Urbandale Comm School Board approves budget amendment, transportation and facilities actions; sets June boiler bid date

The Urbandale Comm School District board approved a package of budget, transportation, facilities and staffing measures and set dates for bids and a public hearing on a middle-school boiler replacement during its regular meeting.

The board approved an amended fiscal year 2025 certified budget and a contract to transfer state-collected funding through the Area Education Agency (AEA), both by roll-call votes recorded as unanimous. District leaders said the budget amendment increases several spending categories but does not raise property taxes.

The board also approved a three-year contract with Durham for school transportation services after awarding an RFP to the company at a prior meeting and finalizing contract language with district counsel. Board members discussed whether the contract would change parent pay-zone fees; administrators said the established pay-zone rates are set by the district and have not changed in about a decade, though some surcharges and contract conditions could vary with fuel or other costs.

Administrators recommended and the board approved the purchase of a 2024 Chrysler Pacifica BraunAbility van at a cost of $84,000 to expand the district’s ability to transport students who use wheelchairs. The board heard that aftermarket conversions often fail state inspection and that owning a factory- or manufacturer‑approved accessible vehicle will improve efficiency and student equity during trips and events.

The board approved adjustments to the UEW salary schedule for several skilled trades positions, citing difficulty in recruiting journeyman-level HVAC and plumbing staff in the metro labor market. District staff told the board outside contractor rates for skilled trades can range from roughly $150 to $200 per hour, and that higher in-house pay could reduce reliance on costly contracted services.

For facilities work, the board set a bid opening date of June 5, 2025, to receive bids for the Urbandale Middle School boiler replacement and established June 9, 2025, as the public hearing date for that project. Board members said the middle‑school HVAC system would not operate properly in cold weather without the replacement and that the administration will return with bid results and a public hearing.

Other routine actions that passed included updates to Policy 639, approval of several curriculum items presented at the May 5 meeting (9–12 social studies and science electives; K–12 visual arts; 9–12 world languages materials; and the flexible student support application), and the consent agenda. Several motions were seconded and carried by voice or roll call; multiple items recorded unanimous passage with a 6‑0 tally on the roll calls recorded in the meeting.

Why it matters: the budget amendment holds tax rates steady while reallocating spending for the current fiscal year; the transportation contract and new accessible van affect daily student logistics and equity; the salary changes are intended to keep skilled maintenance staff in-house and control long-term facilities costs; and the boiler project is the next step toward ensuring the middle school’s heating and HVAC reliability.

The board flagged two near-term calendar items: the bid opening for the boiler replacement on June 5, 2025, and a public hearing on the boiler project during the June 9, 2025 board meeting. Administrators also reminded the board that the list of concurrent-enrollment courses for the high school will be returned for a board vote at the June 9 meeting.