[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",5976278,"mediaKeyId","5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0","parentId",5839803,"title","Superintendent updates board on security upgrades, Raptor system and new playgrounds","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",2066000,"endMs",2295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0&start=2066&end=2295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0/thumbnail_2066000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5976278/Iowa/Superintendent-updates-board-on-security-upgrades-Raptor-system-and-new-playgrounds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976278-2385cf4ce1a747619a6e613e673f0663/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832852&Signature=H7Vve3DIl~Uf8xHHkDc4ThBFismmPMxzp-5vcAyyHqQLqqZN96BgzvvR3UNIM6C7V8gLSYxQDwbP0pgO1Ap7nyaiYuEQQ6OsFFaQzI0E-9fHn27WO2OmF~cADWsDOiLgJzOKM13PI3FYnBt2usKNhChIy0tAMJxOd75OAv~HSORRjIKUpIuc~hDpR5iMnRmNxsPYXWm~0DCOdgQehcBj1ZwLHtPv0vdoFr-K5tEzqTtv72NQbm0c-yIBMBTDerFxMJYKUKvU1Cj~7Kq30c7AhK9g2egWM2ofgO3tHt26eILAkBf-kSYevCfybjJCl7dSY7KYmTh-gdCqtQyo6gFN5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lewis Central CSD, IA","date","2025-09-23T13:55:51Z","article","During the superintendent’s report Sept. 22, district leaders detailed security and campus-safety upgrades completed and planned across Lewis Central campuses.

The district has installed a vestibule and new cameras at Kreft, expanded door-access systems and plans to add cameras with license-plate readers in the high-school parking lot. The superintendent said the district is tying an emergency response app (Raptor) into strobes and screen-capture systems so an authorized user can trigger a lockdown, shelter-in-place or evacuation message and simultaneously notify emergency dispatch if required. “You push a button a few times and bingo — everybody is notified at once,” the superintendent said, describing phased activation to reduce false alarms.

Playground work was also discussed: the Kreft playground was expected to be finished the week after the meeting, with a planned ribbon-cutting the following Thursday at about 9 a.m.; Titan Hill work will be phased and likely complete in October, with a separate ribbon-cutting. The superintendent made clear the district does not pay for homecoming fireworks — a community donor pays and the district secures permits.

Other operational items reported: staff continue to track bus pricing and lead times (district expects about an eight-month delivery window for new buses if ordered in October); new practice fields will be installed on recently acquired property to offer community and junior-high practice space; and the district is replacing framed photos in public areas with updated images and offering the removed photos to families free of charge.

The superintendent also reported early results from a new high-school cell-phone policy: of roughly 1,000 high-school students, about 30 students had phone infractions in the first 30 days and only a handful received suspensions (mostly for refusing staff requests to surrender phones, which became insubordination). The superintendent reported positive staff and student reactions to the policy so far.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 22, 2025 School Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent reported expanded camera and access-control work, phased rollout of the Raptor emergency notification system, license-plate camera installation, and imminent ribbon cuttings for school playgrounds; school also credited volunteers and PTA for donations.","taxTitle","Lewis Central Comm School District, School Districts, Iowa","taxId",65477,"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},5976282,"District leadership team narrows board priorities to literacy and student behavior/safety",380,970000,1350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0&start=970&end=1350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/5976282/Iowa/District-leadership-team-narrows-board-priorities-to-literacy-and-student-behaviorsafety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976282-cdf6d4b02c05a98e4fcdb699998fa46d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832852&Signature=nRZ-QLTcNlNC~IVuPsnTAmVvBG226bLajEBBjglD13hpMgRhipTOqluzbA0-PC9YHWzrUI-bW0Ank0zpuBgzPY8gLoSFtYUwydWBo5YLK1vKynYLECrpn3RCNblCveOUKFaKjAQ~hlH040cBkfGj6UPGbTQz~JtsIDCekYG2th5DePkQXpQy0J8biui98PEJbpxIsyY1I1ykjin2eY3WR2VpeECKa-ZyoJUUpoS3pUSHyLmfMMThOpuTG2wFrKA6NGpi43ZNGFMofEYuFCz7XotSB4cuaOKS9~czEeo2ZFgabNtib70144OBY6wzugDzYssd~tbTpMX0HRfBZhi62g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District instructional leaders presented a report Sept. 22 describing how the board’s district priorities were taken to the district leadership team (DLT) and building leadership teams (BLTs) for focused implementation. After a dot-voting exercise, the DLT identified literacy (under the “opportunity and access” umbrella) and student behavior and safety (under “climate and culture”) as the top two priorities.

The presenter said the DLT placed 36 votes on student behavior and safety and that literacy received the highest votes under the opportunity-and-access category, with a large margin over other options. The presenter described plans to translate the priorities into SMART goals, identify lead and lag measures, and align professional learning — including a book study on professional learning communities — around the two priorities.

The report noted the Danielson instructional framework will be used districtwide this year and highlighted the “managing student behavior” component as closely aligned with the chosen district priority. District leaders said they will determine shared district metrics for literacy and behavior, monitor progress at the DLT level, and let BLTs and teacher-leaders connect building-level work to the district goals.

Board members asked clarifying questions; presenters emphasized that other priority items will still be tracked at building level even though DLT focus will be concentrated on the two headliner priorities. The district will return with draft SMART goals and recommended lead/lag measures.","A district leadership-team session used dot voting to identify literacy and student behavior/safety as the highest priorities to guide professional learning and SMART-goal development; the board heard the approach and next steps.",{"_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},5976288,"District updates active facilities projects; high school addition delayed by permit-review fee",108,2908000,3016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0&start=2908&end=3016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0/thumbnail_2908000.jpg","/articles/5976288/Iowa/District-updates-active-facilities-projects-high-school-addition-delayed-by-permit-review-fee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976288-2281bb184bda4e73ff67ba17e7e58135/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832852&Signature=n0dZFZQf4dNSIoVVp2xWRnG4IM9gXdQ5v~PlLId~mOdBzEI1MM08~qNZYsVlp9aQmKW2vp3dsn7cZ2H9qmHdaJkar4wT-UM2uKxSyVTyKlZObyRY0Jz9C7~zrMSJQiVvlsHHyAJ-2FzHYTG~pwZnFIQLjl5nLae8ujUIl84~XgDpFhK2JPmeu6VLd~DurIEb2NMye3hCymkz9WX4-k36xH7aMVXfuKIb8ZaTCFW0~m8aNsMkmbb2RMAWa~3zy-ELyZfPBMb5XQIuJ~kUsUHlJgmodZ9aXZi~jp03JRW~NbJBgzgHWenLXi1fskR3Q8UkPJ69YZSs9yEXU7hivIk-1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Facilities staff told the board Sept. 22 that several summer and fall projects are active or moving toward completion, and they highlighted a permit-processing issue that briefly delayed footings for the high school addition.

Updates included: the high school tennis-court surfacing to be installed next week; a front-end addition at the high school where footings are dug but the city’s new prepayment plan-review policy delayed permit issuance; and Titan Hill’s geothermal and replacement boiler work, where major equipment is expected to ship in mid-October. The facilities presenter said structural steel is scheduled to arrive the first week of October and that the addition’s shell will be built this fall with interior work paused over winter and completed next spring and summer.

On permitting, staff said the city changed its electronic plan-review system in April and now requires an upfront fee to start review; the architect’s submittal did not include that prepayment and the city therefore had not begun review. Facilities staff characterized this as a communication gap with the city and said they expect the remaining city review to finish soon so footings can be poured.

The team also reported findings from a sanitary-pipe smoke test at the middle school: several intrusion points were identified, including leaking manholes near the bus barn and an open line in a courtyard. Facilities staff said they will clean, camera and inspect problem areas and then scope repairs. The middle school paving and utilities project remains in design; staff said it will replace hard surfaces around the school and include needed storm-utility work.

Other future work described: replacement of about 40,000 square feet of high-school roofing to be bid in October; a proposal to convert old tennis courts to about 80 temporary parking stalls to ease game-day traffic; LED lighting upgrades at the high school modeled on work completed at other schools; and continued planning on the middle school renovation project. The board asked questions about permit timing, contractor selection, and next-bid schedules. Staff said most major projects should be out to bid by the end of the year to lock market pricing for next summer.","Facilities staff reported progress on tennis courts and Titan Hill mechanical work but said a required city plan-review fee delayed a permit for the high school addition; sanitary-line problems at the middle school also were identified during recent inspection.",{"_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},5976291,"Board hears finance update as unspent authorized budget rises; approves special-education supplemental request",5109,1496000,6605000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0&start=1496&end=6605","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0/thumbnail_1496000.jpg","/articles/5976291/Iowa/Board-hears-finance-update-as-unspent-authorized-budget-rises-approves-special-education-supplemental-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976291-f9a7264a09eb3b2ee97c8a697af153c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832852&Signature=eYPm2XbAasF~qxVszJ-pFRYKgcip6vhlLq0CC4gxDsDhWVV~C8IDTaH8Mc~nrv-JM8zdHBAHW6RlSCuqPPVe8toQGhQpIIoI3lv6ud9lnpAWtbmQh6e5EKXkxNjVRBklgUEJOh7K1IIymERgtPkB3kQQSCL5M2QoOYmuHPk9fQpCvdboAKyOjjhib~Yd61W99Q6-7Sqjk835tQkYlMcTuayk9S6A-j0RidcHAewB-fHSYKjQ3VY7eInO3Ne854AWSea7xFixk~FZkEkeuK4aA2g2G4Wia-DZzyylbS1eFJjrxovyqwOwwEnBfifreuET3MhO1gxkLF7qZpcDVHow2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lewis Central officials told the board Sept. 22 that the district’s unspent authorized budget rose from about $2.6 million to $3.6 million for the fiscal year ending 2025, a ratio just under 8% of general-fund revenues. The district said the board’s target remains 10–15% to provide a three-month “rainy day” fund and that staff will continue to plan strategically before spending beyond that threshold.

The finance presentation said the district’s general fund balance was roughly $9 million versus about $42 million in general-fund revenue, putting the solvency ratio near 24% (fund balance as a share of revenues). Presenters cautioned the board that some funds are restricted categorical balances and that the district must avoid hiring ongoing staff funded solely from temporary categorical balances without sustainable funding.

During the meeting the board approved an allowable-growth supplemental special-education aid request for fiscal 2024–25 totaling $865,192.86. A district official explained that most Iowa school districts run special-education deficits because federal and state funding formulas do not fully cover high-cost placements or intensive outside services; the allowable-growth mechanism asks the state for additional authority to levy to cover that gap.

Separately, the board introduced and approved a resolution to consider continuing participation in the district’s existing instructional support program levy (a local levy the board has used for years). The levy provides funds restricted to classroom instruction and teacher compensation; the board will hold the public hearing and final vote at a later meeting as required by statute.

The finance presenter said the district would continue to prioritize increasing the unspent authorized budget to the board target, then evaluate strategic uses for those funds including potential staffing, maintenance and facility investments. The board voted to approve the special-education allowable-growth request and moved forward with the instructional-support levy resolution.","The district reported an increase in its unspent authorized budget from about $2.6 million to $3.6 million (near 8% of revenues) and discussed solvency targets; the board approved an allowable-growth special-education aid request of $865,192.86 and introduced a resolution to continue the instructional support levy.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5976295,"Lewis Central board approves construction-manager-at-risk for middle school renovation",2762,3798000,6560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0&start=3798&end=6560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5839803-628f07e90d36806be573d018aaaae6f0/thumbnail_3798000.jpg","/articles/5976295/Iowa/Lewis-Central-board-approves-construction-manager-at-risk-for-middle-school-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5976295-b91a108e9d52e35059672315b494e162/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832852&Signature=eP9jtZzGMrJ8au2CK28jrckhcu3WsSUoRRzf9DVTTzB4pzcD8cLv8-cV1UaIUNeI98om2A2UAAiQJUbzNipx0Vh83k3cjGH-zEWjuDqd1rXn3YpFTMQ8GIQaZXZmAifqCWrDkl26CUeF~UbF6q0KLsSKoBozGRd3ShPKxuZWhFHopM8-xCIDO4vf-fGSODhp75mWZgwg83A43dA4cKrlaOb-zthDb~6e1n2MhvBAPPGOnsg0-DO3XAh4ztyu7lJJNegcuo8cF0I4i3X2RP8LIS4CnspBYNTHCiXVH6h89ILnJdnWoZ79lAafvjAc5Tf1teevZS5Skq2D~18OQWaXpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lewis Central Community School District board voted Sept. 22 to use a construction-manager-at-risk (CMR) delivery method for the planned middle school renovation. Board members approved the motion after a presentation comparing three procurement models and a discussion of risks and oversight.

District advisers and project advocates told the board CMR gives the district earlier contractor involvement in design and a guaranteed maximum price that transfers a portion of financial risk to the builder. An adviser said, “I would lean towards the CMR, because I do think it does provide everyone’s got a little more skin in the game,” and noted CMRs typically return unspent contingency to the owner under the contract language the advisers use.

The presentation compared lump-sum (design-bid-build), CMR and a construction-manager-as-agent (CMA) approach across factors including risk allocation, owner control, timing, transparency and probable cost. Advisers showed a recent local renovation where roughly 88% of the cost was direct subcontractor work and about 12% covered management, bonds, insurance and overhead — a figure the presenters used when explaining typical fees for manager-led projects.

Supporters told the board CMR can reduce the frequency and size of change orders for complex renovations because a contractor participates early in site investigations and constructability reviews. One adviser warned that a design-bid-build contract can bring lower initial bids but higher change-order risk when unknown conditions appear during demolition or excavation.

Board members asked about the selection process, vetting of proposed subcontractors, and how savings would be shared. Advisers said the district would publish a request for qualifications, shortlist candidates, interview teams that would work on site, and require public competitive bids for trade contracts; they described contract language that returns any net savings to the owner. The board directed staff to move forward with a competitive procurement for a CMR and approved the motion by roll-call vote.

Next steps identified in the meeting: advertise a qualifications-based selection process, convene a district selection panel, interview finalists, and bring a recommended CMR contract back to the board for approval. The project team emphasized the renovation will continue design through the winter, with construction phasing and bid packages planned so much of the work can be let before next summer.","Board voted to use a construction-manager-at-risk (CMR) delivery method for the planned middle school renovation after presentations that cited cost certainty, reduced change orders and contractor involvement during design.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent updates board on security upgrades, Raptor system and new playgrounds

District leadership team narrows board priorities to literacy and student behavior/safety

District updates active facilities projects; high school addition delayed by permit-review fee

Board hears finance update as unspent authorized budget rises; approves special-education supplemental request

Lewis Central board approves construction-manager-at-risk for middle school renovation