North Polk board approves insurance savings, handbook updates and sale of obsolete equipment

The North Polk Community School District board approved a slate of routine business at its meeting, including a reduction in the district's property and casualty premiums, authorization to sell obsolete technology to the highest bidder, and updates to student and employee handbooks for 2026'27.

Superintendent Michael said the district's experience modification for workers'comp slipped to just under 0.2, which reduced the district's property and casualty premium by about $43,000. "It was just shy of 0.2," he said, adding that the premium decline accounts for the savings. The board moved to approve the FY27 insurance coverage and voted in favor.

The board also approved an agreement and bill of sale to transfer ownership of obsolete technology to the highest bidder after administration solicited vendors. Administration said the sale was part of routine inventory and asset management.

The board adopted the 2026'27 student handbooks for elementary, middle and high schools after administration noted several changes made to align with updated laws and to provide clearer guidance to staff and families. A separate motion approved district employee handbooks, which include a process to require staff to complete mandatory trainings and sign off on handbook acknowledgment within 60 days; Michael said multiple reminders will be sent before any enforcement steps.

Other finance items included approval to transfer multiple long-inactive activity and resale account balances into the unassigned general fund balance to "clean up the books," including a transfer of $4,872.30. The motions on the consent agenda and finance items were moved, seconded and approved.

The board concluded the meeting with brief member comments and adjourned at 7:46 p.m.