT IS NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. THE ASSESSMENT IS NOT UNDER OUR CONTROL. I WOULD SAY THAT MOST OF THIS FORMULA, MOST OF HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FUNDED, THEY'RE FUNDED WITH STATE AID AND PROPERTY TAXES ARE THE MAIN FUNDING SOURCE. VERY LITTLE OF THAT FORMULA IS CONTROLLED BY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. SO THE DISTRICT ISN'T, WE WILL BE COLLECTING MORE, THE PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS WILL BE MORE THAN LAST YEAR. BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN MORE MONEY TO THE DISTRICT. WE'VE HAD A SHIFT. WHEN YOUR ASSESSED VALUES GOES UP, LOCAL PROPERTY PAYERS PICK UP MORE OF HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE FUNDED. THERE'S A SHIFT FROM THE STATE TO THE LOCAL PROPERTY TAXPAYERS. SO WHEN ASSESSED VALUES GO UP, THIS IS ALL BY FORMULA. THE BOARD IS IN CONTROL OF VERY LITTLE OF THIS. WHEN ASSESSED VALUES GO UP, IT SHIFTS BURDEN FROM THE STATE TO THE LOCAL TAXPAYERS. SO IT IS TRUE THAT WE'LL BE COLLECTING MORE DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TAXES, BUT LESS DOLLARS IN STATE AID. SO IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DISTRICT'S COLLECTING MORE MONEY. IT'S JUST HOW WE HAVE TO FUND. THERE'S A FORMULA. WE HAVE TO FUND 100% OF THE BUCKET HAS TO GET FILLED. THIS YEAR, PROPERTY TAXPAYERS WILL BE. FUND WILL BE FILLING MORE OF THAT BUCKET THAN THE STATE. IT'S THE WAY THE FORMULA WORKS. DR. HANSON. THAT WAS ESSENTIALLY THE CLARIFICATION I WAS GOING TO MAKE AS WELL. SO THANK YOU, PATTY. YOU DID A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN I WOULD HAVE. [00:20:01] ANYONE ELSE? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES. [XII.C. FY26 Proposed Budget Amendment – Patty Blankenship] ITEM C, FISCAL YEAR 26 PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT. PATTY BLANKENSHIP. OKAY, THIS IS A FY26 PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT. THIS FIRST PAGE JUST TALKS ABOUT WHERE THE LEGAL LEVEL OF CONTROL IS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS. IT'S AT THE FUNCTION LEVEL. THERE'S FOUR FUNCTIONS, INSTRUCTION, SUPPORT SERVICES, NON-INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS, WHICH FOR US IS THE FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, AND THEN OTHER EXPENDITURES. THIS IS SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON WHAT TYPES OF EXPENDITURES FALL WITHIN EACH OF THOSE FUNCTIONS. SO THE FY26 PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT, I'M PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT OF $7.1 MILLION, AND $4.5 OF THAT IS AT THE INSTRUCTION LEVEL, AND THEN $1.38 AT THE TOTAL SUPPORT SERVICES, $750 ON THE FOOD SERVICE, AND THEN $500,000 ON THE OTHER EXPENDITURES FUNCTION. THE REASONS ARE THERE ALSO. THE BUDGET AMENDMENT IS REALLY FOR INCREASED... GRANT AND CATEGORICAL EXPENDITURES. SO WHEN GRANTS AND CATEGORICAL EXPENDITURES INCREASE, THERE'S ALSO A REVENUE INCREASE THAT IS OFFSETTING THEM. SO IT'S NOT LIKE DIPPING INTO RESERVES TO FUND THOSE. WE HAVE THE GRANT REVENUE, SO THEN WE HAVE THE INCREASE IN THE GRANT EXPENDITURES. WE ALSO HAD TWO NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS, SOFTWARE SUBSCRIPTIONS, THE WAY THAT THEY'RE ACCOUNTED FOR, EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GOING TO PAY IT OVER FOUR OR FIVE YEARS, 100%. OF THAT SUBSCRIPTION IS CONSIDERED A CAPITAL OUTLAY IN YEAR ONE AND THE SUBSCRIPTIONS WERE CANVAS WAS A MULTI-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION AND ALSO HEARTLAND ON-PREMISES HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR PHONE SYSTEM I THINK HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH OUR PHONE SYSTEM SO THOSE THOSE TWO SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE ARE A LARGE PORTION OF THE AMENDMENT THAT'S NEEDED IN TOTAL SUPPORT SERVICES ALSO, WE HAD ADDITIONAL TEACHING AND INSTRUCTIONAL POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED AFTER THE BUDGET WAS ADOPTED. AND OUR WAGE SETTLEMENTS FOR FY26 WERE ALSO A HALF A PERCENTAGE HIGHER THAN WHAT WAS IN THE BUDGET THAT WAS ADOPTED. AND THEN WE ALSO HAD THE MOU WITH THE... CISPA GROUP THAT INCREASED THEIR WAGES THAT HAPPENED DURING THE YEAR. SO THAT'S KIND OF THE SUMMARY OF WHAT THESE BUDGET AMENDMENTS ARE FOR. ON THE FOOD SERVICE PART, THAT IS REALLY FOR INCREASED COST IN FOOD AND INCREASED COST IN WAGES. THAT NUMBER, $750 IS WHAT I HAVE THERE. THAT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN WHAT I NEED. BUT IF YOU EXCEED BY EVEN A DOLLAR, THEN YOU'RE EXCEEDING YOUR LEGAL AUTHORITY TO SPEND. SO I'VE KIND OF MADE SURE THAT I WOULDN'T MISS THAT NUMBER. AND THE $500,000 ON THE TOTAL EXPENDITURES, THAT'S REALLY THE TIMING OF SALES TAX PROJECTS. ON THE SALES TAX PROJECTS, THE BUDGET IS FOR A CERTAIN YEAR, BUT THE BOARD APPROVES THE DISTRICT TO START ON THOSE PROJECTS, LIKE THE FY27 PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET MIGHT BE STARTED IN THE SPRING OF FY26 AND DONE IN THE SUMMER. SO I USUALLY HAVE TO... PUT SOME SORT OF AMENDMENT THERE TO COVER THOSE TIMING DIFFERENCES. THIS AMENDED BUDGET ALIGNS WITH THE FY26 RE-ESTIMATED EXPENDITURES. THAT'S OUR LINE ITEM BUDGET AND ALSO OUR RE-ESTIMATED WORKSHEETS THAT WE SUBMIT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT. BUT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT WE WILL SPEND 100% OF THIS BUDGET BECAUSE THE PROCESS I WENT WAS TO ALIGN IT TO THAT BUDGET. WE KNOW WE HAVE SOME VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE'VE HAD ALL YEAR. SO THOSE POSITIONS WON'T BE FILLED, BUT THAT'S A LARGE PART OF WHAT THAT $4.5 MILLION IS. BUT I ALWAYS THINK IT'S BEST TO JUST AMEND TO WHAT THE LINE ITEM BUDGETS ARE. THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE BY FUNCTION, OR BY FUND, I MEAN. SO THE FIRST PAGE WAS BY FUNCTION, WHICH IS HOW OUR BUDGET IS REQUIRED TO BE, BUT THIS IS JUST FOR... PEOPLE YOU KNOW WE USUALLY TALK ABOUT UM ARE EVERYTHING BY FUND SO MOST OF THAT AMENDMENT IS IN THE [00:25:01] GENERAL FUND SALES TAX FUND AND SCHOOL NUTRITION FUND UM THIS WE HAVE TO PUBLISH A NOTICE SO THIS IS A DRAFT NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING UM SO THE PUBLIC HEARING I WOULD HAVE SCHEDULED FOR MAY 11TH SO THIS GIVES US TIME TO GET THIS PUBLISHED IN TIME AND THEN HAVE THE HEARING ON MAY 11TH. SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 11, 2026 TO RECEIVE INPUT ON THE DISTRICT'S FY26 PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT. THANK YOU, PATTY. IS THERE A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR MAY 11TH, 2026 AT 6 P.M. LOCAL TIME AT THE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER, 627 4TH STREET, SIOUX CITY, IOWA, TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE DISTRICT'S FISCAL YEAR 26 PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENT? I'LL MOVE. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. [XII.D. Contract Renewal Between the Sioux City Community School District and the Iowa Judicial Branch – Jim Vanderloo] THE MOTION PASSES 6-0. ITEM D, CONTRACT RENEWAL BETWEEN THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE IOWA JUDICIAL BRANCH. MR. VANDERLOO, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? GOOD EVENING. JAMES KLEIN, PRINCIPAL OF NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL, AND HELPING SOME OF JIM'S DUTIES THROUGH THE SECONDARY WORLD. THIS IS A RENEWING CONTRACT WITH THE IOWA JUDICIAL BRANCH. PROVIDES UP TO SEVEN FTE FOR OUR SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICERS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE ON THERE, THEY PROVIDE 75% OF THE DISTRICT RESPONSIBLE FOR 25% OF THAT MONEY. AND YOU CAN SEE THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THERE. ANY QUESTIONS OR... IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONTRACT RENEWAL BETWEEN THE SIOUX CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE IOWA JUDICIAL BRANCH FOR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD? MR. SHUPIA. YEAH. I WILL JUST... I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING THAT JIM SHARED WITH US THAT I THINK WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR CONTRACT. AND IT'S THE FACT THAT BASICALLY THE STATE IS CUTTING US SHORT ON THE MONEY THAT THEY OWN US. SO I WOULD LIKE YOU TO EXPLAIN IT FOR THE PUBLIC. EXPLAIN WHAT? I'M SORRY. EXPLAIN FOR THE PUBLIC WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT BUDGET. I'M GOING TO DEFER TO JIM FOR A LITTLE HELP ON THAT, PLEASE. THANK YOU. I WOULD. SO WHEN THE CONTRACT ORIGINATED YEARS AGO, THE GOAL WAS THE STATE WAS GOING TO. PAY FOR 75% OF THE ACTUAL COST AND WE WERE GOING TO PAY FOR 25% OVER TIME, THOSE PERCENTAGES HAVE NOT BALANCED OUT AND WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR MORE THAN 25%. NOW WE'RE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR CLOSE TO 50% OF THAT CONTRACT WHEN THE STATE'S FUNDING HASN'T CHANGED, BUT THEIR NUMBER ONLY EQUALS 50% OF THE COST OF THOSE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR DISTRICT. SO AS WE LOOK AT THIS CONTRACT MOVING FORWARD, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANALYZE EXACTLY THE SERVICES THAT WE NEED AND HOW WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND STILL MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR STUDENTS UM WE'RE WE'RE LATE TO THE GAME THIS YEAR SO THAT CONTRACT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUT AS WE WALK INTO THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL YEAR WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME CHANGES SO THE 75 25 RATIO IS WHAT'S BEST FOR THE DISTRICT IN OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION YEP JANIECE IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY MOTION [XII.E. Title VI Indian Education Grant Application – Dr. Dora Jung] PASSES 6-0. ITEM E, INDIAN EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATION, DR. YOUNG. HELLO. THIS IS OUR GRANT. WE APPLY FOR THIS GRANT EVERY YEAR. THIS IS TO SUPPORT OUR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS. WE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT, AND I'LL SHOW YOU HERE IN A SECOND WHAT IT COVERS. WE SUPPORT AND ADDRESS THE CULTURALLY RELATED ACADEMIC NEEDS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN, AMERICAN INDIAN, AND ALASKAN NATIVE STUDENTS. WE WORK TO IMPROVE GRADUATION RATES, ATTENDANCE RATES, AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. FOR NOW, THIS FUNDING PROVIDES THOSE TWO FTES AND PARTIAL FUNDING FOR THREE FTES. OUR EDUCATIONAL STUDENT LIAISON SERVES STUDENTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOLS. THE TUTORS SERVE STUDENTS AT LIBERTY AND LOWE'S HILLS, WHICH ARE THE BUILDINGS WHERE WE HAVE THE MOST NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS. THEY DO MENTORING, TUTORING, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, HOME VISITS, AND FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES. LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THIS IS A GRANT THAT WE HAVE EVERY YEAR. THIS YEAR WE'RE LOOKING AT $76,602 THAT WE WOULD GET IN THIS GRANT. LAST YEAR WE HAD 89,369. AS YOU CAN SEE, OUR NUMBERS THERE ARE GOING DOWN. [00:30:01] IT'S JUST BASED ON THE ENROLLMENT IN THE TRIBES THAT HAS GONE DOWN AS WELL. SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SETS A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 27, 2026, TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE DISTRICT FEDERAL 6TH INDIAN EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATION, AS IT IS REQUIRED BY THE GRANT TO BE ABLE TO SUBMIT IT. THE DEADLINE, I THINK, IS MAY 11. IS THERE A MOTION TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 27, 2026 AT 6 P.M. LOCAL TIME AT THE EDUCATION SERVICE CENTER, 627 4TH STREET, SIOUX CITY, IOWA TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THE DISTRICT'S INDIAN EDUCATION GRANT APPLICATION? SECOND. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 6-0. THANK YOU. [XII.F. Safe and Civil Schools – Amy Denney] ITEM F, SAFE AND CIVIL SCHOOLS. MS. DENNY. GOOD EVENING. THIS IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FROM SAFE AND CIVIL SCHOOLS FOR THIS SCHOOL YEAR. THIS PD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WOULD OCCUR IN JUNE, AND IT IS FOR OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS TO PARTICIPATE IN. IT IS THROUGH A GRANT THAT IS FUNDED FOR OUR TARGETED SCHOOLS. SO BASED ON THE IOWA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILE, SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS ARE TARGETED, AND THIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTS THESE SCHOOLS. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FROM SAFE AND CIVIL SCHOOLS FOR THE 25-26 SCHOOL YEAR IN THE AMOUNT OF $6,000 PLUS TRAVEL EXPENSES? SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'M GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT. I'M SORRY. I HAVE A QUESTION. WHEN YOU MEAN THE SCHOOLS ARE TARGETED, WHO TO ELABORATE AND HOW THEY ARE TARGETED AND WHY. I DON'T WANT THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT, OH, OUR SCHOOLS ARE NOT SAFE. AND SO THE PEOPLE NEED TO GO THROUGH TRAINING TO MAKE THEM SAFER. ABSOLUTELY NOT. THANK YOU. OUR SCHOOLS ARE VERY SAFE. SO THE IOWA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILE IDENTIFIES SCHOOLS IN AREAS THAT THEY CAN IMPROVE UPON. AND WE DO HAVE SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS WHO WERE UNDERPERFORMING IN SOME OF OUR SUBGROUPS. SUCH AS STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL EDUCATION NEEDS OR STUDENTS WHO ARE SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNERS. AND SO THOSE STUDENTS DID NOT MAKE THE GROWTH THAT THE STATE WANTED TO SEE, AND SO THE STATE IDENTIFIED THOSE SCHOOLS AS WHAT THEY CLASSIFIED AS TARGETED. AND SO THOSE SCHOOLS RECEIVED TARGETED SUPPORT FROM MY DEPARTMENT, FROM MR. MOSIER, OUR SECONDARY DEPARTMENT, OUR SPECIAL ED DEPARTMENT, AND OUR ELL DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE THE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN THOSE AREAS. THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT THIS IS RELATED TO SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTS INTERVENTIONS. SO THIS IS SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDERPERFORMING OR ARE AT RISK IN EARLY STAGE INTERVENTIONS. AND A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION AGAIN. I FIND HIGHLY PROBLEMATIC THAT THE STATE EQUATES SAFETY. WITH THOSE POPULATIONS, RIGHT? SO I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT NOT NECESSARILY JUST BECAUSE THE STUDENTS ARE ELL STUDENTS OR ARE IN THOSE TARGETED NEEDS UNDER ACHIEVEMENT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE HAVING A HIGHER LEVEL OF REFERRALS, FOR EXAMPLE. CORRECT, AND I THINK THE NAME OF THE COMPANY IS SAFE AND CIVIL SCHOOL. SCHOOLS, BUT THE TRAINING DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SAFETY. THE TRAINING HAS TO DO WITH PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE INTERVENTIONS FOR STUDENTS. SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION. AFTER THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO APOLOGIZE. THAT'S THE NAME OF THE COMPANY, AND THEY ARE ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S APPROVED PROVIDERS. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. SHANICE, ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. [XII.G. FY27 E-Rate (Category 1) – Chad Fengel] MOTION PASSES 6-0. ITEM G, FISCAL YEAR 27 E-RATE, CATEGORY 1. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS IS REQUESTING PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR A GRANT FROM USAC, THE UNIVERSAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPANY. SO IT ALLOWS US TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT, AND IN THIS CASE, FOR CATEGORY 1, WHICH WOULD BE EVERYTHING OUTSIDE OF OUR BUILDINGS. SO IT WOULD BE OUR INTERNET CONNECTION AND OUR WIDE AREA NETWORK. WE ARE IN A CATEGORY WHERE THEY [00:35:01] WILL PAY FOR 90% OF OUR FEES FOR THE YEAR, AND WE PAY FOR 10%. SO IN THIS SITUATION, OVER THE $258,000 WE WOULD BE PAYING TO I'M ON FOR THE NEXT YEAR, THEY WOULD COVER $232,200 OF THAT. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF FORM 471 FROM E-RATE TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR INTERNET AND WHEN? CONNECTIVITY, CATEGORY 1, FOR THE TOTAL OF $258,232,200 TO BE COVERED BY E-RATE, $25,800 TO BE COVERED BY OUR GENERAL FUND. SO MOVED. SECOND. BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THANK YOU FOR APPLYING FOR THIS, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT WILL BE A HUGE CALL IN OUR BUDGET. CORRECT. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 6-0. [XII.H. FY27 E-Rate (Category 2) Grant – Chad Fengel] FISCAL YEAR 27, E-RATE CATEGORY 2 GRANT. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS WOULD BE CATEGORY 2. SO CATEGORY 2 IS EVERYTHING INSIDE OF OUR BUILDING THAT QUALIFIES. IN THIS PARTICULAR GRANT, WE'RE ASKING TO COVER A REPLACEMENT OF SWITCHES FOR THEIR LIFE CYCLE. THIS WOULD BE PHASE THREE OF A THREE-YEAR PROJECT. AND IN THIS SITUATION, OF A $691,190 PROJECT FOR PHASE THREE, THEY'LL COVER $587,511. SO WE'RE IN THE 85TH PERCENTILE WHEN IT COMES TO CATEGORY TWO, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST WE CAN GET TO. SO WE'RE ASKING PERMISSION TO APPLY FOR THIS GRANT AS WELL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE SUBMISSION OF FORM 471 FROM E-RATE TO REQUEST FUNDING FOR SWITCHES, INSTALLATION, AND LICENSING CATEGORY 2 FOR THE TOTAL OF $691,190.09, $587,511.58 TO BE COVERED BY E-RATE, $103,678.51 TO BE COVERED BY OUR GENERAL FUND? I MOVE. SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION, BOARD? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE PASS IS 6-0. [XII.I. FY27 E-Rate (Category 2) UPS Grant – Chad Fengel] FISCAL YEAR, 27, E-RATE, CATEGORY 2, UPS GRANT. MR. FINGAL. ALL RIGHT, SO THIS SAME THING, CATEGORY 2, INSIDE THE BUILDING, AND THIS WOULD BE FOR UNIVERSAL POWER SUPPLIES SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT THOSE CORE SWITCHES THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT REPLACING IN THE LAST GRANT I ASKED FOR. AND ONCE AGAIN, THEY'LL COVER 85% OF THIS PROJECT, LEAVING, OF THE $41,000 FOR THE PROJECT, THEY'LL COVER $35,000 OF IT. BOARD, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE SUBMISSION OF A GRANT REQUEST TO E-RATE FOR UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLY UPS UNITS TO PROTECT CRITICAL NETWORK AND TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE DISTRICT FOR FISCAL YEAR 27 FOR THE AMOUNT OF $41,824.02, $35,550. DOLLARS AND 42 CENTS TO BE COVERED BY E-RATE SIX THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE DOLLARS SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE DOLLARS AND SIXTY CENTS TO BE COVERED BY OUR GENERAL FUND SO MOVED SECOND OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION JANIECE IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE AYE ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY THE MOTION PASSES SIX ZERO ITEM J, [XII.J. Contracts for Board Approval – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer] CONTRACTS FOR BOARD APPROVAL. MR. VANDERLOO, MR. MOSIER. SO WE JUST HAVE A NO-COST CONTRACT. IT'S MORNINGSIDE UNIVERSITY PARTNERING WITH THEM ON A TEACHER INTERIM CANDIDATE FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. AND THEN THE COST CONTRACTS, THERE'S ONE WITH SIOUX CITY PARKS AND REC WITH BRYAN ELEMENTARY'S PTA. IT'S FOR $40. THEY LIKE TO HOLD THEIR FIELD DAY OVER AT LEIF ERIKSON. THEY'VE DONE IT THAT WAY FOR YEARS. IT'S KIND OF A TRADITION. AGAIN, THEIR PTA COVERS IT. AND THEN THE FINAL ONE IS JUST FLOW-THROUGH MONEY. BISHOP HEELAN WANTS TO USE SOME OF THEIR FLOW-THROUGH MONEY FOR TITLE I ON E3, WHICH IS THE SAME PLATFORM THAT WE USE FOR SCHOOL SAFETY. BOARD, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS TO SUPPORT STUDENT LEARNING AND ACTIVITIES? SO MOVED. BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS PARTICULAR I'M GOING TO BACK OUT OF THIS ONE. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MICHELSON. ANYONE ELSE? SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. MOTION PASSES 5-0 [XII.K. Facility Rental Agreements – Jim Vanderloo/ Jarod Mozer] WITH ONE ABSTENTION. ITEM K, FACILITY RENTAL AGREEMENTS. MR. VANDERLOO AND MR. MOSIER. YEAH, SO THE ONLY ONE IS A RENTAL AGREEMENT WITH MARSHALL'S TAEKWONDO ACADEMY TO USE NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL'S GYM NEXT SEPTEMBER 25TH, 26TH. [00:40:01] FOR $875. BOARD, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE AND EXECUTE THE FACILITY RENTAL CONTRACTS? SO MOVED. SECOND. BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MR. SUPIET. IT'S A SILLY ONE, BUT MY SON GOES TO MARSHALL TAEKWONDO, SO I'M GOING TO ABSTAIN. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE THAT OPPOSE, SAY NAY. THE MOTION PASSES 5-0 [XII.L. Open Enrollment Request – Jim Vanderloo] WITH ONE ABSTENTION. THANK YOU. ITEM L, OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUEST, MR. VANDERLOO. SO WE HAD AN OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUEST THAT WE HAVE DENIED BECAUSE IT CAME IN PAST THE DEADLINE WITH NO GOOD CAUSE. SO IT HAS BEEN DENIED BY THE DISTRICT. BOARD, IS THERE A MOTION TO DENY THE OPEN ENROLLMENT REQUEST FOR STUDENT AID TO OPEN ENROLL OUT DUE TO APPLICATION FILED LATE WITH NO GOOD CAUSE? SO MOVED. SECOND. BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DENISE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE MOTION PASSES. [XII.M. Second & Final Reading of Employee Handbook– Barb Caskey] ITEM M, SECOND AND FINAL READING OF EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK. MS. CASKEY. THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK WAS UPDATED WITH THE LABOR MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT, REPRESENTS ALL OF OUR GROUPS WITHIN THE DISTRICT. AND THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES ARE ON FOR APPROVAL TONIGHT. BOARD, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK UPDATES FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING? SO MOVED. SECOND. BOARD, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MS. CASKEY, THEY APPEARED TO BE JUST PRETTY MUCH UPDATING NUMBERS AND SUCH. IT WAS VERY, VERY MINIMAL CHANGES. THANK YOU. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. THE MOTION PASSES. [XII.N. Second & Final Reading of Board Policies – Jim Vanderloo] THANK YOU. ITEM N, SECOND AND FINAL READING FOR BOARD POLICIES. MR. VANDERLOO, BOARD POLICY 207, BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEGAL COUNSEL. POLICY 432, EARLY RETIREMENT BENEFITS. POLICY 501.3, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREAS AND ASSIGNMENT. POLICY 604.3, DUAL ENROLLMENT. POLICY 709.9, TRANSPORTATION OF NON-RESIDENT AND NON-PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. POLICY 709.10, SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM TRANSPORTATION SERVICE. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE... I'LL NEED TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ONE, TOO, EARL. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE LISTED BOARD POLICIES FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING? SO MOVED. SECOND. IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION? I'LL HAVE TO ABSTAIN FROM THIS ONE AS WELL. SHANICE, IS THERE ANY CITIZEN INPUT? ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. POLICY PASSES 5-0 WITH ONE ABSTENTION. WE ARE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, GUYS. IS THERE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING? I'LL MOTION. SECOND. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED, SAY NAY. WE ARE ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.