Sioux City Board adds K–8 dual-language and K–8 music priorities to district plan

The Sioux City Board of Education voted Dec. 8 to add two new action-step priorities to its 2025–26 strategic priorities: an option to “implement a kindergarten through eighth grade dual language school education option” and a priority to “implement kindergarten through eighth grade music education with the same emphasis as core courses.” The board approved the priorities as amended by a final voice vote recorded 7–0.

Associate Superintendent Angela Bemis presented a revised priorities document and a side-by-side crosswalk of changes the leadership team made after a recent work session and board feedback. Bemis said the revisions add specific language about evaluating curriculum resources for alignment with research and evidence-based approaches, tracking staff retention with targeted KPIs for hard-to-fill areas, and ensuring space and MOUs for outside mental-health providers. “The MOU, because there’s no money changing hands,” Bemis said when describing how outside mental-health providers would use district facilities.

Director Emke introduced both amendments. On the dual-language priority he said the district already has a partial program at an elementary school and that expanding to K–8 would improve opportunities for English-language and multilingual learners and help the district “be a leader in Iowa.” The roll-call vote on the dual-language amendment was 4–3 in favor after members debated whether to delay a formal priority until the next planning cycle and whether staff should first present budget and implementation details.

Emke also proposed a music-education priority framed as raising the program’s profile rather than prescribing specific operational steps. “Implement kindergarten through eighth grade music education with the same emphasis as core courses,” Emke said. Some board members urged caution about the word “implement,” asking staff to return with detail on staffing and costs; others said the district already is doing much of the work and the priority would simply keep the effort visible. The music amendment also passed 4–3 on a roll-call vote before the board approved the priorities package as amended.

Board members and staff agreed that adding a priority does not itself appropriate money; multiple members asked for a staff report on likely budget impacts and staffing plans. Bemis said work to design the dual-language option and to flesh out music staffing would be part of the administrative action steps and that staff would present quarterly progress reports. During discussion board members referenced communication and budget planning; speakers mentioned $25,000 and $55,000 in the context of the communications budget during discussion, but the meeting did not record a final approved dollar amount.

The board directed staff to return with implementation details and timelines. The action establishes district-level strategic direction for curriculum, language programming and music education; any actual program expansions or hires will require later operational planning and budget approval.