Waterloo board approves $1.69M EL funding request, buys four special-education vans and adopts multiple policy updates

The Waterloo Community School District Board of Education at its Oct. 28 meeting approved a package of routine and program-specific actions, including a $1,688,515 modified-allowable-growth request to the School Budget Review Committee (SBRC) for English Learner program costs, the purchase of four minivans for special-education routes for $155,300, and the adoption of several policy updates on second reading.

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Sommerfield told the board the district filed its certified annual report in September and that the modified-allowable-growth request would provide 100% spending authority for the district’s 2024–25 EL (English Learner) program costs. Sommerfield said the district used federal ESSER funds in prior years to cover similar shortfalls and that those funds have been exhausted: the request aligns the district’s funding with prior practice and what comparable large districts have requested. The board approved the superintendent’s recommendation by voice vote.

On transportation for students with special-education needs, Director of Operations Zack Kelly outlined a plan to purchase four seven-passenger minivans from Dander Motor Company at a total price of $155,300, to be paid from special-education funding. Kelly said the vans will be used for morning and afternoon home-to-school routes and midday work-experience and early-childhood routes. He described staffing plans that would place a driver and a monitor on each route and noted the district is recruiting for those positions; the board approved the purchase by voice vote.

Kelly told the board the vans are not modified for wheelchair access and are intended for students without mobility needs; the district will continue to evaluate options for wheelchair-capable vehicles when needed. He also said vehicles will be inspected by the Department of Education on the district’s required schedule.

The board also completed a second reading and approved a comprehensive package of policy revisions. Items listed during the meeting included an objection-to-instructional-and-library-materials policy, anti-bullying and anti-harassment policies, procedures for administrative contracts and nonrenewal, student health services, transportation and bus passenger restraints, capital assets and disposal, visitor and volunteer policies, and several administrative regulations that reflect recent state and IASB (Iowa Association of School Boards) updates. Board leadership said the changes reflect legislative and association revisions and that the policies had been reviewed by the district leadership team and the policy review committee.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (minutes, personnel, bills): approved by voice vote; motion carried. • EL modified-allowable-growth request to SBRC: $1,688,515 requested; board approved superintendent’s recommendation by voice vote. • Special-education van purchase (4 vans from Dander Motor Company): $155,300, paid from special-education funds; approved by voice vote. • Policy changes (second reading): multiple policies adopted on second reading; approved by voice vote.

Next steps The EL allowable-growth request will be submitted to the SBRC for consideration; vans will be procured and staffed according to the district’s planned timeline. Board members reminded the public of a district town hall that evening and of election-related dates on the ballot materials.

(Reporting based on board statements and motions recorded during the meeting.)