001[Music] Good evening and welcome to the Cedar Falls Board of Education uh meeting this Monday, July 14th, 2025. We trust that everyone's having a restful and relaxing summer so far. I think we're about halfway through. So, summer's going fast. I would like to call this meeting to order tonight. The first item that we have on our agenda tonight is our consent agenda, which has quite a few items in, so I'll go ahead and list them out. We have approval of tonight's agenda. We have approval of our last two board meeting minutes. Uh, one of them being a special uh admin council work session. Uh we also have approval of fiscal year 25 end of year accounts payable and approval of last month's accounts payable. We have our open enrollment and our HR reports. We have
002a a few special items tonight. A management fund interfund loan. Uh a temporary easement agreement between the city of Cedar Falls and the district and Panther Farms LLC. And we have an approval of an agreement between uh Tri County Health and Family Development Council and the district. Is there a motion to approve or any motions to amend or discuss? >> I move for approval. >> Okay, we have a motion to approve. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay, all in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say nay. Hearing none. Consent agenda. Motion carries. We'll move on now. So, we're tonight's meeting. This is uh we have our annual meeting where we have a few special appointments. So, we will first conduct our annual meeting business before moving into our uh general meeting.
003So, the first item as part of our annual meeting um is an approval of depository banks and maximum deposit resolutions. So, is there a motion to And Miss Gon, do you want to explain what this is for those that aren't uh maybe >> familiar with this? >> Absolutely. This is an annual request that uh is required by law. Uh we are required to have notification of who our depository banks are. Um you'll see different amounts which is the maximum that we can have within those banks. Um you'll note that uh there's there's large numbers associated to here. that does not mean or reflect that we have those dollars within the um institutions accordingly, but it does allow us the flexibility to work with those institutions as needed. Um uh and you'll see the majority of
004them um have a branch within Cedar Falls Community School District um with the exception of IceJet um which we have been utilizing over the last several uh years u most commonly with uh our bonds that we had uh the bond uh proceeds that we had um for our uh new high school. So, uh it is just an annual request to move forward and it would be the recommendation based on uh the amounts that we have here um to move forward with those. >> Okay. Thank you for that. Is there a motion to approve? >> I move the Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education approve fiscal year two 2026 depository banks and maximum deposit resolutions for the Cedar Falls Community School District as presented. >> Is there a second? Second. >> Okay. Any discussion
005points? I see that all the amounts are the same as last year. So, it's really just an annual renewal. So, really no changes here. >> So, can I I would request a sorry all in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say nay. Hearing none. Motion carries. We'll move on now to a annual uh appointment uh agenda item here which is appointment of our board secretary which uh Miss Denell Gon has served um for years and uh she is graciously uh committing to serve another year. So, we will uh have a motion to approve and then we'll also administer uh the oath of office. So, >> go ahead. >> I move to appoint Denell Gon as Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education Secretary for the 202526 school year. >> Okay. Is there
006a second? Second. All in favor say or do I need to administer? >> Nope. You you would accept all. >> All in favor say I. >> I. I. >> All opposed say nay. Hearing none. Motion carries. And I will go ahead and administer the oath of office. >> Mr. Dell Gon, you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that you will faithfully and impartially, to the best of your ability, discharge the duties of the office of school board secretary in the Cedar Falls Community School District, Cedar Falls, Iowa, as now or hereafter required by law. >> I will. >> Thank you. >> Okay. And this is a good opportunity to just thank you for all that you do. Uh all of us
007are volunteers and uh you help keep us uh following the right processes and um put everything together for us. So thank you for that. Okay. The next item uh is another um appointment. So this is for school business official which is a role that Mr. Dell Gon also bills for us. So is there a motion to appoint school? >> I move that the Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education approve the appointment of Denell Gon as the authorized school business official for the Cedar Falls Community School District. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. All oppose say nay. Hearing none. Motion carries. Um you are now for another year our school business official. And uh for those maybe that aren't aware of what this is,
008uh this is effectively the CFO for the district. And um I can attest as I think most of the board members can attest to that if there's ever a question big or small um small detail or big picture Dell is right there to help us understand uh what's going on in this the district finances and help us guide this uh district well. So thank you so much for that. >> Thank you. Okay, we have one more appointment now as part of this annual meeting which is uh appointment of next fiscal year's or the fiscal year we're already in 2526 treasurer uh which has been filled in the past by secretary Dan Lynch and he has offered to fill it for this fiscal year as well. Um so I'll let you propose that. Yeah, we we
009actually um appreciate his volunteer services that he's provided over the last several years. Uh Dan has um worked with the district and reviewed our finances on an annual basis. Um so it's another set of eyes to ensure uh compliance as well as he works with us um with our investments accordingly. So um and again as you had indicated um he has volunteered for this year as well. So, uh, we greatly appreciate that and his knowledge and his support that he provides to the district. But it would be recommended that we move forward with, um, uh, Mr. Dan Lynch as treasurer again for next year. >> Okay. Any questions or comments? >> Hearing none, I will request a motion to appoint. I move to appoint Daniel Lynch as Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education
010treasurer for the 202526 school year. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed hearing none. Motion carries. And that concludes the annual items on our agenda u to set the appointments for next year. So, we'll move on to our regular meeting agenda. Uh, we don't have any public comment or communications tonight. Uh, Janelle, our communications director, is out tonight. And so, uh, without someone to fill in for her, we're going to just move on past that. So, we'll move right into item C of our regular agenda, which is approval of final acceptance and completion for audiovisisual package. >> Yeah, it's been a little bit while since we've talked about final acceptance of some of our packages. We do have a couple of them still
011outstanding at the high school. Um, this would be one of them, our audiovisisual package. Uh you'll note that um the contract was awarded to Aphinitech out of Chanhassen, Minnesota in July of 2023. Uh we had original contract sum of uh1,810,567 our actual budget at that time which then we did have some change orders associated to that. Um and that was additional needs within the district that we had found. um uh some different runs that we needed and and um uh would with for a total of $25,278. Uh total expected as of today would be 2,15,845. Our budget associated to this particular bid package was $2,133,800. So we were under budget with those particular change orders as well of approximately $117,954.95. So um this was the first time we had worked with Aphinitech within the district.
012They did an extremely uh great job for us. Um we have a great working relationship with us and they continue to provide those services as needed um at the high school. But we would u move forward with recommendation of finalization of this. Okay. Any questions or comments for Denell? So, ongoing support of equipment, is that still contracted through Aphinitech or is that handled by our own internal IT? >> Yeah, so we we do have obviously warranty work and support through Aphinitech for the current packages that we have. Um, but our IT does an exceptional job with the ongoing support. Um, so they've worked uh directly with them, but we will continue to have that working relationship as needed to. So, >> okay. Is there a motion to approve the audio visual package? I move that
013the Cedar Falls Community School District Board of Education approve final acceptance and completion for the audiovisisual package of 2,15,845. All claims for materials furnished, labor performed, and/or services provided on this contract must be filed within the next 30 days. >> Okay. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Okay. Any further comments before moving to a vote? Hearing none. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All opposed. Nay. >> And one abstension. Director Stipe. Okay. Motion carries. And we will now move to our next agenda item, which is our first reading of uh several board policies that we're updating. Dr. Pati, I'll let you describe and recommend. >> Perfect. Thank you. So, every year we have a series of policies that we review. There is a requirement through Iowa code that every 5 years
014all policies must be reviewed. So, this year we are reviewing the 700 through 10,000 board policies. Um but there are other changes that are recommended as well and those are changes due to the fact that either a Iowa code has changed through legislative action and there were several legislative action uh actions that occurred uh during this past legislative session that impacted Iowa uh school boards uh policies and procedures. So those are updated and I'll share those here briefly. But there's also some changes based on court or legal interpretations as well. So all of those we review typically we review in multiple different layers and levels uh and then bring those recommend recommendations to the full board. Uh you'll see here that the 700 through 1000 review and changes. There's really only two policies within that
015um those uh different areas that would require uh changes and that is 902.2. This is uh language that the legislative required to include in this policy and then 710.4 for is in accordance with state and federal law uh which were were changed and and then adapted into our policy. Uh the remaining policies have been reviewed uh not only with uh uh dialogue with our school attorneys but also through the Iowa Association of School Boards sample policy templates uh to ensure that uh what is in place is continuing to be a required b uh the the right frameworks to have in place and then match our current practice. Uh so those are recommended for the changes in the 700 through 1000 series. Then due to legislative action, these recommended recommendations, you'll see the 700 and 900
016are included in this as well that we just talked about due to the fact that they are changes due to legislative action. Uh but here are the listed uh uh components. Uh it's 401.2, 2 401.3 403.12 500 which is our opening student uh um policy session 504.5.1 504.5.2 and 602.3 and these are mainly due to a language change something that was passed at the legislative level that needed to be removed or uh changed and 504.5.2 two is a name change within that policy to adapt and to to um bring up to current standards. There is a new policy that's uh included in this uh as well as the kind of the regulations behind that policy and this is a required cell phone use policy that was passed by this legislative session. um within this policy.
017This aligns with state uh law and the uh requirements that are set forth within within the state law. Um we shared at the last work session we surveyed secondary uh students and and teachers uh in our district. Uh we've gone through to look at what uh can this look like? What should it look like? and and we recommend moving forward with the policy uh as it is drafted based on Iowa Association of School Boards um legal policy which means that we will enforce cell phone no cell phones in the classrooms from the beginning of a class period to the end of the class period um but allow students to to have those uh during their passing times. Uh so this is the the recommendation that our administrators have moved forward as well through a lot
018of discussion and and reviewing. Uh the intent is to collect data on this throughout the year to be able to look at um implementation not only internally but externally what's looking and happening across uh uh the districts across the state that have done things either similarly or differently. uh to be able to make sure that um we review this annually and bring back any potential changes back to the board as well. So, a lot of information there. Uh I know you've had a lot of time to kind of review uh these policies and these recommendations based on these these legislative changes andor uh requirements for updates. Um any questions? Obviously, gender identity was one of those >> those features that was stricken by state law, >> but uh I I do trust that our staff
019will do everything we can to make sure that all students feel welcome in our schools. >> Yeah, I think what we've always said is we are going to follow state law and we can have uh safe uh strong learning environments for all students and that's 100% our commitment. uh all means all and uh every student every day. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Further questions? All right. Well, thank you for that. Yeah, we've we've had the the policies to review for a couple weeks now and um tonight is the first reading. So then next board meeting will be the second reading uh before it becomes policy. Uh, so I will request a motion to actually we don't need a motion for the first reading, do we? >> We do. >> Okay. Sorry. >> The Cedar
020Falls Community School District Board of Education approve the first reading of board policies as presented. >> Okay. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor say I. >> I. >> All oppose say nay. >> Hearing none. First reading passes. Thank you. >> Yes. >> So now we'll move to item E which doesn't require uh board action but uh this is a discussion of 2526 IASB legislative priorities. >> Yeah. So this is kind of a preeemption to the uh discussion. Uh hopefully this will give you time to kind of review some of these legislative platforms and planks. uh those that have been on the board for a while will see that the process has changed uh from what has been done for the prior I 15 to 20 years. I I I believe
021uh what the Iowa Association of School Boards has done is to really present four I guess large planks within their platform. Um and they they uh start off with we believe uh statements and then they list multiple different components underneath each of those platforms. Uh there are several pages leading up to those platforms that kind of give some some background, some definitions, some information about what those mean. But this year, instead of having us select maybe four of the 39 or 45 different platforms that we would submit, they're asking us to review those eight planks uh and then provide any feedback, changes, things that we would want to see included, not included. Um, honestly when I look over those they are very expansive in nature. Um, so they cover a pretty wide uh scope of
022everything in the educational spectrum. So it's going to be interesting to see how they kind of pin that down into actual um actionable items based on their platforms. But it's uh something that they are asking us this year to give feedback on those eight planks. So really this is an opportunity as you review those, read through those, write, please write any notes, take any um some time to go through those and the August meeting is when we typically finalize those and submit those to the schoolboard association for any feedback. >> Okay. So yeah, I would ask that the board review this and provide any feedback that you see or maybe things that you agree or disagree with. And I think this is pretty similar to last year if I remember. Uh last year a lot
023of the same language was was used. Um, so yeah, I guess anything that has stood out so far to board members or any thoughts on this process in general? >> So my question is then, do they not want us to come back with them with a list from Cedar Falls that we're moving forward? We're just looking at these and saying, you know, I do agree with these items. We don't necessarily need to narrow it down or make it bigger. I think they're just looking for feedback. So, what I recall last year, because last year was our first year, they didn't have the eight planks established last year. So, these are based on this past year's work. What I believe based on the information that they've sent out is there's going to be a text box
024where we can I can enter in uh plank number one. Here are some of the suggestions or ideas that we have or potential changes for that. Then I think they'll take that into consideration based on the feedback from all the districts across the state >> like comments that we >> correct. Okay. >> Yep. >> All right. >> And then I also believe these will be approved as part of the delegate assembly at the annual conference which Nate has typically served in, but we can decide who um is our delegate this fall at the conference. Correct. Okay. Any other comments? Hearing none, uh we will move to superintendent report. So, Dr. Pati, >> it's blank. Um it's it's summer. There's uh surprisingly a lot that happens in the summer that a lot of people don't necessarily
025know as we wrap up end of year reports, not only state reports, but federal reports when it comes to a variety of different topics uh uh with with data and be it discipline or attendance and and a lot of different spectrums but also the end of the fiscal year which u uh is always a busy time and and a lot of different components and then planning uh the finite details as we look at the upcoming school year and all the different components that go along with that. So, it really is a busy time frame and and a lot of work that is taking place as long as as well as registration and and uh getting everything assigned for the upcoming school year. So, um as far as the educational components, not a lot happening during
026the summer, uh there are still several activities that are going on. So, opportunities to witness just the great uh talent of our students across uh age groups and age spans and encourage everybody to to participate in those as as much as they can. >> Good. So, now we'll open the floor uh to board members. Any questions or comments or interesting factoids? Maybe >> I do have uh some comments about the federal spending bill passed last week. Um one question I I believe most schools are less than 10% federally funded in Iowa. Is that and Cedar Falls is probably not much different from that? Maybe a little less. >> Uh it's less than that. It's closer to I think 3% potentially. >> Um my concerns were largely about the Medicaid cuts and nutrition program. So, we
027I've talked about safety for our students, but uh it's virtually impossible to teach a student who uh doesn't have enough to eat or are having medical issues in their family. So, that is a concern. Those federal bills do have impact on our local on our local school district. >> They they do and there's a couple different uh avenues that we're really watching closely when it comes to that. Uh number one, there was a federal freeze on title funds um um that just occurred here within the last week. So our title funding necessarily isn't significant across the board and there's several uh title funds that we aren't eligible to receive at the federal level and that's usually based upon your total free and reduced lunch population. Uh the one that is um one that we're watching
028is going to be our title 2A I believe. Uh, and title 2A is all about class size reduction. And we use those dollars to reduce down certain sections across our district, which equates to roughly about a little over 2.4 2.5 FTE of of teacher salary to to allow us to push down those class sizes. So, if those are frozen, that means we're going to have to review and figure out a how do we counterbalance that, especially as we already are moving into um a new year uh with those fiscal dollars that are allocated, but now frozen to review whether or not those are something that will be spent uh from the federal level out to districts in in the 50 states. Um the other areas, um we don't rely heavily on on Medicaid dollars. However,
029we do use the funds that we generate from from Medicaid to be able to offset our special education deficit. Um, that is anywhere from $600 to $800,000 per year depending on eligible services and what those services look like, either transportation or medical or uh just general care within the the the school setting. Um, so that is something that again we're very attentive to and and watching how that uh um kind of morphs and and adjusts into the future. The food service probably won't have a significant impact from at least my understanding of what has been proposed and what has what has passed. Uh if there's something I missed, I'll continue to review those or please let me know. Um, but a lot of the funding that has been reduced in those areas are funding that
030we wouldn't be eligible for because of our free and reduced lunch population. >> And again, that concern would be wider than just Cedar Falls that >> much wider. Yes. That's just through the lens that I have from Cedar Falls. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. Because there's a lot more title funding that we do not receive that are much much greater in in number and that's where districts will hit that close to 10% threshold across the state and certainly nationally. I'm not exactly sure what that impact is with uh balance between local, state, and federal. Uh but in Iowa, 10% would be a high number, but those are going to be districts that typically are going to be eligible for multiple title one services that we're not. Can you talk to me a little bit about
031um the participation of non-public school kids in sports and um that they're now allowed to participate or required to be able to participate in our particularly our high school athletics? Um and is that just students that are in Cedar Falls and is there a fee associated with that? My understanding is that there is not. But just kind of address that for me. Tell me how that works. >> Boy, that is a big question um in a lot of different ways, which is which is good. Um so let me start with this is not necessarily new uh but it's something that has morphed and evolved over the last year with with legislative action. So the the standard was set with uh open enrolled students especially going out to either virtualmies or into smaller districts from larger
032suburban or urban districts. Students were allowed through uh a shared agreement and we have those approved at board me or at board meetings every year and it lists not only what activities could be shared from other public schools but also non-public entities to be able to to share back into our districts. Open enrollment allowed school districts to charge up to $250 back to cover the cost of uh the either the sponsor or the coach or whatever uh might be the cost incurred with that activity because it wasn't related or just uh relegated to sporting activities. It could be also extracurricular co-curricular activities. So the new bill that's and that was two per year. You could uh have two per semester per year. Uh so up to four activities per per semester. Um the the new
033law that has passed has kind of opened that up to say anybody that's in a private school is eligible to be able to come and participate in that district uh the the resident district if that private school does not have their own activity. Um so that's not new either. That's something that's been in place. It just kind of solidified it within the language as long as we have that agreement in place. We can charge what is normally charged to any other student to be able to take part in that activity. Um, which is really interesting because to take part in that as a public school child, we'd have to we're going to have to do some math and figure out what that means. Registration fees versus all the other different fees for, you know, activities.
034Um what a lot of people don't realize is if you are um Smith Private School, you reside in a certain resident district, which all of them would in the state of Iowa, you are required per Iowa High School Athletic Association to participate with that school district. Otherwise, you can be seen as ineligible because you're outside the boundaries of that resident district. Now, if all of a sudden the resident district doesn't offer that, you can then go to another district, but you can only go to that one district that you have an agreement with. So, the the the challenge is going to be that general awareness and education that because Smith uh private school district wants baseball to be done at Cedar Falls because of the baseball program, but they want wrestling done at name your
035resident. You can't do that. Your agreements have to be with a district and can't be with multiple districts. So once that relationship is created, that relationship is set and can't be changed. >> Okay. >> If that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Does the same thing apply if if if we offer academic programs and they don't offer academic? I've not read anything, but >> continued. We don't know that. Uh it's a question that's been asked but not answered. We're waiting for some guidance on that. Um, for example, what does it mean with math clubs? What does it mean with rocket clubs? What does it mean with u robotics? All those different things that are not curricular in nature, but are uh certainly robust energetic clubs that we don't want to exclude or not have students that
036are within our public district be able to take part in, you know, butts and seats and and too many uh students for staff members. So, we've really got to find a balance, but we're waiting for guidance on that because they've just talked about co-curricular or uh sports activities. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, do we have any leeway in prioritizing or uh giving preference to our own students? I'm thinking of cross country who I think had I don't know 90 kids out and if all of a sudden there's >> 25 more uh you know who who doesn't get to run. >> Yeah. So that's something we continuously watch as far as uh because we have the ability to say yes or no as as individuals will come in. Typically cross country is not one that
037is a great sharing agreement because it's a it's a lowcost activity. um coach uniforms, things like that. There's not a large amount of equipment. Um what we're seeing is uh and and again the numbers are tied to our wonderful coaching staff who drive kids into the program, especially with cross country. Uh some of the ones that we're watching closely are some activities that um districts that have shared with us for a while really like our coaches but have enough kids to have their own program. Uh so that's the balance that we're facing right now to be able to say the this is probably not going to continue long into the future because you have enough kids to sustain a program where 5 years ago, six years ago you did not and and um just because
038you like our coaches and what they provide doesn't necessarily mean this is going to be for perpetuity. >> It's a big question. It's one that we're still uncovering. There's a lot of nuances with this. Um there are some differences between the open enrollment law and the private school law. Um but not significantly. Um but there is going to be a few little tweaks and changes we'll have to do. >> Okay, good discussion. >> Anything else? If not, now uh we have tonight uh the board has two close sessions after our uh normal meeting that we have just wrapped up. Um so we have two closed sessions uh for the purpose of um evaluating uh individuals. Uh so for the first one so I will go ahead and um conclude our main uh topics tonight and
039the board will move into close session which um no uh board decisions will be made during close session per Iowa code. Um and any actionable uh decisions will be made in open session. So, is there a motion to move into close session? >> I move that the Cedar Falls Board of Education enter into close session to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual's reputation and that individual requests a close session 2011 code of Iowa 21.5. Okay, thank you. And uh this requires a roll call vote by the board. So our newly appointed board secretary Dell will administer a roll call vote. >> Uh I will but I will need a second as well. Second motion.
040Thank you. >> Uh therefore uh Director Guber >> I. >> Director Stip. >> Yes. >> Director Meyer. >> Yes. >> Director Peterson. >> I. >> Director Orvis. >> Yes. Director Co Coyle, excuse me. >> Yes. >> Director Stzman. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for uh viewing tonight and for attending and uh tune back in in August for our next board meeting.