Indianola board approves funding request; hears wellness, curriculum and facility updates

The Indianola Community School District Board of Education on Jan. 13 approved a request to the School Budget Review Committee and took several routine votes, then heard staff presentations on school wellness, employee biometric screenings, curriculum proposals and facility projects.

The board’s actions included approval of a modified supplemental “drop-off prevention” application to the SBRC, adoption of a consent agenda that included requests for out-of-state student travel, and a second reading of board policies. Board members also set a follow-up work session with the Iowa Association of School Boards in February.

The supplements vote came after a brief explanation of allowable uses for drop-off prevention funding. Board members were told the funding can cover salaries for at-risk coordinators, online-learning instructors, program costs tied to the at-risk population and some counseling time; the funding split discussed was roughly 75% state and 25% local property-tax revenue. The board approved the application by voice vote; the motion carried unanimously.

Food service director Abigail Costigan presented the district’s school wellness program and described federal and district requirements the committee reviews. “Kids with healthier eating patterns and who get enough physical activity tend to have better grades,” Costigan said, summarizing the committee’s rationale for focusing on nutrition education, physical activity, foods and drinks sold to students, and food marketing on campus. She explained that items sold a la carte are tested with a “smart snack” calculator for compliance with USDA school-food guidance and noted manufacturers sometimes provide K–12-specific formulations that meet those standards.

Costigan also reviewed everyday meal operations and special options: the district serves grab-and-go breakfast for late-arriving students and extends breakfast service into the morning, and offers multiple entrée choices at elementary and secondary levels (yogurt meals, gluten-free menu options and other allergy accommodations). She said lunch participation is up compared with last year, while breakfast participation remains lower and “about what they’ve been.”

Board members and staff discussed staff wellness programming. A staff presenter (Shelley) summarized an on-site biometric screening offered last June that drew 108 participants and carried a $75 wellness bonus; the district plans another screening on Feb. 21 and aims to increase participation above 180. Shelley described incentives and modest uses of an employee-assistance resource embedded in the district’s long-term disability program and said take-up of the current program has been low.

In teaching and learning, administrators previewed high-school course proposals due in February: expanded supports for English learners, a research-inquiry methods option and a math-for-the-trades course developed in coordination with a Drake professor and local labor partners to better align some math standards with apprenticeship skills. The board discussed possible memorandums of understanding with Heartland AEA given changes at that agency and reviewed district literacy goals and implementation checks for administrators and principals.

On finance, the board received its monthly budget reports. Staff said a recent increase in support-services expenditures reflected the arrival of several district buses after delays; the high-school construction work was also reflected in larger other-fund spending. A board member asked about a roughly $110,000 shortfall in the childcare fund compared with the prior year; staff said some of that variance appears to be timing of recorded state revenues and that they will continue to monitor the fund.

Facilities committee members reported progress on the high-school renovation—steel and precast walls were being installed—and on the district operations center punch-list and final fixes. Baseball and softball renovation work is planned to follow the current season so fields and dugouts will be available for the subsequent season; district crews have done some dugout work to reduce costs.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (includes updated personnel and two updated out-of-state transportation requests): Motion by Dan; seconded by Eric; motion carried (voice vote reported as 7–0). Notes: two additional travel requests (basketball and baseball) were added to the consent agenda prior to approval. - Modified supplemental aid application (drop-off prevention) to the SBRC: Motion by Sue; seconded by Tim; approved by voice vote (reported 7–0). The transcript includes an ambiguous dollar figure when the item was introduced; the amount is not specified in board materials cited during the discussion and is recorded here as not specified in the meeting record. - Second reading of board policies: Motion by Eric; seconded by Ryan; carried by voice vote (reported 7–0). - Motion to set a follow-up IASB work session (February): Motion by Tim; seconded by Eric; carried by voice vote.

The meeting closed after routine calendar reminders and a motion to adjourn.

Sources: presentation remarks and budget and committee reports provided during the Jan. 13 board meeting. Direct quotes are taken from district staff presenters during the meeting.