Southeast Polk board announces superintendent retirement, confirms unofficial 62.2% bond result and approves routine items

At its Nov. 6 meeting, the Southeast Polk Community School District board announced that Superintendent Dirk Halopnik has submitted a letter of intent to retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year and will remain through June 30, 2026, while the district conducts a planned search process.

Board president told the meeting, "we have received the letter of intent for Dr. Halopnik's retirement," and said administration appreciated his service and will conduct a "thoughtful and transparent" search.

Administration presented unofficial election and bond results. Mr. Bacom reported that the district's bond referendum passed on Tuesday with roughly 62.2% support and said Polk County will provide official numbers for ratification within about two weeks. "With the November on Tuesday, the bond passed at 62.2%," Bacom said, and administrators said they will meet next week with financial advisers, attorneys and a demographer to begin project planning.

On routine business, the board approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda by roll call. The board also approved the second reading of a board policy and set a public hearing on Dec. 11, 2025, to discuss the 2026–27 academic calendar.

The board heard a presentation on the high-school program of studies from Mr. Pettit and Mr. Daley, who described four proposed new courses: Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (junior-high/HS pathway); Computer-Aided Machining (advanced CAD sequence); Culinary Arts I (a one‑semester precursor to DMACC programming); and Educational Exploration (a pre–teacher-academy experience to place students as classroom assistants). Administrators said Culinary Arts I is intended as a precursor course with potential dual-enrollment alignment in the future and that initial implementation would likely be a single semester.

Administrators also briefed the board on early-retirement eligibility and participation estimates. Mr. Martin said 58 classified employees are eligible for early retirement (the district estimates about eight may choose to retire early), and 61 certified employees (teachers, counselors, nurses) are eligible with an estimated 12 taking the early-incentive option. He noted eligibility requires age 55 and at least 15 years of continuous service and said the early-incentive deadline is Jan. 2, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

The board recognized retiring member Rick Powell; Powell and multiple colleagues offered parting remarks about district improvements, including playground and facility projects tied to the bond. A motion to adjourn carried and the meeting ended.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt agenda: approved by roll call (members present voted yes). - Consent agenda: approved by roll call (members present voted yes). - Second reading of board policy (item A): approved by roll call. - Motion to set public hearing on 2026–27 academic calendar (Dec. 11, 2025): approved by roll call.

No formal personnel appointment or timeline for the superintendent search was announced at this meeting.