[{"_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",6498640,"mediaKeyId","5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0","parentId",5680815,"title","Votes at a glance: Burlington board approves consent payments, ESSER/SAVE report, milk contract and IASB priorities","audioSeconds",3073,"startMs",857000,"endMs",3930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0&start=857&end=3930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0/thumbnail_857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6498640/Iowa/Votes-at-a-glance-Burlington-board-approves-consent-payments-ESSERSAVE-report-milk-contract-and-IASB-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498640-066f09bc90697e90c1943b36748919dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=M6mLyNmKd-6SGqKJRdWZk1C5SdpcFhfzQ6JYL2n51Zra-4EN3oQUyJthLDwkMwh2mTZYZe0oxAUTxfkWKgdlFV-gpffC8uqNIg-9YHXFpQj-n9tQsXNrngwaq0POBWhZ0D0vfhZTM-QEBglNi-RrxMsrQHfSKb61MyQFYSxVnVmV~XqphpyVoWhTrB92XX4v1~Elg~-mrsi6y~YQTaEEFQx4Akgsuk1eXXPwfZdooEMrXPVOWALVOczRFAazTa284Dl8oRXNnJ9OjGzfsu7r4BfIKuZucgd4dD3xnUPYAN1TMFmM98EPG1pA0TLVOCbhNmq1MPZfl4CN0kMOEFC7Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burlington Comm School District","date","2025-08-26T00:13:26.983Z","article","The Burlington Community School District board approved several routine and policy items during its Aug. 25 meeting, including consent payments, program reports, a vendor contract and the district's IASB legislative priorities.

Key votes and outcomes

- Consent agenda approved: The board approved payment of previously paid bills of $217,984.68, unpaid bills of $431,190.80 and BMO Bank card purchases of $95,512.77. (Passed on voice vote.)

- ESSER and SAVE monthly status report approved: After a presentation on outstanding ESER-related work and punch-list items, the board voted to approve the ESSER and SAVE monthly status report. The presentation noted asbestos documentation pending to release retainage, HVAC punch-list items, LED lighting replacement scheduled for winter break/next summer, toilet partition shipments scheduled for Sept. 8 and gym-floor completion targeted by Sept. 15.

- Milk vendor contract awarded: The board accepted the single bid received from Anderson Erickson for the district's milk supply and approved the contract. The district noted milk prices rose about 2.8 cents from the previous year.

- IASB legislative priorities and delegate: Board members selected four Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) priorities to forward to the association: (1) literacy as the building block for student achievement; (4) address student, educator and staff mental-health needs; (7) supplemental state aid as a critical component of student success; and (8) safe and secure learning/work environments. Board member Annika McVeigh was named district delegate to the IASB delegate assembly.

Other procedural items

The board adopted the meeting agenda at the start of the session and later adjourned by voice vote.

Speakers and presenters referenced in the votes

- Greg Reynolds, district administrator (presenter for bids/contracts and district business)
- Tim Oswald, financial adviser, Piper Jaffray (presented bond options but not directly part of these votes)

Ending

Most items in the packet passed on voice votes with little debate. The board asked staff to follow up on outstanding construction punch-list items and to return with formal financing proposals tied to the bond decision made later in the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","8/25/25 School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Burlington Community School District board approved a consent agenda with bill payments, accepted ESSER and SAVE monthly reports, awarded a milk contract to Anderson Erickson, and selected four IASB legislative priorities and a delegate.","taxTitle","Burlington Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",56668,"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},6498647,"Teacher tells Burlington board staffing cuts left classrooms scrambling; district says enrollment surge drove late hires",3624,577000,4201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0&start=577&end=4201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0/thumbnail_577000.jpg","/articles/6498647/Iowa/Teacher-tells-Burlington-board-staffing-cuts-left-classrooms-scrambling-district-says-enrollment-surge-drove-late-hires","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498647-d4623bbcdc10a58f7e449ad882aab03c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=QwpIRdN1z~FZNkKK2byplEB2eXxfJZBzBpbiUW1Flg1y4C7GNSelob-RMvJIe8PPuzjYP26NaklpLNPAN3IoZncB8rosDefSzYpyZ66DWW8YRM4UGSgJIGCtQVQ1r-SqoktihJGyhkShkGECzS~AbP0dH4OcEiZ6VzEaFkanK1KZP-BuY-ZTM1EfnC7VXGrcR78F~n9mCevP-hJn5fL5knFviefM1CAUx2mDh~pSdbYerzgOHYPkJZR1t-7rHx9XnIIzfi7tsW~CuthKCeOARYtd75TOfBZVvJR78T7C25IXhHp2DBITDT-~3N8evj9xzRyyHPcblh24c7yafyCNUw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A teacher on Monday told the Burlington Community School District board that recent personnel changes sent staff into a scramble and harmed students, particularly those described as most at risk. The board heard the comment during the public-comment portion of its Aug. 25 meeting.

\"There is a motto outside the boardroom door that says students first, staff always, but there are decisions being made that put staff never and in turn put students last,\" Lindsey Paul said. Paul identified herself as a Burlington resident and a teacher in her 14th year in the district.

Paul criticized decisions to eliminate positions in March and then rehire some roles two weeks before school, leaving teachers and other staff with very little time to prepare. \"Leaving a team of teachers 48 hours to prepare for open house is not putting staff always,\" she said, and urged the board to \"start questioning the HR report, visit our schools, especially our elementaries.\"

Superintendent Scott and other district leaders responded in the meeting's staff reports, saying the district had higher-than-expected enrollment that required late hiring. \"We took in over 240 kindergartners this year, which is more than 20 that we were expecting,\" Scott said, calling the difference a driver of the late hire.

Scott said the district has worked to protect classroom teachers despite budget pressures: \"We reduced 6 positions last year but we didn't pink slip anybody last year,\" he said, and noted administrative reductions and other cuts. He told the board the district had spent about $200,000 on design and engineering for the Aldo/auditorium project through June.

Why it matters

Teacher retention, staffing stability and class sizes are recurring concerns for districts facing tight budgets. Paul said that neighboring districts have attracted Burlington staff by responding to employee concerns. Superintendent Scott said the district prioritized keeping teachers in classrooms and limiting layoffs, but acknowledged programmatic reductions tied to lower state funding for specific grants.

Other staffing details and context

- The district reported having about 274 teaching positions overall and said elementary staffing remained a high priority; elementary teacher counts shifted from 53 to 52 after a position reduction and subsequent adjustment.
- Scott said reductions last year included a $1.75 million cut to the general budget and that some state grant-based positions (for reading intervention, TAG) were reduced when state dollars declined with enrollment.
- The district said it currently had two-and-a-half long-term substitute positions open and expected to fill remaining vacancies with experienced long-term substitutes or newly hired teachers.

Speakers (quoted)

- Lindsey Paul, teacher and Burlington resident
- Scott, superintendent (first name not provided in transcript)

Ending

Paul asked the board to respond with action, and several board members thanked Paul for speaking and encouraged employees to share concerns with the board. The superintendent told the board he would continue efforts to manage staffing, protect classroom positions and report enrollment numbers to the board.

","A Burlington teacher criticized recent staffing decisions during public comment, saying eliminated positions were rehired at the last minute and hurt students; the superintendent said a larger-than-expected kindergarten class and other enrollment changes required late hires and targeted staffing adjustments.",{"_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},6498651,"Burlington school board approves $7.1 million PPEL notes to protect levy amid possible state changes",2088,1311000,3399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0&start=1311&end=3399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5680815-06db0bade1a71faaf14bcaa40c1503f0/thumbnail_1311000.jpg","/articles/6498651/Iowa/Burlington-school-board-approves-71-million-PPEL-notes-to-protect-levy-amid-possible-state-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6498651-30f84da57252b1632b7f8c50892e2afa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188456&Signature=onPI9NqWEevUyavoQq0MWW1uO7TL8GlVY4321lT7A4bRbb211rE15vP3-ENiFMUdNdg-lC3EWau4~s2nDCecJziKgw4O1Khd8gJww8F4mJApPtvh9z0Ed81QUCCY4RXV4rtFWlvY6Ifw7vXnmHp58Qib29wBbG-WcSUiPFwHQgceeM~ZLd41Cx-yWiHff-WuPeyt8B3vH4Zk2rVuX7Im66-PR8~vK06Vdy5rs1hobk6R3Zolum0B83yzEo-wKRpUGQAmhghXKvFn9w9pHNZmwzW~xKQUZz-MT2zlCEQC5m1as~~qjFXH3Ytxj1x2cluWKm~L7xjil1SXjYiQKRrv2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burlington Community School District board on Monday voted to issue about $7,115,000 in short-term PPEL notes, borrowing against the district's $1.34 physical-plant-and-equipment-levy (PPEL) to lock in revenue for a planned auditorium and middle-school project.

The motion, described by the district's financial advisers as a defensive strategy against potential state property-tax reforms, passed on a voice vote after an extended presentation and board discussion.

The advisers framed two financing options. Tim Oswald of Piper Jaffray told the board the district could borrow either an amount roughly tied to the 67-cent portion of the levy (about $3.5 million) or borrow against the full $1.34 levy (about $7.1 million). \"If the goal is to play defense and lock up the tax ... it'll cost less than $30,000 to lock that in and play that defense,\" Oswald said, describing the roughly $25,000 difference between the two options over the debt period.

Why it matters: The board is preparing for possible state-level property-tax changes that were proposed during the last legislative session and could reduce the district's PPEL receipts. Borrowing now against the full $1.34 levy would create outstanding debt that may be grandfathered if the legislature reduces allowable levies later, district advisers said.

Details of the plan and debate

Oswald presented six financing goals and two main options. He said the district's current PPEL runs through 2030; the notes would be repaid over fiscal years 2026 through 2030. He described fixed upfront costs (legal, ratings, disclosure) and variable costs tied to the size of the borrowing, and recommended attempting to place the notes with banks first and pivoting to a public offering if bank terms proved unattractive.

Greg Reynolds, the district's administrator who introduced the presenters, joined Oswald during the discussion. The advisers emphasized the timeline: pursue bank proposals in the coming weeks, call a special meeting if attractive bank offers appear, and close the financing by December if a public offering is needed.

Board members asked about project timing, whether the financing would slow construction, and how the district would make up any shortfall if it borrowed only against the 67-cent portion. Oswald said construction timing would not be delayed and repeated that the choice was essentially a trade-off between a small incremental cost now (the $25,000 range over the debt life) and protecting revenue if state law changes.

Board action

A board member moved to choose the second option, borrowing against the full $1.34 PPEL and issuing approximately $7,115,000 of PPEL notes with repayment in fiscal years 2026''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

(All those in favor, \"aye\"; none opposed; motion passed.)

What the board directed next

The board instructed district staff and advisers to proceed with the plan to borrow against the $1.34 PPEL, pursue bank proposals first, and pivot to a public market offering if needed. The advisers said they would ask the board to hold a special meeting if a bank proposal required formal approval before the planned October closing.

Implementation notes and timeline

Oswald said bank placement would be pursued immediately, with closing in October if bank proposals were accepted; a public offering route would aim for a December close. The advisers noted the legal and administrative steps that affect cost and timing, including continuing disclosure obligations if a public market offering is used.

Speakers (quoted)

- Tim Oswald, financial adviser, Piper Jaffray
- Greg Reynolds, district administrator (presenting/introducing advisers)

Ending

With the vote, the board moved to lock in financing that advisers said would preserve PPEL revenue for the next four years even if the state enacts levy limits. The board asked staff to return with bank proposals or, if needed, a public-offering plan for final approval.

","The Burlington Community School District board voted to issue approximately $7.12 million in short-term notes backed by the district's $1.34 PPEL after hearing financing scenarios and risks tied to pending state property-tax proposals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Burlington board approves consent payments, ESSER/SAVE report, milk contract and IASB priorities

Teacher tells Burlington board staffing cuts left classrooms scrambling; district says enrollment surge drove late hires

Burlington school board approves $7.1 million PPEL notes to protect levy amid possible state changes