North Scott board approves facility contracts, bills, succession plan and $5 textbook fee increase

The North Scott Community School District board approved a slate of vendor contracts and routine payments, endorsed a recommended succession list for district leadership, and approved a $5 per grade-level increase in textbook rental fees to help offset rising curriculum costs.

Financial report and bills: Board member Jill presented bills and payments for approval, enumerating specific items including a $8,500 payment to Stalker Sports for lab refinishing, a $53,718 quarterly pass-through payment for technology and learning support services, $81,449 to East Iowa Community College to fund a full-time psychology and sociology instructor for the 2025–26 school year, and $811,446 to HMH for reading curriculum instructional supplies. Jill characterized the reading curriculum payment as high and clarified it was for high school materials rather than elementary. The board moved and approved payment of the bills by voice vote.

Vendor bids and project approvals: Staff presented multiple vendor bids for facility and student-home work. Final prices reported in the presentation included: - LA Construction: $40,398.91 (foundation for student home after discount) - Peterson Plumbing: $29,924 (plumbing) - Fireplace & Barbecue Warehouse: $3,500 (fireplace) - Eastern Iowa Garage Door: $3,550 (two-car garage door after discount) - Pillow windows: $6,493.94 (windows and sliding glass door after discount) - Elders Lumberyard: $38,390.84 (framing materials; final price cited $38,390)

Board members asked whether multiple bids were solicited; staff said some items returned multiple bids while others drew only one responsive bidder and noted the district often relies on preferred local contractors both for price and for training opportunities with students. David explained the district values contractors who support student learning: “we always like to stay with Pearson to help train the kids,” and the board approved each listed bid by voice vote.

Succession and policy matters: The board approved a recommended succession list for the 2027 school year naming Heather Schultz first, Chad Jones second, Tim Green third and Daniel fourth; the board discussed making the annual June succession recommendation part of policy and agreed to post or otherwise make the list accessible.

Textbook rental fee increase: Jill presented a recommendation to increase textbook rental fees by $5 for each grade band (elementary, junior high and high school). She said the district projects roughly $1.5 million in curriculum spending while collecting about $150,000 in rental fees each year and that the modest increase is intended to offset cost pressure without unduly burdening families. The board moved, seconded and approved the fee increase.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the transcript): - Approve agenda — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve consent agenda — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve bills and payments (items listed above, including $811,446 to HMH) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve liability insurance (see separate article) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve LA Construction bid for student home foundation ($40,398.91) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve Peterson Plumbing bid ($29,924) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve Fireplace & Barbecue Warehouse bid ($3,500) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve Eastern Iowa Garage Door bid ($3,550) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve Pillow windows and sliding glass door ($6,493.94) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve Elders Lumberyard framing materials ($38,390.84) — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve succession list naming Heather Schultz, Chad Jones, Tim Green, Daniel — motion passed (voice vote) - Approve textbook rental fee increase ($5 per grade-level band) — motion passed (voice vote)

No roll-call vote tallies or named movers/seconders were recorded in the provided transcript; the clerk announced motions as passed by voice vote. The board discussed posting succession information and returning with details regarding any policy changes related to handbook items.

The meeting closed after board comments and reminders about upcoming work sessions.