Sidney Community School District board approves 2025–26 meal prices, personnel moves and vendor contracts

The Sidney Community School District Board of Directors approved a set of budget and operational changes at its regular meeting May 12, 2025 in Sidney, Iowa, including new school meal prices for the 2025–26 year, multiple personnel actions, contracts with consultants and a new cashless payments vendor.

The board voted unanimously on the primary items. Director Megan Franks moved to approve the slate of personnel actions, which Vice President Justin Travis seconded; the motion carried 4–0. The personnel approvals recorded included resignations from David Quiroz (elementary para), Andrea Vila Garcia (Spanish teacher) and Cheyann Connor (elementary para), and new contracts or hires for Sergio Rodriguez (FY26 head boys basketball), Natali Avalos-Guerra (elementary custodian), Victoria Mateos de Manuel (Spanish teacher) and Will Oswald (assistant boys baseball, pending coach authorization).

Board members also approved the district's meal prices for 2025–26. Director Franks moved to adopt the proposed rates, seconded by Director Darynn Ruiz; the motion carried 4–0. Approved prices are: PK–6 breakfast $1.55 and lunch $2.45; grades 7–12 breakfast $1.60 and lunch $2.55; adult breakfast $2.00 and adult lunch $4.80.

The board authorized several contracts and vendor changes. Vice President Justin Travis moved to approve a consulting contract with KPE Consulting Engineers, Inc.; that motion was seconded by Director Darynn Ruiz and approved 4–0. The board also approved an SU insurance proposal after a presentation summarizing the insurance breakdown. Separately, the board approved adopting Bound Cashless as the district's payments vendor after Mr. Lang presented Bound's terms; the board noted Bound does not require the district to pay an annual fee and that the vendor retains a portion of each transaction. Board discussion referenced rising Corner Conference activity costs in the coming year.

Policy work on the agenda resulted in approval of a package of updates to district policy (302.1, 303.2, 401.1, 600—option 1, 603.4, 605.1R1, 710.01-R(1), 710.1E1 and 710.1E2). Vice President Justin Travis moved the policy updates, seconded by Director Darynn Ruiz; the motion passed 4–0.

Superintendent Michael Brown provided updates on elementary building projects and legislative developments. Elementary Principal Shannon Wehling told the board that PK/Kindergarten Round Up and a PreK–4 celebration were scheduled for Thursday, and that ISASP test results will be presented to the board in June. Secondary Principal Kimberly Payne updated the board on enrollment, a recent 6th-grade shadow day, scholarship night and graduation logistics.

The board recognized several community and student highlights: Hayden Thompson signed to play golf at Southwestern Community College; George C. Grape Community Hospital and Jeremy Hodges with SWIPP donated two automated external defibrillators to the district; students attended the Broadway musical Hamilton in Omaha; boys and girls golf teams won the Corner Conference tournament; and Mr. Whitehead's CTE class visited the Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed.

The board moved into a closed session at 7:32 p.m. under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual at that person's request; Director Megan Franks made the motion and Vice President Justin Travis seconded it. The board reconvened by consensus at 8:16 p.m. and adjourned the meeting at 8:16 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Minutes are unofficial until approved at that meeting.