Keota School Board elects officers, approves budget requests and new lunch pricing

KEOTA, Iowa — The Keota School District Board of Education reorganized and approved several routine administrative and financial actions during its Dec. 11, 2025 meeting at the elementary media center.

President Billie Kindred called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The board unanimously approved the agenda and consent items, then adjourned the regular meeting and convened an organizational session. Gina Bennett, serving as president pro tem, administered oaths to newly elected directors Dan Redlinger and Nathan Greiner. Directors then elected Billie Kindred as board president and Pat Hammen as vice president by unanimous votes. The board also appointed Gina Bennett as board secretary and set regular meetings for the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the elementary media center.

The board approved routine governance items, including naming Ahlers and Cooney/Brett Nitscke as legal counsel and Libertyville Savings Bank as the district depository, and confirmed committee assignments with Nathan Greiner on the policy committee.

Financial and operational approvals included two School Budget Review Committee requests: a $49,550 modified supplemental amount for increased certified enrollment and a $92,180 request for open-enrolled-out students who were not included in the district's prior-year certified count. Both requests were authorized by motion and passed unanimously.

Board members also approved the sale of a John Deere tractor and a Dodge pickup, confirmed district representatives to the Washington and Keokuk County conference boards, and approved the second reading of policy primer updates (waiving a third reading).

Directors adopted Option A for the district’s new nutrition pricing to take effect Jan. 1, 2026. The board voted 5-0 to not move forward with purchasing vape detectors for district buildings. The early retirement plan brought before the board was accepted as presented; the board tabled approval of district goals until the next meeting.

In administrative reports, Superintendent Dave Harper said, “The solar panels are up. They should be hooked up and going by December 12th.” Secondary Principal Heather Rosewall outlined a Civics pilot, noting that five students are enrolled in the alternative program and that a new master schedule is being finalized to accommodate it. Elementary Principal Seth Milledge reported on a district special-education review focused on literacy supports and noted that 5th- and 6th-grade students (83%) earned a BRAG trip to an arena hockey game. Activity programs and financial reporting were presented by the activities director and business manager; custodial staff reported needed RTU repairs and that a new high-school water heater has been ordered.

Votes at a glance • Election of board president (Billie Kindred): carried 5-0. • Election of vice president (Pat Hammen): carried 5-0. • Appointment of Gina Bennett as board secretary: carried 5-0. • SBRC supplemental requests: $49,550 (allowable growth) and $92,180 (open-enrollment out): both authorized 5-0. • Sale of John Deere tractor and Dodge pickup: approved 5-0. • Approval of Libertyville Savings Bank as depository and Ahlers and Cooney/Brett Nitscke as legal counsel: approved 5-0. • Policy primer updates (second reading; third reading waived): approved 5-0. • New lunch pricing (Option A), effective Jan. 1, 2026: approved 5-0. • Decision not to purchase vape detectors: approved 5-0. • Early retirement plan: accepted 5-0.

The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Jan. 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the elementary media library and adjourned at 6:52 p.m.