001Good evening. This regular meeting of July 21st, 2025 of the Debute Community School District Board of Education is called to order. Our mission is to develop worldclass learners and citizens of character in a safe and inclusive learning community. Roll call, please. Bradley >> here. >> Hamill >> here. >> Jacobitzkazire here. >> Jones here. Marks here. Sansancy >> here. >> Whitman here. We'll start with the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> I move the board of education approve the agenda as submitted. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the agenda as submitted. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in
002favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. I move the board of education approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 9th, 2025 as submitted. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the minutes of the regular meeting of June 9th, 2025 as submitted. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> I move the board of education suspend the rules of order and go into open forum. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education suspend the rules of order and go into open forum. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion
003carries. We don't have any special guests this time from the district, but we'll start doing that again in the fall. Um, anyone else who would wish to address the board can do so at this time. We would ask you to state your full name, your connection to the district, and to limit your remarks to three minutes. >> Um, seeing none, we're in the middle of summer, not a lot of attendance, but I move the board of education reinstate the rules of order and return to regular session. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education reinstate the rules of order and return to regular session. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. >> All right. So, that brings us to
004a few board salutes. Yeah, I have one. A board salute goes to Hemstead High School students Khloe Godert and Addison Rainey and to Debuke Senior High School student Graceland Cannon who qualified to compete at the Family Career and Community Leaders of America National Leadership Conference from July 5th through July 9th. These students qualified to compete at the National Conference based on their outstanding scores at the competition that was in Cedar Rapids on March 2nd. A score of 89 out of 92 was necessary to advance to the national level. Focusing on a variety of family consumer science topics, Khloe presented on teaching strategies and earned a gold medal, placing 13th overall. Addison presented on event management and earned a gold medal, placing 16th overall. And Graceland presented on a community service project and earned a silver
005medal and placed 42nd overall. This group was accompanied by teacher from Hemstead, Aziza Kellaher, who also judged the projects in the nutrition and wellness category while she was at the conference. Congratulations tonight to Chloe Addison and Graceland for their outstanding work on the national stage and for representing the district so well. Great. Thank you so much. I have another one. Uh I love this one. every summer when it comes around. A board salute goes to the many staff and community partners helping make this year's summer academy a success. Through August 1st, over two 230 soon to be second graders are spending the morning engaged in reading instruction led by certified district teachers and then spending afternoons and enrichment activities organized by the district and offered by many community partners. Our summer academy students are filled
006with smiles and laughs while also keeping their brains learning. Thanks to all involved in this amazing opportunity for our students as we continue to provide support for student learning. >> Fantastic. Any other board salutes? Well, the work keeps going in the summer, so we thank everyone who's doing their best for the district right now. I move the board of education approve those items listed in the consent agenda. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve those items listed in the consent agenda. Is there any item a board member wishes to have pulled? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> That motion carries. All right, we're trucking along and that brings us right to the facilities and support services committee
007report from Mr. Hamill. >> Yes, thank you very much. So last Monday we had our monthly meeting on uh facilities and support services. Uh we got reports uh on a number of uh different items. Uh one of them uh related to bus services. So when students either athletes or uh fine arts need to travel outside the outside the town, the the first option is always to try to use the yellow school buses, but there's lots of situations where we need other buses and there's a bid process and this year Winstar won uh the bid and that's going to be for two years, $191,000. Um, and that covers uh probably about 90% of the dates that can't be handled by the yellow school buses. Um, we also got a report on the firewall for our computer
008system. The current firewall uh was was put in in the 201620 2017 school year. The recommended lifespan for these items is 5 years. So, we've gone well past that. Uh, and of course, the firewall is absolutely crucial uh to keep the whole system running. So, we're going to be buying uh new security appliances. You the the the industry standard is you actually buy two of the appliances because you always need one up and running. So, if there's a problem with one, you have the other one going and that's $423,000. Um, and that's uh guaranteed for 5 years. Um, after that there is the option for buying extended warranties on an annual basis and that's something you know we've been doing recently. Um, also we got a lot of uh reports on construction projects. Uh, one
009of them related to the Eisenhower Elementary School remodel project. And in working on that, they discovered that there was a bunch of underground plumbing that required uh upgrading and replacement. And so there's a change order request on that for about $136,000. Also on the Eisenhower project, uh they found that there's going to have to be um a change to the uh uh water connection for water coming into the project. And that's just over $55,000 on the Valentine, excuse me, not Valentine, on the L on the uh Rosevelt uh repave uh the bus loop and the storm water project. Um we ran into a frequent problem. A lot of our facilities are built on very poor soil. Um, and so, uh, as as they tore things out, they realized they were going to have to bring
010in a lot of fill. That's going to increase the price on that by just over 53,000. And what else do we got here? Uh, there's also a uh at at Elellaner Roosevelt, uh, there's a fire hydrant that's going to need repair and upgrade. Uh, and that's going to be $3,425. Um, uh, we also, uh, entered into a professional services agreement or we're going to enter into a professional services agreement with Origin Design Company. They help us with a lot of the survey, engineering, design, and construction related things that come up in smaller projects during the course of the year. Uh we reviewed the facil's beliefs um and we're going to be adopting a resolution uh for an insurance endorsement uh to give bond to some of the uh employees that directly help the school board.
011And we're also uh on uh looking at uh selling several school buses. Um, and that's an online process. What's the name of the website? >> Gov deals. Check it out. There's a lot of And then we also uh got some information on the quarterly budget report and we're going to get a report I think tonight from Miss Dimmer. So, with that, I have a number of motions. Ready for the motions? >> Let's do it. There's a lot of them. Um uh starting out, I move the board of education approve change order number one to Tricon's construction group on the Eisenhower Elementary School remodel and addition project in the increased amount of $136,126.24. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve change order number one to Tricon Construction Group on the
012ele uh Eisenhower Elementary School remodel and addition project in the increased amount of 136,126.24. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. I move that the board of education approve change order number two to Tricon Construction Group on the Eisenhower Elementary School remodel and addition project in the increased amount of $55,64949. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve change order number two to Tricon Construction Group on the Eisenhower Elementary School remodel and addition project in the increased amount of $55,64949. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. I move that the board of education approve change order number one to Valentine Construction Company on
013the Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School repave uh/stormwater project in the increased amount of $53,252.99. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve change order number one to Valentine Construction Company on the Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School repave/stormwater project in the increased amount of $53,252.99. Any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? That motion carries. I move that the board of education approve change order number two to Valentine Construction Company on the Elellaner Roosevelt Middle School repave/stormwater project in the increased amount of $3,425. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve change order number two to Valentine Construction Company on the Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School repave storm water project in the increased amount of $3,425. Is there any discussion?
014>> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Any opposed? >> That motion carries. I move that the board of education approve the professional services agreement with Origin Design Company for survey engineering design and construction related services for various minor district improvement projects. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the professional services agreement with origin design company for survey engineering design and construction related services for various minor district improvement projects. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> I move that the board of education approve the facility beliefs as submitted. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the facility beliefs as as
015submitted. Is there any discussion? >> I'd like to say something there. So this was just a brief set of beliefs that we came together um to make sure that all of us were uh working as a team to clarify what our goal is uh for this board and for the district. This incorporated programs for the 21st century learners making sure that we have maximal opportunities for students um and for staff within our district. It pushed us to clarify fis fiscal efficiencies which is very important to us as we get into the next calendar school year. Um and then we also just talked a little bit about alignment of our strategic priorities which is really important for this organization. >> Great. Thank you. Any further discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I.
016>> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. I move that the board of education adopt a resolution accepting endorsement that the district's insurance carrier will indemnify an employee required to give bond for faithful performance of duties required by law. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education adopt a resolution accepting endorsement that the district's insurance carrier will indemnify an employee required to give bond for faithful performance of duties required by law. Is there any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> I move that the board of education approve the resolution offering for sale by public bid a 2016 IC 47 passenger school bus. A 2016 IC 48 passenger school bus. two 2017 Thomas 47 passenger school
017buses and set the date, time, and place for possible public hearing as September 8, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Debute Community School District. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the resolution offering for sale by public bid a 2016 IC 47 passenger school bus, a 2016 IC48 passenger school bus, two 2017 Thomas 47 passenger school buses, and set the time, date, and place for possible public hearing as September 8th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. at the Debute Community School District. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. >> I move that the board of education approve the quarterly budget report. >> Second. >> It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the
018quarterly budget report. I believe Miss Demer will present the quarterly budget report at this time. >> Good evening, school board members and Superintendent Hawkins. First, as part of our our year-end reporting to the Department of Education and for our financial statements, the district is required to report on our cruel basis. In the past, we maintain maintained two sets of records, one on a cash basis and an acural basis. The dual system was some somewhat unique compared to other districts. After consulting with some districts and evaluating best practices, we decided to streamline our process um this year by maintaining only our acralbased records. Naturally, this transition has brought some challenges. This year's expense report may look a little different from previous years. You'll notice several incumbrances still listed, which may give the impression that several funds
019are over spent. However, that is not the case. Many of these funds were entered in the FY uh 2425 year but are scheduled are not scheduled for payment until the 2526. Once these incumbrances are rolled forward, the reports will reflect a a more accurate financial position and the appearance of the deficit will be resolved. So the first one I'd like to look at is your at the general fund expenditures remaining um budget balance. When we look at that, it's target to come in under budget. In this report, it shows approximately 100 or excuse me, 900,000. Please note that that is a preliminary estimate. The final amounts will not be confirmed till once uh we complete our year-end reporting which is due by September 15th. At that point, we will have a more complete and accurate
020picture for the district. Uh the next thing I would like to point out is on the current report there shows large deficits for our save and pebble um fund expenditures. It's important to understand that is not a true financial shortfall. Um, this deficit is due to the incurrences still being recorded in FY24 but being paid off in or paid out in 24 or excuse me 2526. This is a lot of our construction projects at um the Irving Eisenhower and then some of our summer projects through our pebble fund are still being paid out there. So we are confident that the save and pebble funds will show will not show a deficits once we roll these um POS forward. It's just really a timing issue not a funding issue. And then the final thing I would
021like to show talk about was the nutrition fund. It continues to maintain a healthy balance which is great news for our district. For this year we received approximately 6.1 million in revenue while the expenditures came in at about 5.8. Um, like most districts, our food service team continues to face staffing shortages. But despite those challenges, we we've done an outstanding job of ensuring our students are served nutritious meals every day. We will continue to monitor the staffing and operational needs for our nutrition fund. Those are just some of the areas that I wanted to highlight tonight. If you have any questions, I can answer them. >> Thank you. Thanks, Lisa. >> Thanks, Lisa. >> Is there any further discussion of the quarterly budget report? Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >>
022I. Any opposed? That motion carries. Great. Thank you for that report, Mr. Hamill. That brings us to the ED programs uh and policies report um brought to us by Miss Bradley. >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Parks. I I was happy to stand in for our the committee chairperson, Katie Jones, who had the audacity to take a vacation >> In July of all times. What a concept. >> Wow. >> But we were had a great meeting. We met last Wednesday, July 16th at 4:00 in the boardroom right here. And um started with our educational programs uh section where members of the uh district bring information to the board about programs and practices that we have in place. It's a it's a wonderful way for us to learn at a deeper level about things happening in the
023district. So, we were delighted to hear from Greg Lynch, who is the new district manager for the Champions program. Champions, for those of us who don't know, that is uh the company that provides the before and after school uh programming in our schools. Last year they served nine elementary schools in before and after school care programming, service 213 children, and this year they hope to add uh both Kennedy and Prescott and to continue to grow and expand their programming. Uh Mr. Dr. Lynch also shared with us about the Champ Camp Great Outdoors, which is a summer program that has is providing programming for 50 children who signed up for it, and it's being held at Kennedy and Prescott elementary schools. So, we were delighted to meet Mr. Lynch and to hear more about the Champion
024program, where it's been, and where it's going. So, for those of you who have children in the elementary schools, if you haven't connected with the champions program, it will be available again this year and uh opportunities for your children before and after school. Then we move to hear from uh Rob Powers, our manager of buildings and grounds for the district. >> Typically, his information would have gone to the facilities committee, but it was not available at that time. So, Mr. Powers brought information of of the quotes that have come forward for the Hemstead High School shed project and unfortunately the quotes came in higher than expected and so he wanted us to be aware that that will now need to go out to competitive bidding as the process that that engages at that point in
025a cost analysis for a project. Um we then moved on to purchased and professional services contracts. It the program called TAP which is it's an Iowa vocational rehabilitation services known as transition alliance program. It provides services to children or youth with disabilities and uh half of the cost of that program is reimbured to the district by the state. So the board has the opportunity in fact uh gave permission for that in our vote with the consent agenda earlier in this meeting as also it did for the JAG program. I Jag is a powerful program that's it stands for Iowa jobs for America's graduates and it uh is a program offered at Jefferson Washington Hempstead Senior and the Alta Vista campus uh for students to have uh uh opportunities to learn more about jobs and to
026experience some job um experiences for their learning. Then we moved into the strategic pre plan area of attendance and we welcomed our director of student services, Becky Felinser, who brought us wonderful news about the pre kindergarten through 12th grade attendance data. If you um subscribe to the Telegraph Herald and saw the uh last Friday, July 18th, um Elizabeth Kelsey provided a wonderful article that's really full of very accurate information about uh specifics related to our celebration of our improvement in our attendance scores. Our schools have really worked um with our families to connect with them, to build stronger relationships, to be present together as partners in helping our students overcome that pandemic loss that we experienced like other all other districts in the country, perhaps the world. Uh the pandemic took away that regularity of
027programming which then broke the attendance cycle for too many of our students and as a result we're having to really work to regain the good attendance uh participation that we've had historically. So Becky brought us great news about that. Just a couple of data points I would share with you, but do check Elizabeth's article if you haven't seen it. Beautifully done. But our chronically absent students, students who are missing two or more days a week, I'm sorry, a month, um that has improved mightily in terms of decreasing the number of students who are considered chronically absent. We rejoice in that because children can't learn if they're not in school. they can learn, but the school learning, the kinds of learning standards and outcomes we expect to provide for all of our students, each and everyone,
028just simply cannot happen without good attendance. So, we thank our schools and everybody in them and our community partners who have come together to work with our families and certainly we thank our families for engaging around the need to improve our uh attendance for our students. Uh we will continue to uh modify the chronic absenteeism and truency policy. That'll be coming up in our policy reviews coming forward. But mostly we'll continue engaging with our families around getting our kids to school every day so that learning can be maximum what it needs to be. Then uh we also because we're the ed programs and policy committee we dealt with our uh section of policies. Every five years are required by Iowa code to review each and every policy of the board and that's a variety of
029categories of policies. If you if you're looking for some really fun reading, go to the district website and look under the board and you'll find board policies. Really, it's very interesting. >> Just a few hundred >> a few hundred policies that everybody should know about. >> They serve us well actually. So, we reviewed 11 policies in a variety of categories. They were improved approved in the consent agenda earlier in this meeting. And our next meeting, should you care to attend, please do so. It'll be held in this room at the the forum at uh 4:00 on August 6th. So we welcome each and every person to come and view what what goes on in those. >> That concludes my report. Dr. Parks. >> Thank you so much, Miss Bradley. That brings us to new business.
030>> I move the board of education approve the proclamation recognizing summer learning week and authorize the president and secretary to sign on behalf of the board. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the proclamation recognizing summer learning week and authorize the president and secretary to sign on behalf of the board. Is there any discussion? >> Seeing none, all those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. >> Any opposed? That motion carries. So I will read the proclamation. Whereas the summer learning cooperative has provided significant leadership in the area of community involvement in the education and well-being of our youth grounded in the principle that quality summer programs are key to helping our children become successful adults. And whereas summer learning week is a week to reflect on the
031importance of keeping our youth learning safe and healthy every summer, ensuring they return to school in the fall ready to succeed in the year ahead. And whereas summer learning programs are proven to maintain and advance students academic and social growth while keeping children safe and healthy during the summer. And whereas a wide array of public agencies, community- based organizations, schools, libraries, museums, recreation centers, camps, and businesses in our community contribute to the well-being of youth through summer programming. And whereas the Debute Community School District is committed to providing enriching summer learning experiences through our summer academy and extended school year programs and collaborating with community partners to serve students and families. And whereas we encourage our community to enthusiastically endorse and engage in innovative summer programs serving students and families not only this week but
032throughout the summer. Now therefore, I, Kate Parks, on behalf of the Debute Community School District Board of Education, do hereby proclaim and celebrate uh do hereby proclaim the celebration last week, July 20, sorry, 14th through 18th. I need to go to summer learning week and beef up on my reading as summer learning week signed this 21st day of July, 2025. Right. Well, thanks to all who are providing these services. I know as a parent with school age kids and other board members with school age kids, we appreciate all of the summer learning that you're providing. All right, so that brings us next on the agenda to a proclam or sorry, a resolution um which is a discussion that we had as a board on Wednesday and is a reaffirmation of our commitment as a district
033that we support all. So with that um would someone like to read the motion? I will. >> Thank you. I move that the board of education approve the resolution recognizing and reaffirming the district's commitment to all students, staff, and volunteers and authorize the president and secretary to sign on behalf of the board. >> Second. It's been moved and seconded that the board of education approve the resolution recognizing and reaffirming the district's commitment to all students, staff, and volunteers and authorize the president and secretary to sign on behalf of the board. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, I'll >> I would I would just briefly say I I want to be clear what this is about. This is about our abil our our way of responding to the removal of gender identity from the protected classes.
034Uh our city council and personal opinion did a spectacular job of responding to their um action around gender identity, having removed it, then called a special session to remove it uh from being removed to put it back in. And um as a board we talked about that situation. None of us is looking to remove gender identity but it is a requirement and uh the reality is that public school systems across the country face different uh than municip than the municipalities do face different requirements accountability and potential financial losses should we not comply with that federal requirement. And so I want to thank Superintendent Hawkins for really looking with uh legal counsel for ways that we could provide solid assurance to this community that every student, every staff member, every volunteer will be afforded protections and
035priorities and advocacies without regard to anything. That all means all. And so this resolution to be clear about that is our way of making that assurance to this community, to our students, to our staff members, and to each and all of our volunteers. So just a clarification of what >> and just make no uh no issues that this is just who we are, right? So in writing says one thing >> in daily practice every single day since birth of who we are, it's who we are. And so I just want to constantly remind our board and you know our our residents is who we are and we're ready for every single kid, family, student no matter what. >> That's right. >> Yep. A reaffirmation of the work that we're doing which I think is really
036important to state. So thank you. Anything else? All right. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> Any opposed? >> That motion carries. I'll now read the board resolution. Whereas the Debute Community School District is at its very core in existence to ensure that each and every student in our community receives an unrivaled education regardless of personal characteristics, background or barrier. And whereas our community is ever more vibrant and enlivened by the diversity of our students, staff, and volunteers that shape us, expand our thinking, and enrich our global perspective. And whereas the district unconditionally welcomes and embraces all individuals in our classrooms, schools, playgrounds, performance spaces, and competition venues, remaining first and foremost committed to all students and families in supporting their learning journey. And whereas the purpose of our work
037in both policy and practice is not to serve one group in exclusion of another, but to instead lift all students toward greater achievement by recognizing their individual needs and goals. And whereas fundamental to our democracy is also the importance of following and aligning with all applicable state and federal laws, requirements, and regulations. And whereas while the new law specifically outlines protected classes, the district remains committed to ensuring that every individual is protected from any instance of bullying, harassment, and discrimination rights that are entitled to every human. Now therefore, be it resolved that the board of education at the Debut Community School District wholly reaffirms the district's unwavering commitment, a commitment offered not only to select individuals, but a commitment unconditionally extended to every single individual we serve. Signed this 21st day of July, 2025. Thank
038you. All right. I lost my agenda, but I think that we are at the part where it's board member or administrative issues that are not on the agenda. I would just say I was um out and about over the weekend and I know that we're talking about summertime and people relaxing, taking vacations, all those fun things, but school supplies are out and our administrative staff is back in the building. So, um, the new school year is just right around the corner. So, we're busy getting ready and being ready for every for all to come back when school starts here at the end of August. >> I was going to say something about that cuz I got the envelope in the mail about registration. So, keep an eye out, Karen. That envelope may be in your
039stack of mail. >> All right. Is there anything else um from any board members tonight? Great. Well, seeing none, we are adjourned. We'll see you in August. Thank you. [Music]