[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6581522,"mediaKeyId","3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb","parentId",3105051,"title","Votes at a glance: board approves agenda and March financials; FY26 budget motion made (outcome not specified)","audioSeconds",3876,"startMs",645000,"endMs",4521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb&start=645&end=4521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb/thumbnail_645000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6581522/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-agenda-and-March-financials-FY26-budget-motion-made-outcome-not-specified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581522-0a226b563555b8e78bebdc52179ac698/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140596&Signature=bONLBMoivYn3efEUK~0uLvVZnp98Q~9bdH8xBVc4kZF0ullQfCcA0ppkn7B1bQruRkfQijOzntqYKJyBuLcw9pLjvwjxu2PykQaugkhxSOIR9BG-tp6uu4kA1yR5i~nOaYgOCpqH3X4F2lWkmV4pleDa5EU0sqtlmKE8~4cdMaKftLnZOAUVM51w~AyHcNWarF0u7Nj32gbkbmPgy~3SkwzKOmTmwTCh4i-OuoskV42y3Cx-ZH~t1ShB-JArTZakqYYIASKjcSly-xIN2jm55Tn0FjBWX7IBDqDPByn5RpDUVCJ8WtRYJmqTGuIc5q~umaNVdn-L5km1btyFupcmyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Bettendorf Comm School District","date","2025-04-24T01:14:52.15Z","article","The Bettendorf Community School District board recorded several formal actions during the meeting.

Agenda approval
At the start of the meeting the board moved to approve the agenda. A roll call recorded “Yes” votes from Director Castro, Director Champion, Director Frecky, Director Larkin, Director Lynch, Director McGivern and Director Smithson; the meeting record states: “Motion carried 7 0.”

March financials
A motion to approve the March financial statements was made and seconded during the business section. A roll call recorded the same set of board directors voting “Yes”; the transcript indicates the motion was approved.

FY26 budget motion
A motion was made and seconded to approve the fiscal year 2026 budget. The meeting transcript includes the motion and an extended budget presentation, but the excerpt does not include a recorded final vote on that motion.

Exempt session motion
Late in the meeting a motion was made to enter an exempt session for negotiations strategy pursuant to Iowa Code (transcript cited Code sections). The excerpt includes a roll‑call response line but the final outcome is not recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.

Where to find more detail
The meeting transcript includes roll‑call statements and speaker turn lines for the items above. Official minutes and the board packet will list the formal motions, seconder names and recorded votes; those documents should be consulted for final, signed outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Bett School Board Meeting - April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the meeting agenda (motion carried 7–0) and approved March financials by roll call. A motion to approve the FY26 budget was made and seconded, but the transcript excerpt does not record a final board vote on the FY26 budget.","taxTitle","Bettendorf Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",53584,"location","Iowa","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581527,"Bettendorf district projects tighter finances for FY26 as state aid lags cost growth",2675,4559000,7234000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb&start=4559&end=7234","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb/thumbnail_4559000.jpg","/articles/6581527/Iowa/Bettendorf-district-projects-tighter-finances-for-FY26-as-state-aid-lags-cost-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581527-075da16e9a23f96e028996c4c63e3611/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140596&Signature=Xxyq7wuI32uFrKGdIy6U2HF8tmu4aPRkiMjbolKlgJAd2NwafMyGbofwtVuNEX5t44TBVxff~UX9BRPkyFSfIm-ple59Hpv6qWJZG2YrpQWC5NwAcADABfD87tncRvIP0Uc8X7wKMW-mUIPCjBhXHyM1gbOPjwes4or9HZAa~dLxLniCOhiv5~ZrusDdPRwj1RFrwomKZSKM6R2DMJviEB3ID8eRAaHfJa97pqgb4fRcKLlLrFme2QWRA06WbpmDmIbPZRxcSoxlMSGvnVsJIdlJldxv5SfSYk68-uCNimrRXdlQclogULpyP65-tBkpoFF5M3Qpt5wiQ749OsgbiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District finance staff and the superintendent presented FY26 budget projections showing modest state revenue growth but rising cost pressures, and urged continued monitoring and prudent staffing decisions.

The presentation identified four principal assumptions driving the projection: certified enrollment (count day Oct. 1), state supplemental assistance (SSA) rates, property valuations, and tax rates. The Department of Education set SSA growth at 2% for the coming year; based on the district’s current model, projected per‑pupil funding for FY26 is about $8,022. Presenters cautioned that 2% falls short of inflation and will not fully cover pay and benefit increases and other rising costs.

Enrollment and special education
Finance staff showed decade‑long enrollment trends indicating declining certified enrollment, but noted Bettendorf remains a net positive open‑enrollment district. The presentation emphasized special education “encroachment” — the general fund amount required to cover program costs beyond state and federal categorical funding — as a key driver of budget pressure and solvency ratios.

Reserves, solvency and UAB
Presenters described the district’s solvency ratio and the unspent authorized budget (UAB), measures that affect cash‑reserve levy eligibility and the state’s view of fiscal health. The district’s solvency ratio and UAB were shown in projections declining over several years if current expense trends continue. Finance staff said the district is not pursuing formal reductions in force; instead, administrators are managing staffing through attrition and selective hiring when positions become vacant.

Property tax policy uncertainty
The presentation noted pending statewide discussion about changing assessed valuations and the uniform levy and warned the board that proposed changes — if enacted — could significantly alter local levy rates even if net taxpayer bills are intended to remain comparable. Presenters cautioned that the details were unsettled and any changes could have differing effects depending on district property mixes.

Medicaid reimbursement and categorical funding
Presenters said Medicaid reimbursement has grown and the district maintains a dedicated Medicaid position to maximize reimbursements, but recent state administrative changes reduce the program’s net returns. They also noted the legislature can set SSA‑linked categorical rates (teacher supplements, instructional coach funds, etc.) differently than the overall SSA rate, which creates planning uncertainty.

Timeline and next steps
Finance staff told the board the district will prepare a budget amendment for FY25 (deadline May 31) to reflect actuals and known changes, and will return with more detailed financials and any recommended levy settings. Board treasurer and finance leadership emphasized that continued monitoring and conservative contingency planning are necessary, particularly before any capital borrowing or long‑term commitments.

Sources and evidence in the meeting transcript: district presentation slides and spoken remarks covering enrollment, SSA, property valuation assumptions, solvency/UAB projections, and the May 31 budget‑amendment deadline. The transcript records board discussion but no final adoption roll call for the FY26 budget within the provided excerpt.","District finance staff told the board that state supplemental aid rose about 2% for FY26, but projected cost increases and declining enrollment put pressure on solvency and unspent authorized budget measures. Administrators described staffing adjustments through attrition and warned that long‑term reserves need monitoring.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6581532,"Bettendorf middle‑school committee recommends Amplify ELA; district plans full 2025–26 rollout",2650,1443000,4093000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb&start=1443&end=4093","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3105051-df2f512a1cdc14686cc963ab972d20bb/thumbnail_1443000.jpg","/articles/6581532/Iowa/Bettendorf-middleschool-committee-recommends-Amplify-ELA-district-plans-full-202526-rollout","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6581532-ae2c64e65c30717294ac9a97c6b1c00a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140596&Signature=EA3gWayUdhpL2b~KGXMlsDs3WFbii992QT5M-PowdasDkjTgAXZL~WixTWSozckwjyCmAGrbLkSR9-M6m7FTYuP6WJo1W0SQeDrbJMm23eHkPXHRxSmJv9Um6yvaqCYk08VwQqdyUdzp8al4qE4tHoBQcm5OBw6GpODvAGmkveur0H9Zq~VqwtUucsAkckltz6UG8ZdMk6PbMqeZPl9AEev~6Uq8hGnUeHYDxYqcJ99HPluDCpuwFn-NyNEViyqrv3F~os041oU8bTTLeWL2z3XLJ-0c4AYkAVwBAq~6kShNHbcAiW~Tegs825GzcPot94TuQNd9a0QsNdMzVTW5aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A committee of Bettendorf Middle School teachers and specialists unanimously recommended the Amplify ELA curriculum after a multi‑month review of vendors, district staff told the Bettendorf Community School District board.

The committee — described in meeting remarks as 13 members including classroom language‑arts teachers, special‑education staff and interventionists — began vendor evaluations in January after professional development last school year introduced 22 secondary teachers to Lexia Aspire, training grounded in the science of reading. After vendor presentations and a rubric‑based evaluation, the committee narrowed the field to three curricula and then selected Amplify based on rubric scores and classroom suitability; 12 committee members present voted in favor and one member voted by email, the presenters said.

Why it matters: The selection represents a district effort to provide a unified middle‑school ELA program across grades 6–8 that staff say will better align instructional practices, support differentiated instruction and reduce the workload of teachers who currently create much of their own materials.

What the committee reviewed and why it chose Amplify
The committee conducted vendor presentations (some in person and some virtual), used an evaluation tool identified through district professional networks, and applied a rubric that included text complexity, supports for diverse learners, and materials for honors/enrichment. Presenters said the committee deliberately included special‑education and English‑learner teachers to review materials from multiple perspectives.

Presenters said Amplify scored highest across sixth, seventh and eighth grade materials. Key strengths cited were built‑in scaffolding and accessibility features (read‑aloud options, sentence starters), AI‑assisted grouping and assignment tools that can suggest groupings while permitting teacher overrides, a 100‑day honors pathway for accelerated students, integrated writing and grammar supports, and a mix of printable and online materials to work in the district’s 1:1 device environment. Presenters also noted built‑in “flex days” for reteaching and options to print materials for students who need paper copies.

Implementation timeline and training
District staff told the board they plan to provide Amplify access to the entire ELA department rather than piloting a single classroom. Amplify will run professional development in the district on June 5, with a refresher planned for the fall. The district’s stated goal is full implementation in the 2025–26 school year, with ongoing professional development and periodic evaluation; administrators described the adoption as a multi‑year commitment and said they expect to monitor implementation and student outcomes over at least three years.

Cost and operational notes
Presenters flagged consumables and platform licensing as budget items to work through, noting that some vendors add optional paid components. The district’s 1:1 device status was identified as a reason the team prioritized a curriculum with both online and printable components. Presenters emphasized that while some curricular features reduce teacher planning time, the district will continue to evaluate pacing guides and make adjustments during implementation.

Teacher involvement and selection process
Presenters described an iterative process: initial professional development (Lexia Aspire) to build shared knowledge of the science of reading for secondary teachers; vendor presentations; committee debriefs and an anonymous vote after in‑depth review of three finalists. Presenters said some vendors were dismissed early for lacking viable middle‑school implementation options.

Board questions and next steps
Board members asked about piloting, data and RTI (response to intervention) use with the new platform, costs for workbooks/consumables, how the program supports students who need Tier 2 intervention, and whether other Iowa districts use the program. Presenters said the platform includes automated grouping and student performance dashboards that can help identify students needing reteaching; they also said the district will seek example sites and user feedback from neighboring districts during PD and early implementation.

The presenters requested the board’s support for proceeding with the planned implementation and training schedule and said they will return with more detailed cost information and an implementation timeline for classrooms and families.

Sources and evidence in the meeting transcript: committee members’ descriptions of the vendor process, the rubric scores shown in presentation slides, unanimous committee vote (12 present, 1 by email), planned June 5 professional development, and stated 2025–26 implementation goal.","A 13‑member Bettendorf Middle School committee unanimously recommended the Amplify ELA curriculum after evaluating three vendors. The district intends districtwide implementation in 2025–26 with professional development beginning June 5 and a minimum three‑year commitment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: board approves agenda and March financials; FY26 budget motion made (outcome not specified)

Bettendorf district projects tighter finances for FY26 as state aid lags cost growth

Bettendorf middle‑school committee recommends Amplify ELA; district plans full 2025–26 rollout