Board approves consent items, budget publication and several contracts; sets hearings for pool upgrades and budget

The Sioux City Community School District Board of Directors approved a series of routine and fiscal items at its March 24 meeting, including authorization to publish the district’s FY 2026 budget notice and to set a public hearing date, a budget adjustment resolution, and several vendor contracts. The board also set a public hearing on pool upgrades at North and West highs.

Key votes at a glance:

- Agenda approval: The board approved the meeting agenda (recorded as 7–0). No discussion was recorded on the agenda itself.

- Consent action items: The board approved standard consent and minutes items (motion passed; no roll-call tally published in the meeting record).

- Human resources report: Board approved the human resources report, including new positions described by staff (motion passed; no roll-call tally published). District staff explained positions would be funded in part from allowable administrative portions of federal/state funds and by internal budgeting.

- FY 2026 budget publication and hearing: The board acknowledged final review of all funds and voted to allow publication of the district’s FY 2026 budget notice and set a public hearing for April 14, 2025, 6:00 PM at the Educational Service Center, 627 Fourth Street, Sioux City. District staff noted the proposed certified levy rate appears at $12.38 on the notice and that the district plans to use reserves to smooth a projected shortfall.

- Budget adjustment resolution (Iowa Code): The board adopted a standard fiscal-year budget adjustment resolution “to levy property tax for fiscal year 2025–26 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14 of the Iowa Code.” (Motion passed; no roll-call tally published.)

- Contracts and procurement votes: The board approved several contracts and procurements, including: • An asbestos contractor-supervisor refresher training agreement for district staff ($1,600). • Participation/forward-purchase agreement for natural gas through the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission for fiscal year 2026 ($575,535.37). • Authorization of plans, specifications and estimated cost from JEL Consulting Group for North and West High pool upgrades ($586,490) and set a public hearing on the pool project (plans to be available in the purchasing manager’s office). The board noted a $250,000 donation earmarked for North High pool repairs is part of the funding picture. • Approval to submit FCC Form 471 (E-rate) Category 1 for FY 2026 to request $206,400 of E-rate support (total project $258,000; district share $51,600). • Approval of contracts to support student learning and activities and a facility-rental agreement (board corrected an executive-summary date in the facility contract during the meeting before approval).

- Other routine approvals: The board approved the FY 2026 natural gas purchasing arrangement and other routine vendor contracts; motions passed on voice votes or unanimous ayes as recorded.

Nut graf: The meeting’s formal business was primarily fiscal and operational: the board set the schedule for the FY 2026 budget hearing, adopted a routine budget adjustment under state code, authorized vendor contracts and set a public hearing for pool renovations, while public comment earlier in the meeting focused on student safety and the JROTC program.

Ending: Several items will require follow-up: the April 14 public hearing on the FY 2026 budget and the public hearing on the pool renovation plans. No final appropriation beyond standard budget processes was enacted at the meeting.