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Board approves allowable-growth petitions, purchase cards and routine finance items; accepts treasurer's report
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting the Indianola Comm School District board approved multiple routine finance and operations items, including petitions to recoup overspent special-education and extended English-learner costs, authorization of district purchase cards, and acceptance of the year-end treasurer's report; all recorded motions passed unanimously.
The Indianola Community School District Board of Directors approved several finance and operations items on Oct. 13, 2025, voting unanimously on motions to request allowable-growth funds for special education, to seek a modified supplemental amount for extended English-learner support, to authorize district purchase (P) cards, and to accept the year-end treasurer's report.
The board voted 7-0 to allow administration to petition the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for allowable-growth reimbursement for overspending in special education in the amount of $250,042.01. District staff explained the special-education deficit is a cumulative negative (district officials referenced a larger running negative of about $4.88 million) but the SBRC petition covers only the portion requested at this time.
Trustees also approved, 7-0, a modified supplemental amount request of $200,821.50 for limited-English-proficient instruction beyond the district's funded period. Administration said these petitions are a routine mechanism the state allows when the district must provide services that exceed the funding allocated for specific student subgroups.
The board accepted the treasurer's year-end report and financial presentation, voting 7-0 on a motion to "accept as presented." The treasurer highlighted several trends: resident enrollment has declined modestly over five years while tuition-in (open-enrollment) has increased; the district ended the year with a general fund balance of roughly $9.7 million; investment income rose from about $12,000 in 2021 to roughly $450,000 in 2024–25 (driven by higher interest rates); salary and benefits are about 80.7% of expenses; days of net cash flow are approximately 103 days; and the solvency ratio is about 18.37.
The board also approved implementation of a district purchase-card program designed to reduce staff out-of-pocket spending for allowable purchases (hotels, event tickets, classroom supplies at approved vendors). Principals will manage cards issued to their buildings; district staff said cards will be limited by vendor class and supported by a handbook and auditing process. Trustees voted 7-0 to authorize the program.
Other routine approvals included first and second readings of policy updates following ISB recommendations, which the board approved 7-0.
From public and staff reports: the board read an emailed note from James McLaughlin, a referee who officiated a ninth-grade football game at Lincoln High School, praising players' sportsmanship: "Your young players were the best teams I've officiated in all my time of the field years now... Your players give me hope for the future." The board also accepted a retirement notice from Annette, director of teaching and learning, effective June 2026.
Ending: All motions recorded in the meeting passed unanimously. Administration will submit the SBRC petitions and implement the P-card procedures; staff will continue to monitor fund balances and report updates to the board.
