001That's it. Good evening and welcome to tonight's Cedar Falls School Board meeting. Today is Monday, April 27th, 2026. This past week was National Volunteer Week, uh, which honors our community volunteers, um, whether in the Cedar Falls community, the Cedar Valley, across the state, across the nation. I would like to share a special shout out to our many building volunteers, our parent and teacher organizations, our booster clubs, and to my colleagues at this table, as schoolboard members, our volunteers, too. Thank you. The board leads and supports the district mission which is educating each and every student to be a lifelong learner and a caring responsible citizen. Our board of education goals are listed on the agenda and available on the website. we will uh go into our first public hearing which is I have in my
002possession an affidavit of publication showing that the notice of time and place of a hearing for the proposed school budget notice for fiscal year 202627. This notice was published in the water cedar falls courier on April 16th 2026. The board will now hold a hearing. Does anybody have comment to offer? Hearing none. This hearing is closed. We move on to the second hearing this evening. I have in my possession an affidavit of publication showing that the notice of time and place of a hearing for the proposed school budget amendment notice for fiscal year 202526. This notice was published in the Waterl Cedar Falls Courier on April 16th, 2026. The board will now hold a hearing. Does anybody have any comments regarding this hearing? None. Um, I believe I need to accept a motion. >> No
003motion. I will just scribble that out here for my notes. >> So, those two items are done. We will now go into the consent agenda. Tonight's consent agenda has our agenda for this evening, past minutes, accounts payable, open enrollment, our HR report, and um the 2627 Orchard Hill Church Preschool agreement. We will take a motion. So moved. >> Director Stzman and a second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Director Peterson. Um any comments or questions? >> Um hearing none. Um those that in favor of accepting this, please say I. >> I. Opposed would be the same. That motion carried. We're going into public comment. Um and we do have um someone for this evening. Uh the board recognizes this importance of citizens participating in school district matters. Um in order to asssure citizens are heard and
004bo uh board meetings are conducted efficiently and in an organized manner. The board sets aside time for citizen comment. Um we do ask that the comments be kept to three minutes each and germaine to district business. And tonight's speaker is Jason Lang. >> All right. Good evening everyone. My name is Jason Lang. I'm a high school biology teacher, uh AP environmental science teacher, and uh for the past few years, I've been president of the Cedar Falls Education Association. And I presented some materials uh to all of you earlier tonight uh regarding the ISA Educator Bill of Rights. And the first thing I wanted to say was uh was was thank you to all of you for the support that you offer us. I I don't bring this document. I want to make sure it's really
005clear. I don't bring this to make a point. I bring this uh to to make you aware of our our organizational goals and and things I think that are going to go forward in time. Even as many of you know, I'm kind of on my way out the door right now. Uh but as you look at the look at the document, um we started this about a little over a year and a half ago. our our state president Josh Brown sent out surveys to all of the locals that became those became listening posts then where we got people together and kind of documented those ideas a little bit further. We sent those on uh to our folks in De Moines at the ISA and then last summer they came up with a draft bill of
006rights that finally uh came out on paper actually this fall. So I've kind of held on to it a little bit just waiting to see where this was all going to land if anything was going to change. But I think now as you look at what you see uh this this ISA bill of rights I think it's a solid document that uh as teachers I know we can go forward with and say you know these are the things that that we would like to see as teachers and so I just wanted to get those kind of on on the record right now really quick. So uh so our bill of rights what what we ask for as teachers professional respect fair compensation a safe and healthy work environment a manageable workload quality resources professional collaboration
007community support professional growth secure retirement and collaborative leadership. So moving forward uh as an organization, CFA, moving forward with all of you because we're all in this together. Uh these are things that we're looking for, things that we're going to kind of fall back on if we ever lose our way a little bit. This is a document that we can come back to and say, "Hey, are are we how are we doing on this document?" Because this is what we really uh would like to have and what we what we need as teachers. So again, thank you very much for the time and I know one thing if I have one thing uh to to also say about this document is there isn't anything directly about students on here and I know we always say
008students first students first and and and I get that but I also wanted to mention that you know when you have a great teaching environment you have a great student learning environment and and that's kind of what this goes back to when we have great classrooms we absolutely know our students are learning and being given the best uh educational opportunities possible. So, thank you so much for listening and just as a this might be the last time I ever I'm ever at this microphone. Thank you all very very much for the support that uh that you give our teachers, the support that uh that you've given me in in in my leadership position over the last couple years. Uh, I appreciate all of the hard work that you do uh as administrators and our board
009members. So, thanks so much. >> Thank you. Thank you, Jason. >> Okay, next up we have our communications and this evening we have James Pang to give a student update. >> Hi, how you guys doing? um here to give you some updates about what we're doing at Cedar Falls. So, um today I'll kind of work forward, I mean I'll kind of work backwards, but uh today we had our uh ninth grade tours. Uh so we uh I had a fun time um talking on the panel and uh we did a little Q&A there and then uh other students gave tours around school for both homes and Pete students and uh you know getting them acclimated to the new high school environment. In addition, this morning we held a staff appreciation breakfast um and we had
010some breakfast pizza and pastries and fruit there for the staff to enjoy. And then a couple weeks ago, we uh held a walker wash. So, we worked with uh a nursing home and we went out and washed the walkers. So, uh that was pretty fun. And then uh we also held a 3B free basketball tournament. Uh the second one we've held and um believe we raised around $1,000. cuz I don't have a precise number on that yet, but um the uh team that won included Jaden Kimbro, so a little bit unfair, but uh I don't know, might might have to fix the rules a bit next year. But uh yeah, held that. And then um coming up, we have some officer elections for next year's uh officers at Student Senate. And we are also beginning
011to plan homecoming which is only about 4 months away. So yeah. >> Wait, maybe got that wrong. Oh yeah, September around. Yeah, four to five months away. So yeah. >> So James, I asked you I think maybe last time you were here. Plans for next year? >> Yeah. I'm going to the University of Pennsylvania. >> Fantastic. >> Congrats. Thank you. >> Yeah. >> I appreciate it. >> They're lucky to have you. >> Absolutely. You know, I hope so. >> And I know the three uh three versus three prophets went to do better, be better. Is there a date planned? Are they doing a color run again or not? >> Color run? I don't think so. We were kind of replaced the color run with a 3v3 just because the turnout for the color run was
012um getting lower. And then logistically it was also like a lot harder. Whereas 3v3 we can raise the same amount. We can actually raise more and um do that in a lot more simple way. And yeah, I think it's a little more entertaining than running, but >> good to be innovative. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And now we'll have Janelle Darst with our >> Yeah. Good evening everyone. It has been a exciting and busy couple of weeks since the last time I stood here. So, um I'm going to start out in no particular order are all of these highlights and congratulations and awards by all of our students. Um, but we have some really amazing things that have been um, awarded over the last couple weeks. Daniel Amse, he's a senior. This last weekend
013he was named the 2026 National L Youth Poet laurate. And um, this is the award that Amanda Gorman won a few years back. Um, he is the first Ian to receive the award and competed of course against um, other high schoolers across the country and is only the 10th student awarded this. So it was it's a um newer award that has been um given out and uh Daniel had to win at the local and then the state and then competed at the national level. So big congratulations to him. It was actually in the e newswsletter the link to watch that competition and it's still live so you're able to go and actually still watch him competing. The other big news um the high school science olympiad is heading to nationals at USC in California. They
014had this great accomplishment of winning the state championship for the first time in school history and they placed in almost all of the 23 events um across the board there. So you can see the team and um so they are fundraising right now to be able to go and compete in California and that information was on the also in the e newswsletter if you'd like to support them and help them out by um able to make it happen for all of them to head to California. So big congratulations to that high school science team. And then we had our gold star teachers announced. This is of course the awards given by the Mroy Trust and one of the highlights I think in the district and actually for me in my job because I get to
015go and um help with the surprises and take some video. So we um are proud to announce Kevin Keer, social studies at homes, Tracy Wabbor teaches second grade at North Cedar and Kimberly Wilmer science at the high school. So that was just two weeks ago almost. Yeah, we announced those and then of course the Malory announces all 10 of their award winners and they have a big party in May at the Gallagher Blueorn. So be looking for that information as well. Hope you can all attend and cheer on our gold star teachers. the um the spouses are notified the day before if their spouse is winning this award and then it's their responsibility to figure out how to come get there, bring their children as a surprise if they can. Um and we just have
016to shout out uh those families showed up this year. They showed up big like there were grandmas and grandpas and brothers of the gold star teachers, of course, their children. Um, it was amazing. So, we'll be posting on our social media this actual surprise videos that you'll able to able will be able to see those as well. So, that was just really exciting. Oh my gosh. And then we had the Drake Relays last weekend and our um student athletes just did amazing. Of course, Charlie G. She set um a school record in the 30,000 meters, Drake Relay's champion. And then she ran the elite mile, which is like the best mile runners in the high school, and she won that event as well. And then we had um Khloe Nissen. She So, if you can
017keep track of this, she set a school record, she set a relay, Drake Relay's record, and Drake Relay's champion, of course. So, that like I'm not sure like that trifecta hardly ever happens. So, that is so amazing. So, congratulations to Chloe. And then we had two on the men's side. Um, Brennan Hoyer in the 800 meter set a school record, Drake Relay's champion. And then our 4x4 meter were Drake Relay's runner up, but was also a school record. Um, so those are um Paulie, Clark Hoyer, and Tommyovich on that 4x400. So, congratulations to all of those students. And I do will mention real quick, and you can find this on our social media, but we had u I think for one of the first times a junior high team compete. So we had a homes
018um 4x >> team compete. They set the homeschool record. And then also I think they finished second, third, they finished third. So that was really fun to see that um uh Cassie FedE I believe is the Holmes girls track coach. So she um took those girls down and they were able to compete. um down at Drake. So that was really cool to see. And then our um music, they had the state solo and ensemble festival and um again our students performed um and did excellent. They had 38 events with 31 in as division one ratings and then the um judges choose out of their centers just one outstanding performance award and Levi Roberts was awarded that with his snare drum solo and Tony solo. So congratulations to all of those students. And then this is
019the high school team that competed at the state physics competition. They competed against 14 different schools. They placed in the top 10 in each of those events and then had a second place overall finish as well. So, congratulations to the high school physics group. And then the Holmes students, um, coach um, Jim Duff is with this group at Holmes and they went and competed in the 2026 Iowa Science Olympiad down at Iowa State and got um, were able to bring home the third place trophy in the B division for middle grades. So, congratulations to all of those students and a special shout out to Mr. Duff for um sharing some great information for me to be able to share on social media with that. I always appreciate it when the teachers share that information with
020us. And then wanted to give a special congratulations to our athletic director, Justin Orbanick. He received the Golden Eagle Award. This is an award sponsored by the Iowa National Guard and was given at the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association um annual meeting. And this was in particular in regards to um Mr. Urbanic support of the military appreciation appreciation night that we've had as part of our home football games the past couple falls. Congratulations to him. And then uh our community auditorium, we're having an open house and ribbon cutting tomorrow. That ribbon cutting is going to be at around 4:05. Um and we do of course it's so hard to find a date for um events happening up at the high school. So, there is a soccer a home soccer game, but there will be
021plenty of parking in that high school parking lot, and we're just asking everyone to um kind of cut through the back of the stadium to get to the niatorum since the parking on by the nitorium is um minimal. So, we have the ambassadors coming. We'll have a few speakers and then um everyone is able to um take a quick look at this amazing facility we have. And then just last week, this was another award the district was given. This was the ripple effect award and this recognizes outstanding urban storm water management projects that protect and improve Iowa's water quality. Um, this was a project really driven by Josh Balk. He was with the Iowa Waste Reduction Center at you and I. I have to look at Andy, Dr. Patifi, for this because I'm going to
022probably say something incorrect. So Josh was an amazing partner for us for the district as we were planning and designing the new high school. And of course, as you when you go to the new high school, you can see all of these the native prairie spaces and um the storm water manage like the storm water areas. And there's even some signage around where some of this is that kind of describes um what you're seeing in those areas at the new high school. It's also provides some really great hands-on learning opportunities for our students. So Josh actually nominated the district for this award. Um and we really appreciate his all of his work and then his nomination for us to receive that award last week. Few more days you can do the school match grant through
023Give and Grow with Green State Credit Union. Um they'll match your donation up to $500. Again, we're celebrating our 150th commencement, so we're requesting photos to be sent in. I know we've got lots of lots of graduation photos out there, so please send those into that. um Cedar Falls Schools atgmail account. We have lots of spring activities still happening and um we'll be moving into postseason for a lot of those in the coming weeks. So, please follow along um for all of those and then you can scan that QR code, get on our district e newswsletter and get lots more information of all the great things happening across the district. Any questions? >> That's a lot. That is >> Yeah, thank you. >> A lot. Thank you. Yeah, I paired it down. So, just know
024>> I was missing the pictures of the kids in the yellow galashes. I feel like you should just include that every time. >> Every time. >> Yeah, I know. I know, right? Just always have that as part of my >> They're so cute. >> That was picked up by a local news media, though, that I think is going to run with the stories. So, which is really, really >> worth it. Yeah, >> absolutely. Good. Good. We love good PR press. Okay. Um we are moving into then um item G which is the approval of the Shields Tiger Performance Center phase 2 bid. Dr. >> Yeah. So uh up on the uh slides you will see um this is for the phase 2 and we again cannot say anything about the Tiger Performance Center without just
025saying how much we appreciate the committee that worked through fundraising naming rights. uh knocked on businesses and without their work to to be able to get phase one completed for the Shields Tiger P performance center, we wouldn't be here for phase two. Uh just a reminder, phase two of the Shields Tiger Performance Center is the the great majority is through inflation reduction act dollars through the federal government. uh Denell and her team uh work diligently to uh achieve and receive uh grant dollars that go towards phase number number two. Uh we had one bidder, Peter's Construction. Uh that bid came in lower than we anticipated the overall budget to be. Uh you can see up on the screen that it's at 3.268 million. Um there was an alternate number one that uh we are recommending
026not approving which was a different uh turf and and substrate uh for a recommendation that we accept the bid for the Shields Tiger Performance Center phase 2 for Peter's construction of 3.268 $470 u for completion. This does include those items that we were thinking might not be included in phase 2. Uh some of the batting cages, some of the other uh accutrants I would say that are in that space that are going to now be included because of the the bid process. So very excited about this. Can't thank our community, businesses, our our committee enough for what they've been able to accomplish. truly what we thought would be a five to sevenyear process they did in uh two to three short years. >> Thank you. Thank you. Um we will take a motion for that
027then. >> Quick question. Remind me. Is this the the last of it? You said it included some things that we didn't think were going to be included, but there's still another phase after this. >> No, we thought there would be another phase. We actually had discussed going into kind of a phase three with maybe even the flooring and some of those aspects uh through the bidding process through some of the um kind of design engineering to be able to uh cost save some items. This is the last phase. So once this is completed, we believe probably in mid December of 2026 it will be open and ready. >> Right. Thank you. And >> if there are no other questions, uh, I move that the Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education approve the bid
028for phase two of the Shields Tiger Performance Center from Peters Construction in Waterl, Iowa in a base bid amount of 3,268,470. >> And we will take a second to that. >> Second. >> Okay. And then any additional conversations or questions? Okay. Hearing none, um we'll ask for this motion to be approved. All those in favor would say I. >> I. >> All of the opposed would be the same. That motion carries. Thank you so much. Um moving into item H, approval of the budget. >> Yeah, the next three items are are mine. Um this particular item is in regards to the certified budget presentation. Um this is a brief summary of uh the presentation that was provided um two weeks ago regarding that certified budget. But we'll take a quick look at um some highlights
029of that um in regards to the dollars associated to the levies as well as then what that levy rate would um be impacting. Again, that combined district cost, if you recall, um, based on the previous, um, is that $5.40, uh, that all districts are required to levy, and it equates to that $18,235,825. We do have that dropout prevention that the board did approve and that's our our at risk um uh at risk and dropout prevention uh program which we utilize throughout the district of a little over $1 million for a total uh general fund of $19,313,226 or $7.87. Uh in addition then uh there are some additional levies. Uh those additional levies include the instructional support levy. our instructional support levy. As a reminder, we utilize that for um district technology as well as salaries
030and benefits associated to uh some of our kindergarten teachers, some of our preschool, um some of our counselors associated to that. Uh that equates to a little over $2.6 million or 95 cents uh per a thousand ces valuation. We then have our management fund. We've spoken about this uh most recently in regards to liability, property insurance, uh work comp insurance, um and those increases based on uh national increases, not based on Cedar Falls increases um unfortunately, but based on that, that would be a little over $2.1 million or 87 cents for uh fiscal uh 27. Within we have our voted PPE and our regular PPE. Our voted ple and regular pebble are utilized for our facilities as well as our fleet. We often talk about Dr. Pati presents a 10-year PPE plan uh and those
031uh plans that we have in regards to rotations of needs regarding our roofing that we just recently approved. Um those dollars associated to that uh for the voted is a little over $3.6 million within that regular PEP of $92,000. Um and then finally our debt service. Those these are our additional levies. The debt service is utilized for the principal and interest of our geo debt uh for the construction of Aldrich Elementary, the remodels of North Cedar and Orchard Hill, and then also the construction of the high school in the stadium for a little over $7.4 million or $2.73 for a total of three uh $36,129,44 or a tax levy of $14.11. As we move forward, then it does just give you a um a property tax history of the last several years. This does depict
032uh our total tax rate as well as that if um without the debt service. Uh you'll note over the last several years that does continue to decrease um as we have communicated that uh again this year. It is anticipated at that $14.11 uh without debt service. This was a question that was asked uh of our meeting last um last meeting of what that tax rate would be and you'll see that that tax rate would be at that $11.37 based on that. So about a $2.74 difference um with that debt service. So again, we appreciate the community uh for for definitely graciously approving that and moving forward with our beautiful facility. So, as we move forward then, uh, this just depicts what our, um, uh, property tax breakdown looks like. Um it really depicts what the
033board has um approval for. Um you'll note uh in regards to the majority of that is uh the state or or also community. Uh you'll note uh with the debt service associated to that a little over 20% of our total combined uh as well as then that combined district cost uh that I referenced earlier. We have our voted and regular PEP um that management fund instructional support and then dropout prevention. So the board has that fluctuation of about 18% of the total property tax breakdown. So uh just a good depiction of of what that uh board control has. So and then finally as we move forward um we have two depictions. This one is of the res residential property tax um which I had discussed um two weeks ago and what that looks like based
034on a $100,000 assessed valuation. Uh that roll back is set by the department of revenue. uh you'll see there was a decrease based on uh for fiscal 27 uh for that total property valuation uh with the tax rate uh as I've indicated at that $14.11 we do anticipate a decrease of about8% or about $61 for a residential property based on this $100,000. Um as we move forward then you'll note then for the commercial property this is a little bit more um difficult to understand. uh the the the uh formula is a little bit more difficult um because there's multiple steps associated to that. Uh but commercial you'll also see based on those taxable values, the roll backs and the percentages associated to that with that tax rate again of $14.11 uh you'll see for a
035$400,000 uh commercial property about a decrease of about $184 or 4.3% from the prior year. So, um, other than that, the next one is in in regards to our budget amendment, which is our next our next agenda item. So, I will certainly take any questions that you may have. Again, this is very brief based on what uh the previous uh presentation was, but it does give you an overview that uh we do continue to move forward with uh the decreasing of that tax rate with again about a 41 cent um uh decrease from the prior year um to that $1411 for this year. So, >> so I have a question. >> Can we go back to that slide that had the breakdown of the with the graph? >> Yep. Yep. The graph one. Absolutely. >>
036Um, so some of those remind me which ones did we already approve? >> Yeah, so the dropout prevention is is approved during the period of time in which we review um our our um our program. Okay. Okay. >> Uh so that one is approved previously. Our debt service is actually approved uh back in January of or excuse me June of 2019, right? Um with our community was approving um those particular ones. The management fund obviously is a a conversation piece based on needs each year. Uh so that is is um uh based on the dollars associated to what is expected for next year to pay those. Um and then we do have our uh PPE and and our instructional support that the board had previously approved in in periods of time. So um the remaining
037one uh that voted PPE would be then our community which uh had previously approved that. That's a 10-year voted PEL uh based on on the the community vote. >> Great. I just wanted to identify those already sort of in motion type of items, right? >> Yep. >> Thanks, Susie. do have there's a bill in the legislature and I'm not sure where it stands right now allowing uh teacher salary supplement to follow students who are uh choosing uh educational savings plans, educational savings accounts, and would that impact this year's budget? Would we need to review that if that law is signed? uh any idea or thought of where I'm going with this? >> Yeah, so I think the bill that you're referencing is actually um only for the um charter schools and right now there are
038I think 14 charter schools in the state of Iowa. We don't have very many uh if any uh students that leave the district to go to a charter school. So >> So at this time it probably would not have any. >> No, I would not. >> Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. So, we will take a motion for approval of this. Then >> I move that the Cedar Falls Board of Education approve the proposed 202627 school year budget as presented and the use of 1% income tax as required by Iowa code. >> Okay. And a second. >> Second. >> Thank you, Dr. Director Peterson, additional conversation comments. >> I would just maybe point out all the hard work that not only Denell but her team, all of you not mentioned here, but just all the
039hard work that you guys put into it and >> we appreciate it every year and now hopefully you can breathe a little bit easier >> and you make it understandable. So, thank you. >> Appreciate. >> And additionally, um we really are very exact on our budget. We don't do, oh, let's round up, right? We don't do that. We and that's what we're going to be talking about when we amend the the current budget. But I think that is incredibly important that we are very very conscientious about the dollars we're going to spend for each and every student in public education. Okay. Anything else? Then I will um call for a vote. All those in favor would for approval would say I >> oppose the same and that motion carried. Thank you. >> Yeah. The next
040one really is just a part of the budget as well. It's it's taking a look at our 25 and 26 budget. Um if we pull up the the actual presentation, this just really is a brief overview. Again, um this just depicts what um Iowa code allows. Uh this is a common occurrence for districts across the state. Um, as you know, we are setting a budget for next year at this time. Um, and there's oftent times that uh expenses occur uh that we are unexpected. Um, and that that does happen. So, this code does allow us to make those budget amendments utilizing the resources of funding uh that we have available to us. It's not an additional tax. It's utilizing the the funds that we currently have. And so as we move forward then taking a
041look um as as Director Hines indicated, we take a look at those line items and make adjustments as needed. One of those items that we've discovered um was our district network switches and access points. um there was a a change in timing of those needs um and anticipated timings and because of that we do have to show those expenses and those potential uh within this current budget um because those expenses are intended to occur in this fiscal year. Um part of this is you'll see that there is quite a uh quite an increase from 56 million to 57 million but that is due to the entire expense. We do anticipate -ate um to um reimburse the district for a portion of that. But again, we do have to make those adjustments accordingly for that. And
042this is um to ensure our uh district network continues to root uh run seamlessly. Um and it has been uh a few years since we have updated those and it does go through that process as needed to and recommended by um our IT as well as then our instructional programs and our non-instructional programs, excuse me. Uh uh there are increases that we've seen in our food and supply cost. As I had indicated at the previous meeting, we've seen some pretty significant increases that were not anticipated um with the different costs associated to those foods and those requirements of feeding um uh based on some of those needs. And so we do see an increase from three uh $3,757,326 to $3,939,259. Um there are as a reminder there are four areas that uh can be amended.
043These are the two areas that we do recommend for this year only. >> And if I'm remembering correctly, these are completely different silos. >> Yeah, great question. Um yes, so our non-instructional program is our uh proprietary fund. Great question. Uh that is its own silo. can only be utilized for um supplies uh food as well as salaries and benefits associated to the food program, nutrition program. And then instruction actually um is is uh it's not only general fund, but it's also in all other buckets. So that would include um our capital projects as well as our management fund as well as um our student athletics and activities. And so when it talks about instructional, it's actually across the entire board, not just specifically general fund expenditures. So that's a great question. >> Excellent. >> Okay,
044we will go with a motion then on this amendment. >> I move that the Cedar Falls uh Board of Education approve the amendment of the budget year expenditures. the amendment of the 20 202526 budget year expenditures in two of the four categories instructional and non-instructional programs as presented >> and we'll take a second >> second director orvis um any additional comments or questions >> hearing none we'll move to approval um all those in favor would say I >> I those opposed the same and that motion carried thank Thank you so much. >> Absolutely. This is the last one. There is no presentation in regards to this. This actually is just an annual request or requirement really um for uh during certified and budget. It it does state that the district will levy property taxes associated
045um for fiscal 27 um for the regular pro uh program budget and it's just allowed under Iowa code. So, it is a requirement to move forward. um they do require that the board do approve this on a yearly basis though the budget is approved and and the amendment is approved but um it's just a um an annual process that is required. So right, let's go ahead and take that motion then. >> I move that if necessary, the board of education of the Cedar Falls Community School District will levy property tax tax for the fiscal year 2026 27 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14 code of Iowa. >> And a second. >> Second. >> Okay. Any additional questions or comments? All those in favor of approving would say I. >> I.
046>> Opposed would be the same. And that motion carried. Thank you so much. And then we get to item K, which is our superintendent report. >> Yeah, just a few items uh at each of your uh placements. Uh up here is a free book that came from the Iowa Association of School Boards. So, I wanted to pass that along and uh give you the opportunity to to have those. And again, thank you to the association for for giving those. Uh, next board meeting is May 11th. Uh, as uh, Janelle said, there's a lot of great activities going on for um, across the the district. A couple items that we have that are upcoming that I wanted to note is our service recognition, which is uh, for those that are either retiring and or have had
04710 years of service to the district that are moving into a different position, uh, is on Tuesday, May 19th. certainly invite all the board members to come to that. It's in the jungle up at the high school. It's always just a neat event as we recognize and celebrate those that have spent uh many years within the district serving our students. Then finally, commencement is May 24th at 2 p.m. Uh and again, thank you for our two board members uh that have volunteered to hand out diplomas for that. So, thank you very much. >> What time is the service recognition? You may have said that and I was >> It's not on there. Um, I believe it's at 5:00. Uh, but I'll double check that. Um, but I'm 97% certain now. 100% certain that that is
048at 5:00. >> Nodding heads. Yes. Okay. >> Excellent. Okay. And then anything from our board. >> I I did notice in the community that uh roofing signs are popping up faster than dandelion lines. Did the uh school district have to file any damage claims due to the hail storms? Uh we had some damage. Yeah. So we thought that there would be some damage in a few buildings that did not um which was uh very fortunate. Uh our ESC building which is a um traditional roof uh that is uh shingles uh was damaged. So that's something that we will uh have taken care of. And then we had some damage at Orchard Hill as well that uh we are reviewing and looking at. So, um, we have local adjusters that have been very prompt and and
049responsive. Now, it's just a matter of getting some, uh, cost estimates and what that may mean. We did have a couple vans that, uh, were transporting students that have some dent marks, but, they were vans that we anticipate being in a rotation of of vans that would turn over. So, more than likely, those won't have any sort of value that will turn over. So, >> we could use those for golf tournaments since they already have those. >> There we go. Yes. Yes. Park outside baseball and softball games. Yes. >> Our golfers keep on the course. >> Okay. >> Oh, they're on the >> They're good. >> Good golf. >> Um I wondered just curious if um there was any potential for Daniel uh reading at the graduation. >> Uh we are probably going to have
050him and invite him to come to the board to read. So that is the hope. I don't know about graduation. Uh there's usually pretty locked step with their their process, but I can reach out to the high school to figure out if that's >> that's something. >> Such an honor. I that's amazing. Really, it is. >> I'm going to think about it. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> I I did have one thing to bring before the board. Uh I did email Director Hines and uh Superintendent uh Dr. fat today. But there's two things that I'm just kind of watching as 21st century education uh changes and evolves and things that are taking place um across the whole country. And if you were able to attend the Lin Lions uh presentation last week, um you
051would have seen just the very compelling evidence that uh screen exposure, especially to younger kids, can have an effect on just attention spans, um learnability, those types of things. And so kind of in that spirit of her coming and presenting to the Cedar Falls district and us partnering with parents, um I think it would be appropriate and I'm asking that we have a board work session to just review our practices and policies within the district. um maybe and also have uh Tara and Eric there just as advisers um to help us understand. Obviously, there's never a one-sizefits-all, but um really just requesting a work session to review our practices and policies to see if there's anything that we should change or do differently in the district. Um along that same vein, uh I've also asked
052um maybe a separate board session, but also review our uh nutrition practices, how we do our meal planning and things like that in our cafeterias, which as you know, over the past 10 years, we've invested a lot of money in our uh kitchens. And so I have a personal kind of interest in um digging into that a little bit. And I'm sure if I as a parent have that, I'm sure there are other parents in the district that have that as well. So I just wanted to bring this before the board that I've requested those two items. Both of them just a informal work session that we can have maybe after a board meeting or something and bring some adviserss in to help us understand those processes. >> Maybe we could do that on May
05326th. We have an as needed board meeting tenatively scheduled. Um, but we could do that or a short board meeting and then then that or >> uh probably not just due to the fact that we're going to do some work over the summer as far as uh some of the screen time, some of the curriculum components. So, uh we won't be in a position that we would be able to present on on that. Um certainly here in the next month. Um it's something that we've been watching, something that uh we're really aware of. Uh but uh also I'm not sure as we do just uh u complete audits uh if there's as much screen time that sometimes some of the legislators have stated within our district. So it's just something we need some additional time
054on. Uh the nutrition guidelines is uh we're working through some things now as far as some new requirements that came out from the federal government. A lot of that is based on just requirements that the uh FDA um put out. Um but something that from a a single parent standpoint, both my kids eat school lunch, which they haven't in the past, which I'm really excited about. So, which is a good thing. Uh but something I think uh down the road we can at least share how and what and where um the guidelines are for how we have to acquire what it looks like for subsidies that come from the federal government what the requirement is for each component on the plate uh as far as different aspects because there's just a lot that goes into
055that. I do think those are are great work sessions. Um especially once the cabinet the team members can prepare that stuff for us. Right. >> Of course. >> Y so um we will put it on the u my giant rotating list. >> Yes. And >> yeah, and my goal isn't to create a huge urgency, but I think as we go into the summer, we have some >> opportunities to spend some time maybe digging into some of these topics since we're through budget season now. >> Yeah, >> there we go. No other pressing topics, right? >> Um, additional. >> So, yep. >> Yeah. So now I'm the district's representative on the dryrun creek watershed improvement project. About a month ago we had our they had the group had its annual meeting. Just to give a little
056bit of update what was talked about this the dry run creek watershed improvement projects about 20 years old now. So they've been doing a lot of work over the past couple decades trying to improve um water quality here around the dry crun creek watershed. Um really the biggest news out of that is the Josh Balk is leaving has or has left he left towards the end of 2025 as coordinator of this project. um they are in over this next year they'll be looking to hire a replacement coordinator on board them. Josh is going to help with um that transition hopefully make that as smooth as possible. Uh the group also talked about some of the accomplishments uh particularly the 20 years worth of work. Um the project itself has let's see what some of the
057numbers $3.3 million in financial assistance uh helped to manage 125 million gallons of storm water annually uh keeping uh 3,800 tons of sediment out of the stream every year. So some pretty massive numbers. Um work for 26 includes more rain gardens, bio retention cells, permeable pavement projects, soil quality restoration, native prairie, turf landscaping. Um they looks like there'll be about 220 thou 220,000 in cost sharing by the organization. Let's see anything. Um they're always looking for projects. One that that was kicked around because they're in this transition period. They're trying to figure out what they can do. It's kind of a transition year with Josh leaving and the new coordinator coming in. So they're, you know, they'll keep moving forward with what they already have planned for 26, but they're kind of pulling back just
058a little bit on setting um specific plans for 27. um continue to look for partners and he looked over at me as a school district representative as a possible so if there's anything we can that we have on our radar that we might have to look and you know we can partner with them with water shed type uh issues. Uh the other one is there that came up was working with the new owner of the mall at College Square >> with their uh parking lot. And so just kind of some things that were talked about in this uh the annual meeting. So >> wanted to give the board an update on what that meeting was about. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Yeah. >> Um how long have we had somebody not that anybody
059can remember this, how long have we had somebody sit on this board >> that have gone to the watershed? >> Yeah. >> Uh it started actually with Sasha Walpert. uh probably seven or eight years ago and a lot of it was excuse me from Josh u and the work we did at Aldridge actually uh when Kim was the principal there to really focus on partnerships and how can we continue to strengthen those partnerships. So it was kind of an ongoing hey how can we make this happen and and it was to appoint a board member to that uh organization. It's been such a great partnership. >> Excellent. Excellent. I know that we have um I think um LOL sits on the Blackhawk >> Yeah. I don't remember the full name. >> Full name. I know
060something. Blackhawk. Blackhawk. >> The assessor's board. >> Assessor's board. Yeah. >> Yep. Um and those are um I do I encourage you that when you attend those things to bring that information back to us >> um so we can hear as well as our community can hear um the things that are going on that um that we partner with um how all the puzzle pieces fit together. >> Y >> okay anyone else? >> I know at our last working session we had kind of talked about putting together an onboarding um outline or something. How is that going or do we need to follow up as a group? >> I have um some documentation going. Okay. >> Right. Um that is one of those things that it will probably be like as we go through it
061with with our newest members, right? Thinking about, oh, we need to add this or we need to add that, right? Um while while Iowa association school board has a great onboarding document for standard things, there are some Cedar Falls particular things, right? Um, like I would always say, you really should have bound on your phone, right? And this is where you go. Of >> course you would. >> This is where you should download the app, right? And those things, right? But all those little other things, right? Because that's that is what makes um that is what encourages not only our community, but our board members to really invest in in the activities that are go on and how and how everything flows well. So yes, still working on that. I will send um send it
062out here shortly so people can sort of take a look at it and go Susie you missed this chunk of stuff um and for those that are tenured they can look and go you know we're going to have this coming up in right because it is a cycle right it's absolutely a cycle um and it's um like drinking from a fire hose when you're new um and for those of us that have been through it it's always a remembrance of oh yeah so great okay thank you anything else. Okay. Hearing none, I think we can take a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Thank you. And second. >> Second. >> All those in favor would say I. >> I. >> And thank you. We're adjourned. And we will see you in May. >> Remember
063what month