Votes at a glance: board approves laptop purchase, snow‑removal contract and several personnel and trip items

The Hiawatha USD Board approved multiple motions during the meeting, including procurement and personnel items.

Key outcomes

- Memorandum of agreement with Brown County Sheriff's Department (BCSD) for school mapping and response support: motion to enter the MOA was moved and seconded; board discussion indicated the agreement authorizes the district to participate in a mapping project tied to a grant application with BCSD. The motion was presented and advanced by a board member; no recorded opposition was stated in the meeting transcript.

- Laptops purchase: the board approved the low bid for teacher desktop/laptop replacements at a total of $42,784 after staff said the machines are needed now because current systems are reaching end of support. The motion to approve the $42,784 bid passed with the board responding "aye."

- Snow‑removal services: after reviewing vendor options and prior years' costs, staff recommended proposal A for snow removal because it uses larger equipment and a lower hourly rate; the board approved the recommended option.

- Student trip approvals: the board approved three overnight student trip requests. One high‑profile request for FFA National Convention included 24 students and one adult; the board pulled that item from consent and approved it on the condition that an additional adult supervisor be provided and approved by administration before travel. The board approved the other two trips as presented.

- Personnel approvals: motions to hire assistant coaches were approved. The board confirmed Brynn Williams as assistant girls basketball coach, Destiny Jones as assistant baseball coach, and Ron Smith as assistant baseball coach. Each hire passed unanimously in recorded votes.

Votes and tallies

When recorded in the transcript, motions passed unanimously or by voice vote with no opposing votes noted. For several items the clerk recorded "motion passed" and individual "aye" responses; personnel motions recorded explicit 7‑0 tallies.

Next steps

Staff will finalize the MOA paperwork with the sheriff's office, proceed with laptop procurement and contracting for the snow‑removal vendor, confirm the FFA trip has an additional adult approved by administration before travel, and process employment paperwork for the newly approved assistant coaches.