The Urbandale Community School District board opened its regular meeting with community recognitions, then moved through a series of informational items and first readings of policy work.

Staff and volunteers presented certificates and recognition for All-State band and chorus participants, academic athletic honors and undefeated middle-school volleyball; several students and coaches were acknowledged and photographed.

On policy work, the board reviewed policy 105 (a proposed nondiscrimination and bullying-definition policy) in its first reading. Board members discussed whether to add a catch-all phrase such as "or any other actual or perceived trait or characteristic" so that the policy's list of protected characteristics is illustrative rather than restrictive. Staff said the policy will be returned for a second reading and vote on Jan. 26.

Staff also presented proposed policy 535B (student directory information), explaining that directory information is defined under the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and that third-party recipients commonly include PTO groups, the Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation, the community education booster club and the district's contracted photography vendor; staff said family approval is required for any release to third parties.

Separately, staff described a second-year practice of distributing a lump-sum supplement to classified (hourly) education support personnel. Using state funds, the district proposed a $255 one-time payment per eligible employee and said the district would add roughly $2,100 of local funds to round the figure. Staff described this as a larger immediate benefit to employees than spreading the funds into salaries.

Denise Woodin, director of district leadership and improvement, closed the meeting's presentation items with a preview of board-development work tied to the district's "Actions of Excellence" — six values used in hiring, evaluation and recognition — and asked board members for personal reflection ahead of a longer Jan. 26 work session.

The board moved the consent agenda and accepted the audit later in the meeting; both were approved by roll-call votes.