Humboldt School Board approves personnel moves, contracts and directs superintendent to negotiate property purchase

The Humboldt Community School District Board of Education met on May 18, 2026 in the district administration board room and approved a slate of personnel actions, vendor contracts and policy updates before instructing Superintendent Jim Murray to negotiate the purchase of a property following a closed-session discussion.

President Tate Satern called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the board approved the meeting agenda with added items related to payment of bills, personnel recommendations, resignations and open enrollment. Champions for Children Awards were presented to Britni O’Leary, Kayla Newton, Katie Staton, Joline Schulze and Jeff Lane; the recipients left the meeting at 5:37 p.m.

On consent the board approved minutes from the April 20 regular meeting and April 23 special meeting, financial reports and bills for payment. The board acted on open-enrollment requests: Bailey Douglas (1st grade) was approved to transfer from Humboldt to CAM for 2026–27; Odyssey Van Unen (4th) and James Hickman (3rd) transfers from Fort Dodge were addressed with James Hickman’s 2025–26 request denied; Konrad Simmons (5th) from GCB to Humboldt for 2026–27 was denied. The board also approved numerous personnel contract amendments, transfers and recommendations for 2026–2027 hires and accepted several resignations effective at year-end or on dates specified in the record; all consent items passed by unanimous vote.

The board approved whole-grade sharing for middle- and high-school boys and girls sports with Twin Rivers School for 2026–2027 and granted authority to extend personnel contracts for Superintendent Jim Murray and Principal Ryan Fedders.

Procurement and facilities actions included: setting the specifications and bid letting for food service and custodial laundry services with bid openings at the district office on June 11, 2026 (food service at 10:00 a.m.; custodial laundry at 10:15 a.m.); approving a Specialty Underwriters equipment insurance renewal proposal for $232,310 for 2026–2027; approving an upgrade to the district phone system with Midwest Technology for $14,424.98; approving NCIS work on the maintenance building sewer and water for $41,460; and approving a Mease Elementary playground quote from Midwest Playscapes for $28,917.60. The Prairie Lakes AEA Service Plan Agreement for 2026–2027 was also approved.

Policy work included approval of a package of policies for first reading covering community relations, media relations, volunteers, facility use, drones and emergency operations; a separate package of policies—covering building and sites, maintenance, capital assets, inspections and the district's use-of-recording-devices rule (804.6)—was approved on second and final reading.

Under Iowa Code Section 21.5(1)(j) the board went into closed session to discuss a particular real estate matter, holding the required roll call vote. After returning to open session the board unanimously instructed Superintendent Murray to proceed with negotiating the purchase of the property. The meeting adjourned at 6:11 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve meeting agenda as amended: Moved Mertz; second Lane; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve General Business Consent Items (minutes, financials, open enrollment decisions, personnel actions): Moved Mertz; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve whole-grade sharing with Twin Rivers School (MS/HS sports 2026–27): Moved Lane; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve 2026–2027 Staff Handbook with changes: Moved Mertz; second Lane; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Authorize extension of personnel contracts for Superintendent Jim Murray and Principal Ryan Fedders: Moved Lane; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Set specifications and bid letting dates for food service and custodial laundry (June 11, 2026): Moved Mertz; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve Specialty Underwriters equipment insurance renewal: Moved Mertz; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve district phone system upgrade (Midwest Technology) $14,424.98: Moved Mertz; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve maintenance building sewer and water work (NCIS) $41,460: Moved Mertz; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve Mease Elementary playground (Midwest Playscapes) $28,917.60: Moved Mertz; second Lane; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve Prairie Lakes AEA Service Plan Agreement 2026–2027: Moved Lane; second Ropte; vote 5-0, carried unanimously. - Approve policies for first reading and policies for second/final reading (including 804.6): Moved Ropte (first reading moved by Mertz earlier); seconded as recorded; votes 5-0, carried unanimously. - Enter closed session under Iowa Code 21.5(1)(j) to discuss real estate: Roll call vote recorded; board returned to open session and instructed superintendent to negotiate purchase: Moved Mertz; second Lane; vote 5-0, carried unanimously.

Next steps: The board scheduled the next regular meeting for June 22, 2026. Bid openings are set for June 11, 2026 at the district office.