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Riceville board approves $535,868.74 SES deficit, kitchen bids and $40,930 van purchase
Summary
At its Sept. 15 meeting the Riceville Community School District board approved a $535,868.74 SES deficit, accepted kitchen renovation bids, authorized purchase of a Pacifica van for $40,930, approved personnel hires, multiple policy readings, fundraisers and field trips.
The Riceville Community School District Board of Education met Sept. 15, 2025, in the Board Room and approved a series of budget, personnel and facilities actions affecting the 2025–26 school year. Board President Karl Fox called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
The board voted to approve a Special Education (SES) deficit of $535,868.74 after a motion by Guertin, seconded by Eastman; the motion passed with four ayes. The board also approved the transportation report, a slate of fundraisers and multiple field trips for students, including travel to the National FFA convention and a 3rd-grade skating trip in Mason City.
Superintendent Barb Schwamman reported district operational items including Keystone (district reorganization/redistricting), a letter from the Iowa High School Athletic Association, matters related to Buresh School, and operational sharing dollars. Schwamman said kitchen construction has a few remaining items to complete and that daycare construction is progressing with block laying.
On procurement and facilities, the board approved purchase of a Pacifica van from Prichard’s for $40,930.00 (motion by Hale, seconded by Eastman; recorded vote: 4 Ayes). The board accepted kitchen item bids and approved the CAR (motions recorded as approved, 4 Ayes).
The board handled policy business by approving the second reading of multiple policies (104, 104E.1, 104.E2, 104.E3, 211, 402.2, 102.3, 405.2, 411.2, 501.9, 501.9R1, 503.8–508.2) and by approving the first reading of policies 600–607.2R1 (motions by Guertin, seconded by Eastman; all recorded as 4 Ayes).
Personnel actions included approval of Terri Langan as a substitute teacher/para and Aiden Ebert as a volunteer football coach (motion by Guertin, seconded by Eastman; roll-call recorded as Eastman, Hale, Guertin and Fox — Aye). Student Representative Kennedy Linkenmeyer reported on the new cafeteria, Homecoming organization, upcoming FFA contests and fall athletics. Principals Marcia Grimm and Heather Suckow provided updates on field trips, college visits tied to Manufacturing Day, the Grandparents’ breakfast and Fast Testing.
Other approvals included a set of fundraisers (cheer clinic; FFA fruit and plant sales; PTO meat bundles; travel-club concessions), multiple approved field trips (including the Austin symphony and a basketball cheer event in Rochester, Minn.), an early graduation request, and an agreement with Entec. Directors were asked to indicate interest in attending the IASB convention; the board approved Superintendent Schwamman’s attendance at the ASAA conference (motion by Hale, seconded by Guertin; 4 Ayes).
The board set its next regular meeting for Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in the Board Room and adjourned at 7:27 p.m. The meeting minutes were signed by Board President Karl Fox and Board Secretary Jennifer Dunn.
