17:28 → 17:54(26s)
Meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led by the presiding officer (identified in the transcript as Speaker 1). The board moved quickly into business after the pledge.
Hiawatha USD school board opened with the pledge, approved routine items, and spent the bulk of the meeting reviewing the proposed 2024–25 budget and capital outlay mill levy options. Directors debated a proposed 6-mill capital outlay increase vs. lower options and voted to publish a budget reflecting a 5.5-mill capital outlay levy; the board also approved a Parents as Teachers contract, updated handbooks, accepted coach resignations, appointed several staff, and heard facilities updates including completion of a lighting project and progress on bus barn tank removal.
