Ottumwa school board appoints new director, approves multiple contracts, adopts social‑skills curriculum and insurance renewals

The Ottumwa Comm School District board on June 16 appointed Dusty to fill the unexpired term of former director Jeremy Weller and approved a package of contracts, personnel settlements and fiscal items including adoption of a new social‑skills curriculum and insurance renewals.

The board voted to appoint Dusty to the board vacancy left by Jeremy Weller and swore him in at the meeting. Board members who discussed the two applicants — Dusty and Emar (also referenced as EMR in the record) — praised both letters of interest and said either candidate would be an asset. Several members cited familiarity with Dusty’s business experience as a factor in their vote. The board recorded the motion as passed by voice vote; a numeric roll-call tally was not specified in the minutes.

The board approved a number of construction and services contracts for district facilities. Major contract awards included Tomah High School renovations to Bayou State for $196,270; Musco for Fourth Street entrance parking‑lot lighting at $65,000; embark I.T. for Schaefer Stadium sound system at $43,310; Pickett for Eisenhower Elementary furniture at $43,093.27; B & T (Caden Concrete referenced in the record) for Eisenhower concrete repairs at $32,500; Land of Oz for Eisenhower landscaping (amount not specified in the record); McClure for the OHS Athletic Center alley project at $13,214.90; Walsh for Evans Middle School classroom door work at $13,265; Environmental Edge (Dustin Smith) for Wilson Elementary asbestos abatement at $25,750; and Floor to Ceiling for construction‑trades flooring at $23,180.10. For several projects the board noted how many requests for quotes were sent and how many bids were received; in one high‑school phase the board said it sent 19 requests and received a single bid. The board approved each contract by motion; vote counts were taken by voice and not numerically specified in the meeting record.

On curriculum, the board approved adoption of the Character Strong social‑skills curriculum to replace the district’s previous K–8 program (Second Step). District staff said the curriculum was selected after a multi‑year adoption cycle and review by a social‑skills committee, teacher quality committee input and a workshop process. The curriculum will reach preschool through high school and includes teacher‑level (tier‑1) lessons and optional counselor‑led small‑group interventions; the professional‑development component will be paid from the district’s PD fund, district staff said.

Personnel and compensation actions approved included a proposed settlement with non‑bargaining employees (administrators and miscellaneous support staff) that sets a 2.8% increase, with a small number of individual adjustments for changed job responsibilities and an equalization adjustment for certain business office and HR support staff. The board approved the settlement by motion.

On property and risk coverage, the board approved several insurance‑related items: an amendment to the Iowa local government natural gas risk pool to add a meter previously excluded; renewal of the district’s property and liability insurance (three components reported by staff: main property/liability premium $508,111; separate cyber policy $21,009.06; $5,000,000 excess liability through Old Republic at $14,368.21) and participation in EMC’s newly offered “storm protection fund” (staff reported the district’s contribution would be $114,000+ to buy down EMC’s wind/hail deductible to $75,000 per occurrence). The board discussed alternatives including raising deductibles and building a self‑insurance reserve through the management levy; staff said the district may consider those options in future renewals. The board also approved the work‑compensation renewal (EMC) at $343,150, which staff said was approximately $130,000 below last year’s renewal after competitive market pressure.

Financial and compliance items the board approved included acceptance of the fiscal‑year‑2024 audit (an unmodified opinion) and awarding audit services for fiscal 2025–27 to Terpstra Hoch & Associates after a competitive solicitation. Staff summarized the audit highlights, including the district’s use of federal funds in prior years, increased capital assets (about $19 million in FY24), and a set of minor findings and corrective actions (for example, final bank reconciliation timing following a bank‑account change after a fraud incident); the auditors and staff indicated the financial statements were adjusted and the unmodified opinion stands.

The board also authorized continuing participation in the instructional support levy (the board voted to proceed with publication and a public hearing; final action was scheduled for July) and approved other routine consent and construction items on the agenda. The meeting record shows most motions were adopted by voice vote; specific roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the transcript excerpts.

Votes at a glance (actions recorded in the meeting minutes) - Appointment: Appointed Dusty to fill the unexpired term of Jeremy Weller. Outcome: approved (voice vote; tally not specified). - Adult meal prices: Adopted adult lunch price $5.00 and adult breakfast $2.00 (student meals remain free). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Easement / conveyance resolution: Approved resolution to convey an easement to the city of Ottumwa for sewer separation work and to accept a small triangular parcel near the tennis courts. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Construction and service contracts: Multiple awards (vendors and amounts listed above). Outcome: approved (voice votes; see minutes for individual vendor contract language). - Curriculum: Adopted Character Strong social‑skills curriculum (pre‑K through high school) with PD funded from district PD funds. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Non‑bargaining employee settlement: 2.8% settlement with listed adjustments. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Iowa local government risk pool amendment: Added a previously omitted meter to the natural‑gas pool. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Property & liability insurance renewal and EMC storm protection fund participation: Approved renewals and payment to EMC storm protection fund contribution (reported cost ~ $114,000). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Work‑comp renewal: Approved EMC work‑comp renewal at $343,150. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Fiscal‑year‑2024 audit report: Accepted audit (unmodified opinion). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Audit service agreement: Awarded audit contract for FY25–27 to Terpstra Hoch & Associates. Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Instructional support levy: Authorized participation and moved to publish a notice and hold a public hearing at the next board meeting; final action expected in July. Outcome: approved to proceed (voice vote).

Why it matters: The board’s decisions move several facility projects and curriculum changes into implementation and set near‑term fiscal commitments (insurance, contract awards, and the instructional support levy process). The insurance choices and the board discussion of self‑insurance reserves reflect an ongoing budgetary risk‑management decision with potential implications for future tax levies and capital planning.

The board adjourned after routine board reports.