Board approves dropout-prevention funding, personnel actions and calendar hearing; multiple routine items pass

The Dallas Center‑Grimes Community School District Board of Education approved a package of routine and substantive items, including a modified supplemental aid application for at‑risk dropout prevention, multiple personnel retirements and resignations with early‑notification incentives, and set a public hearing for the 2025–26 school calendar.

The board voted to submit the district's at‑risk dropout prevention modified supplemental aid application to the School Budget Review Committee and to authorize the required local match. The board also approved the second reading of its 300 series policy, accepted several retirement notices and early‑notification incentives under Board Policy 407.06, and authorized election resolutions tied to the physical plant and equipment levy and the Revenue Purpose Statement.

Those actions matter because they affect near‑term district funding, staffing and voter‑facing ballot items. The dropout prevention application directs state supplemental aid and local match toward programs serving students at risk of dropping out. Election resolutions determine whether voters will decide to continue levies or authorize use of certain state funds.

Board actions and key details

- At‑risk dropout prevention Modified Supplemental Aid (MSA): The board approved submitting an MSA application for $1,348,537.19 in state funds with a proposed district match of $449,537 (figures presented by the business office). The motion to approve was moved and seconded and carried. The district will submit the application to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC).

- Second reading: 300 series policy. The board approved the second reading of proposed changes to the district's 300 series policy (general operations).

- Public hearing on the 2025–26 district calendar: The board set the public hearing for Jan. 27, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the administration building.

- Election resolutions: The board approved a resolution ordering an election on continuing to levy a voter‑approved Physical Plant and Equipment Property Tax (PEPL/PEPPOL) and a separate revenue purpose statement to authorize expenditures from the Secure and Advanced Vision for Education Fund. The motions carried.

- Personnel actions: The board approved an early resignation/retirement notification incentive of $1,500 for named employees (listed in the packet) and approved retirements for several staff members to occur at the close of the 2024–25 school year, including Jane Altman, Donna Glatfelter, Kristin Grama, and Stacy Osborne; motions carried.

- Denial of an open‑enrollment request: The board voted to deny an open‑enrollment application for a student identified as AK from Waukee to the district citing good cause; motion carried.

- Sale of buses: The board approved putting two district buses on GovDeals (two buses described with odometer miles ~125,000–130,000); motion carried.

- Financial statements and consent agenda: The board approved the monthly financial statements, consent agenda items and routine bills as presented.

Votes at a glance: motions and outcomes

(Where the transcript records a mover and second, that information is shown. If roll‑call tallies were not read into the record, the transcript records the motions as carried after voice votes.)

- Approve minutes of prior meeting: Motion to approve moved by Malmberg; second by Vander Bridal. Motion fell initially due to an agenda amendment issue, but the approval of the minutes was later completed after the agenda was amended (motion carried, voice vote).

- Approve bills: Motion moved by McNeese; second Vander Ploelen. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Consent agenda: Motion moved by McNeese; second Malmberg. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Second reading, 300 series policy: Motion moved by Dickinson; second Bamberg. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve MSA at‑risk/dropout prevention application: Motion moved by Baker Curtis; second Vander Belden. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Set public hearing, 2025–26 calendar: Motion moved by Lundberg; second Fiella. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Resolution ordering election for PEPL and Revenue Purpose Statement: Motion moved by McNeese; second Vander Belden. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Early resignation notification incentive: Motion moved by Wahlberg; second Biella. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Retirements (Altman, Glatfelter, Grama, Osborne) and approval of the early retirement incentive under board policy 407.06: Motions moved and seconded as shown in agenda; all motions carried (voice votes).

- Deny open‑enrollment application AK: Motion moved by Moberg; second Vanderbilen. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Authorize sale of two buses on GovDeals: Motion moved by Viola; second Baker Curtis. Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve financial statements: Motion moved by Vandiver Peltin; second Baker Curtis. Motion carried (voice vote).

What the board did not decide or quantify

The transcript records voice votes with motions carrying; individual roll‑call tallies (yes/no/abstain counts) were not read into the record for these items. Where dollar figures or other specifics were not read aloud at the time of each motion, the board packet was referenced and the recorder indicated the numbers (for example, the MSA amounts presented earlier by the business office). Any item where the packet contained details but the meeting record did not enumerate them is shown above using the figures that were read earlier in the meeting.

Next steps and calendar

The next regular board meeting was announced for Jan. 27, 2025; the board also discussed scheduling a series of work sessions in January, February, April and May to address topics including strategic planning, facilities/master facility planning and budget/negotiations.

Ending

The meeting concluded after completion of the agenda and the board adjourned following a final voice vote.