[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6221185,"mediaKeyId","3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81","parentId",3614715,"title","Board reviews FMP 2.3 draft: field houses, fine-arts upgrades and $114M of remaining SAVE funds on the table","audioSeconds",751,"startMs",4829000,"endMs",5580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81&start=4829&end=5580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81/thumbnail_4829000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6221185/Iowa/Board-reviews-FMP-23-draft-field-houses-fine-arts-upgrades-and-114M-of-remaining-SAVE-funds-on-the-table","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221185-73f9fd0c3ac5640114820df3c9fc73fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119222&Signature=oVpkr~xK0upAGVzxM4V2xmOtK1Jq5VWrngIh8lx-Zp9RKOUzGAMLMiyw63bst3xYpMMUpuOvENxMuXuibOlPljlhENMeQ5bc9k6RmtIvHHmQER-0izwrHBwDiXBE6tdf5KEo6gimtlNqC00YkcgT3d8Emu~M~ocdyCesCNXpZOjble3mPqgwnpwBufYZAeJplH7Ay02d5Gp~ew3gV4TCBI0okCJDoM39wpaZNh~6ySytU8KRwuAS7gEbVRxVLX-1EsdfWkaJsHvZSz6tq8CE1a-aN8qRteCMAHivh7CJR1LeLGzfMlI2pS4d9DGTtzgZhEleFs4c2iOvWSQZ2dMhAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Iowa City School Board","date","2025-05-30T14:01:06Z","article","The Iowa City Community School District board on May 27 reviewed a draft of Facility Master Plan (FMP) 2.3 that lays out proposed projects through roughly 2030, including high-school fine-arts upgrades, new multipurpose indoor practice facilities (field houses), athletic-field improvements, elementary outdoor-classroom and playground projects, and municipal partnerships on aquatic and ball-field facilities.

Scope and cost: Administration described a projected FMP 2.3 cost of approximately $104,000,000 with a $10,000,000 contingency. Presenters said the district had already spent roughly $156,000,000 on prior FMP work and that between $114,000,000 and $115,000,000 remained from the original 2021 plan to allocate toward future projects.

Funding source and timeline: Officials said SAVE (the district’s local option sales-tax funding stream) is the primary funding source for the plan; the proposed timeline stretches projects across the next five to six years. Project timing is tentative and will be adjusted based on constituent feedback and partner timelines for municipal projects, administrators said.

Highlighted projects and phasing: The draft lists high-school fine-arts additions and upgrades at City High, West High and Liberty High (roughly $5 million listed for some fine-arts items), multipurpose indoor practice facilities for each comprehensive high school (administration estimated roughly $12–13.5 million per field house), athletic-field improvements, elementary outdoor classrooms and playgrounds, and municipal partnerships with Coralville (aquatics) and Iowa City (Mercer Park baseball/softball). The administration said some projects will be developed further before they are brought to the board for design approval and separate votes; projects with an expected cost over $2 million will be pulled out of the appendix process for individual board action.

Board concerns and process notes: Directors raised questions about the timing of municipal partners’ votes (Coralville’s timeline affects the aquatic center schedule), the sequencing and cost-control methods for three field houses, the potential operational costs of new facilities, neighborhood impacts for on-campus projects and community engagement plans. Administration said they would continue building-level engagement for fine-arts plans and noted athletics projects are further along in design. Deputy Superintendent Ramey and facilities staff said they would return with more detailed cost and scheduling analysis and renderings as design work advances.

Next steps and approvals: Administration asked the board to consider approving the FMP 2.3 draft at the June 10 board meeting so the district could begin design and sequencing steps. Officials described the June vote as the first step in a multi-stage approval process that will include design approvals, bid approvals and, for projects over $2 million, separate agenda items and public hearings as required by district policy.

Clarifying details from the meeting: The district said it had estimated project-level costs by consulting outside estimators and architects, built a contingency into the overall plan, and sought to balance work across the district’s feeder patterns and fiscal years to avoid a single-year spending spike. Staff said life-cycle maintenance and other operational costs will increase with additional facilities and would be part of ongoing budgeting analysis.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Directors Meeting - 5/27/25","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented Facility Master Plan 2.3 on May 27, proposing high-school fine-arts upgrades, three multipurpose indoor practice facilities and athletic, playground and municipal partnership projects with a projected cost of about $104 million plus a $10 million contingency.","taxTitle","Iowa City Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",15385,"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},6221190,"District reports improved chronic-absence trends, highlights targeted building gains and ELL progress",1506,2902000,4408000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81&start=2902&end=4408","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81/thumbnail_2902000.jpg","/articles/6221190/Iowa/District-reports-improved-chronic-absence-trends-highlights-targeted-building-gains-and-ELL-progress","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221190-4a01664412dc36f38d48bf362c82533b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119222&Signature=QjM67ROgmHM7nHM2jxlthWsWRzt85fLiGaMTSBYlbU2zclmXq2kgCjbXSAo60viW0Cd5rDbIAfhY1q3Zr-w5NuyJL7wsx~rFZAWDhYJhzDVGJ1AAFD-Tlf1C19HOz4w7fkge99LLfZux90TQW3v5APJzw4to2VmjRxOnnYSEF1eOPpCroxkwATpcCQsbq3PqgnNHSD5z0Wxem3DX685wkOiuJLwc5ZPbYo9CPCDU2VtYpBLKYbssD2YouolAo91ffYtC-c-IWatc-k0TbVwV0Y~8j2CCSl6cs7s-Mj-0RRzDdMwQN8WGvCHIUOpYb-waAzR0XfiTZyc5w6GTwt02Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff presented an update on the Iowa School Performance Profile at the May 27 board meeting and highlighted work at individual buildings to improve attendance and academic outcomes.

What staff reported: Administrators said a new chronic-absence measure was added to the state performance profile this year. The district’s internal dashboards show about a 7.25 percentage-point improvement for students who were chronically absent the prior year, officials said; they cautioned the state’s data-pulling method remains under review and the district is awaiting confirmation from the Iowa Department of Education about the final numbers.

Why it matters: Chronic absenteeism is a new, formal component of Iowa’s profile and the district tied attendance gains to building-level interventions, including family outreach and the district-funded student-and-family-advocate role.

Building-level examples: Grant Wood Elementary, which had been targeted under state designations, reported improvements in early-grade screeners and fourth-grade performance; Principal Ernie Cox said professional learning communities and a focus on universal instruction and formative assessment were central to those gains. North Central Middle School described a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) that separates academic and behavioral interventions and reported targeted improvements for English-language learners; North Central staff said the school earned an ICCSD “ELL Superstar Award” for student growth on the spring ELPA-21 summative assessment.

Postsecondary readiness and work-based learning: District leaders said the high-school profile now incorporates postsecondary readiness indicators such as AP performance, Kirkwood dual-credit and new industry-recognized credential measures. Staff said some courses were not previously coded to count toward work-based learning and that fixing coding and course labels can increase a school’s postsecondary-readiness score in future years.

Data and timing limits: Officials noted the state’s profile is inherently lagged; the 2024–25 profile largely reflects cohorts who graduated in 2023, so district staff said they expect to see improvements in future profile updates as current program changes work through the system.

Next steps: Administrators said they will continue to refine data dashboards, work with the state to ensure accurate data pulls and expand work-based opportunities, including district-created credentials and partnerships with Junior Achievement. Staff presented building action plans and said they will continue monitoring progress through school-based PLCs and MTSS teams.","District staff presented updated Iowa School Performance Profile analysis on May 27, showing improvement in chronic-absence measures, new tracking for AP and work-based learning metrics and singled out Grant Wood and North Central elementary schools for targeted progress, including an ELL award for North Central.",{"_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},6221195,"Iowa City school board approves multi-unit contracts; administration says settlements fit budget projections",245,2527000,2772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81&start=2527&end=2772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81/thumbnail_2527000.jpg","/articles/6221195/Iowa/Iowa-City-school-board-approves-multi-unit-contracts-administration-says-settlements-fit-budget-projections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221195-4fea48180b0d7b8540931523b8c705f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119222&Signature=RSORDcE2-xJMn6FMFHJF~bP5RXZm86pECDFUG~kyHlRUXea12Me13lyo2wsa66lTZG8XWATbGZZDJQIkvGBetyjvAnTehNu0GkyxsEwjJUTGoZkxXGJiKfg3HEz5rshlX4c3G8yVuiidDzppEp8yUSRaOFnncjpkTzJLiE9XfDodEp6b3Ds~nKiJmTIeQRJEMQWvfCRWJar4t72mqQXY21IW7QrL8pYk8YezqXwjZbDRRiT62UA5Bh7xMlBy7-8M4doGg3GQp2cDZ8ZZfSRAmHeKSwewOvus15Enuo3XcRap1h64j5i~I0OK9USJBLDcnllxhKIGSF6ttnAAtV9B3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Iowa City Community School District board voted May 27 to approve negotiated agreements covering multiple employee groups and to adopt a certified budget amendment for fiscal 2025.

What the board approved: During the meeting the board approved five negotiated agreements — for nutrition services, educational support personnel, teachers, physical plant staff and secretaries — and later approved a fiscal-year 2025 certified budget amendment. For the teachers’ agreement, President Malone recorded an abstention; the remaining directors voted in favor.

Why it matters: Collective-bargaining settlements affect recurring personnel costs and therefore district budgeting. District officials told the board the contracts were negotiated to stay within the spending targets used in the district’s budget projections.

Administration summary of negotiations: Superintendent Degner told the board the district had “a very successful negotiation season” with groups including nutrition services, paraprofessionals, teachers, physical plant and secretaries. Degner said the contracts included pay increases intended to keep compensation competitive and to support recruitment and retention, and he noted targeted differentials for paraprofessionals who work with high-need students and for secretaries who speak additional languages.

CFO perspective: Adam Kurth, the district chief financial officer, said the settlement packages “align really closely” with budget projections the board had been shown over the previous six months and “did not exceed those targets.”

Union remarks: Brady Schott, representing local bargaining groups and the Iowa City Education Association, publicly thanked the district negotiation team by name and praised “a very positive and collaborative outcome.” Schott thanked the administration, the board members who served on bargaining teams, and district staff who support implementation.

Board votes and procedure: The meeting record shows the following outcomes: motions to approve each negotiated agreement were made and seconded and recorded as carrying by roll call. The teachers’ agreement vote was recorded as “directors Abraham, Eastham, Eyestone, Finch, Lingo and Williams voting yea, and director Malone abstaining.” The budget amendment vote carried with all directors voting in favor.

Details mentioned in the meeting: Administrators cited a statewide $50,000 teacher-minimum provision that shaped the teacher settlement and described retention bonuses for teachers at 20 and 25 years of service. Additional contract features discussed included differentials for staff working with complex student needs and language-capable secretaries; the transcript does not list dollar amounts for those differentials except that the administration said the settlements fit within the district’s projected budget growth.

Next steps: District staff will implement the contracts and carry the negotiated terms into payroll and staffing plans. The board’s adoption of the certified budget amendment updates the district’s fiscal-year 2025 authorized budget to reflect these actions and other adjustments cited in the amendment.

Speakers quoted in this report spoke during the negotiations review and the action-item votes.","The Iowa City Community School District board voted May 27 to approve negotiated agreements with nutrition services, educational support personnel, teachers, physical-plant staff and secretaries. District leaders said settlements align with previously shared budget projections; the board also approved a certified budget amendment.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6221200,"Parents say repeated classroom violence at Christine Grant Elementary demands immediate board action",458,602000,1060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81&start=602&end=1060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3614715-c3df3cd447c8370047aa52a68d13bf81/thumbnail_602000.jpg","/articles/6221200/Iowa/Parents-say-repeated-classroom-violence-at-Christine-Grant-Elementary-demands-immediate-board-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6221200-fd463ef0b300b43b13a61c4e80be65b7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771119222&Signature=EOeHXmTPSiMZ30t7L8TDQuAvrRrMcbzOeWZJvvplEUHE96LxUEgj3w6osao-~Llh9MpKP-fTpI5fnwUvFHvxzQheArBjN9MeLKW-HgfyvG1cTt0VdSHNpRpUJHHTSCfCqcCslPFJmCpTGoCBuMGCKtzMWfMHifsgGjr8N8k8kx-45xJJPp5P3Pk0HXTxZnunblipZlORe-Vi0hNzLM22LUbqQOOjXz7RZyPqQgPqrTaDm5-iPj71qSkleaGkemFMxFvyfNc5Cbo-ZoSLznZeMnUXk6Z~PYacPEDWjlW5foj00DRlGrfvToLdrgI5i57rJa6iOSnn7AtTGVgqBzpTnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two parents told the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD) board during public comment on May 27 that repeated physical assaults and inadequate reporting at Christine Grant Elementary have created an unsafe environment for students and staff.

Amanda Pitts, a parent of two children at Christine Grant Elementary, described a pattern of “physical aggression” against her child and other students, saying students have been “kicked, punched, spit on, and hit.” Pitts said one incident during a field trip included an attempted strike with a skateboard and that, in her view, the district’s response has been insufficient. “This is beyond acceptable. It’s dangerous, and the lack of meaningful response from this board is inexcusable,” Pitts said.

Why it matters: Parents framed the issue as both a safety and a systems problem — alleging repeated incidents, trauma to victims, and inadequate support for teachers. Those concerns, if widespread, could affect student learning, staff retention and district liability.

Doug Kendrick, a Johnson County resident and parent, urged the board to review whether the district followed state reporting rules and district discipline procedures after his son was punched in the cafeteria on May 2. Kendrick cited a statutory requirement he described as “Iowa Code 279.519A,” which he said requires notification to principals and parents within 24 hours of an incident of violence. He told the board he had not received notification and asked the board to review incident reporting, staff training and to implement a safety plan. Kendrick asked the board to “respond within 30 days with a clear, measurable action.”

Board role and response: The meeting’s public-comment rules, reiterated by the board chair before comments, state the board will not engage in discussion during that period. The transcript shows no formal board action taken at the meeting in direct response to the parents’ remarks; the speakers’ demands were made during the community comment portion and recorded for the public record.

What parents asked the board to do: Pitts and Kendrick both urged immediate, documented steps. Among the remedies Kendrick requested were (1) a review of district policies and procedures for reporting incidents involving physical harm to determine whether they are being followed or need modification; (2) verification that staff receive adequate training on reporting and managing student violence; (3) implementation of a safety plan for affected students; and (4) a meeting to discuss next steps. Pitts framed the situation as a failure both to protect harmed students and to provide interventions for students exhibiting repeated violent behavior.

Clarifying details and limits: The parents described multiple incidents but did not supply a full incident log at the meeting; exact counts, dates beyond the May 2 cafeteria incident, and disciplinary steps taken by the school were not specified in the public record during the meeting. Kendrick said he had contacted school and district staff prior to the meeting and did not receive a satisfactory response. The board’s stated procedure is to listen during community comment and not to engage at that time.

Next steps recorded in the meeting: No formal motion or vote addressing these public comments was taken at the May 27 meeting. The comments were entered into the public record; parents asked for follow-up within 30 days.

Speakers quoted in this report spoke during the board’s community comment period.","Two parents told the Iowa City Community School District board during public comment that repeated physical assaults and inconsistent reporting at Christine Grant Elementary have left children and teachers unsafe and asked the board to review reporting procedures, staff training and present a measurable response within 30 days.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board reviews FMP 2.3 draft: field houses, fine-arts upgrades and $114M of remaining SAVE funds on the table

District reports improved chronic-absence trends, highlights targeted building gains and ELL progress

Iowa City school board approves multi-unit contracts; administration says settlements fit budget projections

Parents say repeated classroom violence at Christine Grant Elementary demands immediate board action