Minutes of a Regular Meeting of The Board of Directors of the United Community School District September 15, 2025

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of The Board of Directors of the United Community School District September 15, 2025 CALL TO ORDER The United Community School District Board of Education held a regular board meeting on September 15, 2025, in the United Community Library. Members present included President Brenda Stanley, Vice President Lori Weyhrich, Jon Davis, and Kathy Toms. Mike Lynch was absent. The meeting was called to order by President Stanley at 6:04 pm. Others present were Superintendent Heather Holm, Board Secretary Jenn Meinecke, Principal Elyse Brimeyer, and five guests. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Toms motioned to approve the agenda as presented. Weyhrich seconded. Motion carried 4-0. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no requests for public comment. REVIEW OF DISTRICT GOALS Board President Stanley outlined the three district goals: (1) Student Learning, (2) School District Culture, and (3) Resource Management. ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS Director Grant Oskvig proposed purchasing a 12-passenger used van (not to exceed $70,000) to support student transportation on low-capacity routes. The van offers a cost-effective alternative to standard buses and aligns with district transportation planning goals. Principal Brimeyer provided the following updates to the Board: (1) Coaching CHAMPS Training: Leadership team completed Tier 1 classroom management training via Iowa DOE; (2) FAST Assessments: Fall screenings underway; results to be shared in October; (3) Behavior Referral System: New Major Referral Form implemented in Infinite Campus; data reviewed bi-monthly; (4) Harvest Days: PK-6 students participated in outdoor learning with county conservation partners. Superintendent Holm shared the following updates: (1) Certified Annual Report (CAR): Fiscal Year 2025 report submitted to DOE; (2) Playground Installation: Project in progress; (3) Board Elections: November 4, 2025; terms expiring - Stanley (District 2), Weyhrich (At-Large); (4) IASB Convention: Scheduled for November 19-21, 2025. YSS UPDATE Janaya Steenhoek, Site Coordinator for United Kids Club, shared details regarding the upcoming Open House event scheduled for Tuesday, October 21, 2025, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event will be held in the small gym located within the preschool wing common area at United. Families and community members are invited to attend and learn more about the program. DISCUSSION/INFORMATION Employee Handbook Revision: A proposed change to the Employee Handbook (p. 8) was shared and discussed. The change is to align the date for teachers to submit a request for a lane change to the date of March 1st as stated in board policy. Van Purchase: The proposal of a 12-passenger van purchase to assist with the Ames shuttle route was shared and discussed. Reimbursement for Entry-Level Driver Training: A proposal to reimburse new bus drivers for the cost of Entry Level Driver Training was shared and discussed in order to assist with driver recruitment. TAG Plan: A revised Talented and Gifted Plan for 2025-2026 was shared and discussed. LAU Plan: A revised LAU Plan for 2025-2026 was shared and discussed. Early Retirement: The administration shared the current early retirement policy and exhibits. No staff members are currently eligible under the existing criteria. ACTION ITEMS FY26 Employee Handbook Revision: Approved proposed change to the Employee Handbook (p. 8) was shared and discussed. The change is to align the date for teachers to submit a request for a lane change to the date to March 1st as it is stated in board policy. Toms motioned to approve as presented. Weyhrich seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Van Purchase: Approved the purchase of a used 12-passenger van up to $70,000. Weyhrich motioned to approve the Van purchase as presented. Davis seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Reimbursement for Entry-Level Driver Training: Approved the plan to reimburse drivers for completing ELDT up to $750 on the schedule below: Year-Round Route Driver: (1) 50% after 6 months of service (defined as 80+ assigned routes during the first semester); (2) 50% after 1st year of service (defined as 160+ assigned routes during the first & second semesters). Returning Drivers: Current drivers with at least 1 year of service are eligible for full reimbursement. Substitute Driver: Up to $750 reimbursement after twenty completed days of service. This initiative aims to reduce financial barriers for new CDL applicants and recognize the commitment of returning staff. Davis motioned to approve as presented. Toms seconded. Motion carried 4-0. TAG Plan: Approved the TAG Plan as presented. Weyhrich motioned to approve as presented. Toms seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Lau Plan: Approved the LAU Plan as presented. Davis motioned to approve as presented. Toms seconded. Motion carried 4-0. CONSENT AGENDA: The board approved the Consent Agenda as presented. Davis motioned to approve as presented. Toms seconded. Motion carried 4-0. Personnel: The following personnel changes were approved: $8,000 Stipend for EL Instruction—Gabriela Fuentes; Lane changes: Claire Skinner - BA to BA+30, and Rachel Anderson - BA to BA+15. Open Enrollment Requests: During the 2025-26 school year, three students were approved for open enrollment into the district: Paityn Sharon Johnson (3rd-Ames), Elijah Fernandez-Perdue (3rd-Ames), and Ruby Kay Goodman (1st - Boone). One student Carson William Crawford (6th-Boone), was denied open enrollment Financial Reports: 09.15.2025 Revenues & Expenditures Report 06.30.2025 - FY25 data as of 09.15.2025 and 09.15.2025 Expenses to Published Budget Comparison Report 06.30.2025 - FY25 data as of 09.15.2025 Bills: 09.15.2025 Board Meeting Payables Summary and 09.15.2025 Board Meeting Prepaid Payables Summary. BOARD TALKING POINTS: IASB Annual Conference - Reminder to confirm attendance for the IASB Conference, scheduled for November 19-21, 2025. ADJOURN: There was no further business for consideration. Toms motioned to adjourn the meeting. Davis seconded. The meeting adjourned at 6:33 p.m. The meeting documents, and full text of motions, resolutions or policies considered at this meeting are on file in the Board Secretary's Office. /Jenn Meinecke, Secretary CLAIMS: ACCESS SYSTEMS 1,981.07 ANCORA PUBLISHING AND SAFE & CIVIL SCHOOLS 8,530.59 ANDERSON ERICKSON DAIRY 458.73 ANDERSON, AMY 474.48 ARNOLD MOTOR SUPPLY 103.52 ATLANTIC BOTTLING 137.10 BOONE ACE HARDWARE 167.62 BOONE COUNTY LANDFILL & RECYCLING SERVICES 77.28 BROWN ELECTRIC OF CENTRAL IOWA, INC 1,699.80 CAPITAL SANITARY SUPPLY CO 1,943.15 CARQUEST OF BOONE 51.32 CLEARFLY 103.53 COMMUNICATION INNOVATORS 3,016.75 DENNIS SUPPLY COMPANY 34.68 DES MOINES STAMP MANUFACTURING COMPANY 185.00 DONOVAN GROUP 4,500.00 ECOLAB PEST ELIMINATION 157.18 ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING 500.75 ELLIOTT, CHRISTY 154.00 GARBAGE GUYS 596.00 GOLDEN VALLEY HARDSCAPES LLC 350.00 GOPHER SPORTS 649.46 HEARTLAND 11 AEA 2,421.17 HY-VEE ACCOUNTS RECEIVEABLE 795.00 IOWA ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS OFFICIALS 150.00 IOWA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL BOARDS 2,353.00 IOWA COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK 758.62 IOWA SCHOOL FINANCE INFO SERVICE 37.50 IOWA WILD HOCKEY CLUB LLC 270.00 KENDALL HUNT PUBLISHING 12,584.15 LAWSON PRODUCTS 205.11 LEXIA LEARNING SYSTEMS LLC 198.00 LITERACY RESOURCES LLC 498.40 MADRID CSD 26,119.63 MARTIN BROTHERS DISTRIBUTING CO INC 2,417.88 MCGRAW-HILL SCHOOL EDUCATION HOLDINGS LLC 404.43 MENARDS – AMES 52.94 MIDLAND POWER CO-OP 5,557.25 NORDHUS, CHRIS 32.20 NORTHLAND PRODUCTS CO 2,200.75 OGDEN CSD 24,669.43 OXEN TECHNOLOGY 784.50 ROBINSONS TRUCK AND TRAILER REPAIR LLC 2,636.89 ROCHESTER 100 INC 528.00 ROTELLAS ITALIAN BAKERY INC 402.71 ROTO ROOTER SEWER & DRAIN 353.80 RUBY REFRIDGERATION LLC 894.70 SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO 159.75 SOUTHWEST PLASTIC/BINDING 604.56 SUPREME SCHOOL SUPPLIES 46.15 TJS LANDSCAPING SERVICES INC 1,425.60 TOTAL CHOICE SHIPPING 25.87 VERIZON WIRELESS 92.62 WALSH DOOR & HARDWARE CO 384.25 ZORO TOOLS INC 329.51 TOTAL 116,266.38 October 16 2025 LIOW0388574