North Polk board approves fees, handbooks and program coordinators; CTE addition near completion

At its July meeting, the North Polk Community School District Board of Education approved a series of routine policy and fee updates, confirmed mandatory program coordinators for the 2025–26 school year, and heard a construction update showing the district's new CTE addition is on track for substantial completion July 30.

The approvals include increases to select instrument rental fees for 2025–26, updates to student and employee handbooks, and formal designation of coordinators for civil-rights and other statutorily required programs. Superintendent Michael Klein said the district will hold an open house and ribbon-cutting for the CTE addition on Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 6 p.m.

The board approved the miscellaneous fees for 2025–26 after trustees noted a rise in instrument replacement costs. The rental fee for large or specialty instruments was raised incrementally (the administration described the change as a $10 per semester increase, to bring annual rental fees to roughly $130 for those instruments). The board approved the fee schedule by voice vote; the motion passed unanimously.

Board members approved handbook updates for North Polk elementary, middle and high schools, and separate employee handbooks for administrators, classified staff, certified staff and substitutes. Administrators said the student handbooks include minor edits such as coordinator name updates and a middle-school clarification restricting energy drinks during the academic day. The employee handbook changes include language on converting accrued sick-day balances to personal time in limited circumstances. Trustees approved the handbooks by motion and unanimous voice vote.

The board also approved the district's mandatory program coordinators for 2025–26. The administration named Amelia Clark (HR specialist) as the district's coordinator for civil-rights, equity, Title IX, Title VI and homeless/migrant student services and as the designated Level 1 investigator. Michael Klein was listed as the Level 1 investigator alternate; Jim McDonald was listed as the Level 2 investigator. Trustees approved those appointments by voice vote.

On construction, the district's director of construction reported substantial progress on the CTE addition: ceilings are being installed, carpet is down in portions of the addition, final painting is under way and furniture and specialized equipment that require electrical hookups (including welding booths) will be moved in next week. The director said the district is aiming for substantial completion on or about July 30 and that equipment and furniture deliveries are scheduled to support occupancy for the coming school year.

The construction update included remaining punch-list items for athletic fields and site work. The director described ongoing discussions with the design team (RDG) and the contractor about grading and a known low spot near the boys' batting cage; drainage work on the west side of a walkway was under review. The report said reseeding and field remediation are planned in August and that the seating and turf schedule will follow the contractor's acceptance timeline.

The update also included project budget figures the administration provided: a summary line showed roughly $124,000 listed in the report as open/pending/approved change orders to date, with an unallocated contingency balance discussed at about $76,000 (the director described that $76,000 as outstanding contingency not currently assigned to specific change orders). Trustees and staff also discussed scoreboards for baseball/softball (reported at about $89,000 total) and an electrical-related change tied to welding booths that raised costs (the administration identified increased wire sizes, breakers and switches and noted a roughly $13,900 electrical change item associated with those booths). The district said budget reconciliation for those items is ongoing and staff expected to provide an updated contingency and change-order status by the next board meeting.

In other business, the superintendent reminded the community that IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) materials for the upcoming odd-year board election cycle will be available on the district's first day of school; signature pages for candidates will be available beginning Aug. 25 and nominating paperwork is due Friday, Sept. 18. The board later moved into closed session to conduct the superintendent evaluation under Iowa Code §21.5(1)(i); the motion to enter closed session passed by voice vote.

Several trustees used the board-comment period to congratulate district athletic teams and to note grant-search efforts. Board member Borman described a recent application to a national agricultural program that had advanced to a finalist pool but whose funding was later canceled; he asked the public to share other grant opportunities. Board member Acker read a prepared statement urging reconsideration of how high school athletics are governed in Iowa, saying the split governance structure between boys' and girls' associations creates inconsistent fan and broadcast experiences.

Votes at a glance - Approval of meeting agenda: approved by voice vote (all in favor). Motion and second: not specified in the record. Outcome: approved. - Consent agenda (including routine claims and items): motion to approve consent agenda passed by voice vote (recorded: "Aye, Aye, Aye" and announced 4–0). Motion/second not specified in the transcript excerpt. - Miscellaneous fees for 2025–26 (instrument rental increases among other fee adjustments): approved by voice vote (unanimous). Motion/second: motion recorded; second referenced as "Kyla, Matt" in the transcript. - Student handbooks (elementary, middle, high): approved by voice vote (unanimous). Motion/second: motion and second recorded; names not fully specified in the excerpt. - Employee handbooks (administrators, classified, certified, substitutes): Motion by Kyle; second by Keith; approved by voice vote (all in favor). - Mandatory program coordinators (civil rights, Title IX, homeless/migrant coordinator, Level 1 and Level 2 investigators): approved by voice vote (unanimous). Motion/second: recorded as motion with a second by Keith and Kyle. - Motion to enter closed session per Iowa Code §21.5(1)(i) for superintendent evaluation: motion and second recorded; approved by voice vote and the board entered closed session.

Discussion versus action - Discussion-only items included construction punch-list details (drainage, reseeding, seating acceptance) and staffing/maintenance logistics; staff indicated follow-up and reporting back. No formal change orders or budget transfers were recorded as approved during this meeting excerpt. - Direction/assignment: staff were directed to finalize outstanding contingency reconciliation and to follow up with RDG and the contractor on drainage and field remediation before reseeding. - Formal actions: the fee schedule, handbooks, mandatory coordinator appointments and the motion to enter closed session were approved as recorded above.

Clarifying details - Facility rental revenues: the transcript references $36,000 in rental fees; the speaker said that revenue is recorded as general fund revenue and suggested directing it toward auditorium upgrades (floor refinish and other needs). The board did not record a formal earmark vote for that $36,000 during this session. - SAI (School Administrators of Iowa) training: staff said SAI provided Franklin Covey leadership training recently for 19 administrators; combined quotes for the upcoming SAI conference exceeded $10,000 in aggregate. - CTE schedule: substantial completion target July 30; ribbon-cutting/open house scheduled Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. - Project finance snapshots: report line items included ~$124,000 listed for open/pending/approved change orders to date and an available contingency discussed around $76,000 outstanding; scoreboard cost referenced at about $89,000; a welding-related electrical increase described at roughly $13,900.

Proper names - North Polk Community School District (agency) - School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) (organization) - RDG (design firm referenced in construction discussion)

Ending The board scheduled follow-up reporting on outstanding change orders and contingency use at the next meeting and will reconvene after completing a closed-session superintendent evaluation. The district encouraged anyone interested in board elections to pick up nomination paperwork beginning Aug. 25 and to submit completed materials by Sept. 18.