Board approves SBRC MSA request, Wickersham lighting repair and delayed-egress installations; votes to enter closed session

The Council Bluffs Community School District Board of Education took several formal actions at its Sept. 23 meeting, approving three resolutions and voting to enter closed session on personnel and real estate matters.

Nut graf: The board approved (1) submission to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for a modified supplemental amount (MSA) of $140,497.58 for excess English-language (EL) program costs in the 2024–25 school year; (2) a contract award to Echo Electrical Supply for $28,275 to repair lighting in the Wickersham parking lot after a recent storm; and (3) a contract award to InterConnex for $57,890.45 to install delayed-egress systems at Roosevelt, Rue and College View, with special-education funds identified as the funding source for the delayed-egress installations. The board then voted to move into closed sessions under state open-meetings law for an employment-evaluation matter and a real-estate discussion.

Actions at a glance:

1) SBRC MSA request for EL excess costs Motion text (as moved in meeting): "the board approves the district's administration authorized to submit a request to the SBRC for modified supplemental amount of $140,497.58 due to excess costs of providing the EL program in the 20 four-twenty 5 school year." Mover: not specified in transcript. Second: not specified in transcript. Vote: roll call — Ms. Myers: yes; Dr. Rosello: yes; Mr. Peters: yes; Mr. Tripp: yes; Mr. Cozier: yes; Ms. Hardiman: yes; Mrs. Greiner: yes. Outcome: approved. Notes: Superintendent and staff explained that EL and special-education costs can rise during the year with enrollment and mobility; the district has previously requested additional spending authority for rising special-education costs.

2) Wickersham parking lot lighting repair (Echo Electrical Supply) Motion text (as moved in meeting): "the board approves Echo Electrical Supply and the total bid amount $28,275 for the Wicker Sham parking lot lighting repair." Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: roll call — unanimous yes by the same members listed above. Outcome: approved. Notes: Staff said a recent storm and a lightning strike damaged lights; district chose to proceed with repair rather than file an insurance claim because the estimated cost was at or below the district deductible.

3) Delayed-egress systems at Roosevelt, Rue and College View (InterConnex) Motion text (as moved in meeting): "the board approves InterConnex to install delayed egress systems at Roosevelt, Roo, and College View for the amount of $57,890.45 as presented." Mover: not specified. Second: not specified. Vote: roll call — unanimous yes by the same members. Outcome: approved. Notes: Staff said these delayed-egress devices are classroom-adjacent doors for specialized programs that serve students with specified needs; the systems must be tied into fire alarms, allow staff badge override and are funded from special-education dollars because they address program-specific safety needs. Staff explained these are not main exterior doors and that installation choices were informed by consultations with the fire department and district safety specialists.

4) Closed session votes The board passed two motions to enter closed session under Iowa open-meetings provisions: one to evaluate the professional competency of an individual (citing section 21.5 Parent 1 Parent I in the meeting) and a second to discuss the purchase or sale of particular real estate under Iowa Code 30.5(2). Roll-call votes were taken and recorded as unanimous among present board members; the board then moved to closed session and adjourned from there.

Ending: The actions were approved unanimously; staff will proceed with contract awards and the SBRC submission and will execute installations and repairs as authorized. The meeting adjourned into closed sessions for the matters cited.