Muscatine board approves 2025–26 calendar, buys two gas buses and OKs timekeeping system; retirees approved

The Muscatine Community School District Board of Education voted Feb. 10 to approve the 2025–26 school calendar, authorize the purchase of two 2026 Bluebird gas school buses for up to $316,022, adopt a new automated time and attendance system, and accept a list of early retirees for fiscal year 2025.

Board members opened a public hearing on the 2025–26 calendar and, after receiving no oral or written comments, closed the hearing. The board then approved the calendar on a motion; board members voiced agreement that the district and Muscatine Community College would continue talks about aligning graduation timing and final grades for seniors before any calendar change is finalized. Superintendent Clint said the district will meet with MCC to “talk through how do we navigate this” and bring any graduation-date adjustments back to the board.

Most action items were grouped on the consent agenda and enacted in single motions unless pulled. The board approved a single consent motion that included minutes, employment recommendations, bills and claims, special-education contracts and routine policies. The board then approved these separate actions by motion or voice vote:

Votes at a glance - Open public hearing on 2025–26 calendar — motion and roll-call vote recorded as all present voting Aye (roll call recorded at opening). (Transcript blocks starting 199.28) - Close public hearing on calendar — motion and roll-call vote recorded as all present voting Aye (roll call recorded at close). (Transcript blocks starting 251.305) - Approve 2025–26 school calendar — motion and voice vote; board approved (no opposition recorded). (Transcript blocks starting 1221.36) - Approve purchase of two 2026 Bluebird gas school buses from School Bus Sales Company, up to $316,022 — motion approved by voice vote (no opposition recorded). Motion text in transcript: “I move to approve the purchase of the 2 20 26 Luper Vision Gas School buses for school, the bus sales company in the amount of $316,022.” The board discussed that gas buses are used mainly for out-of-town trips and that the majority of the fleet runs on propane; the board said grants for electric buses have been explored but upfront cost and cold-weather battery performance remain barriers. (Transcript blocks starting 1352.19) - Approve field trip to Springfield, Illinois (dates given in transcript as “February 21 to the 20 third”) — motion approved by voice vote. (Transcript blocks starting 1615.255) - Approve TimeClock Plus automated time and attendance system, $120,195 — motion approved by voice vote. (Transcript blocks starting 1646.7849) - Approve early-retiree list for FY25 — motion approved by voice vote. Board members offered thanks to retirees; no individual retiree names were read into the minutes in the recorded discussion. (Transcript blocks starting 1679.115)

During discussion of the bus purchase, the board asked whether electric buses had been considered. The district said it had applied for grants that would offset upfront cost but had not received award notifications; cold-weather battery performance was cited as a current operational concern for longer trips. The transportation fleet size was discussed; a staff member estimated “about 40” buses in the fleet and said replacements are staggered.

The TimeClock Plus system was presented and approved at $120,195; a staff member answered questions but no substantive debate followed. The early-retiree motion passed with several board members thanking departing employees; board members noted the retirements affect multiple areas of the district and that hiring for those positions will begin after the action is final.

The board set several upcoming public hearings and meetings, including a Feb. 24 public hearing on the Central Improvement Project and MHS tennis courts, and noted there is no school on Presidents’ Day (Feb. 17). The meeting adjourned after the motions passed.