2026.07.06 Public Hearing, Regular, and Closed Session

PUBLIC HEARING, REGULAR, AND CLOSED SESSION

OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE

SOUTH TAMA COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Board of Directors of the Community School District of South Tama County met on July 6, 2026 for a Public Hearing on the proposed conveyance of an interest in real property (Old Middle School) at the Partnership Center, Tama, Iowa beginning at 5:00 p.m. with some members of the community attending electronically through Google Hangouts.

President Dolezal administered the Oath of Office to Michael Avis.

On call of the roll the following were present: Elizabeth Dolezal, Rick Hopper, Michael Avis, Joe Hanus, and Danya Keahna. Quorum present. Also present were: Superintendent John Cain, Board Secretary Katie Mathern, Mary Mixdorf, Gerald Husak, Cheryl Husak, Jonathan Meyer, Jo Avis, Justin Suchanek, and members of the community through Google Hangouts.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the agenda of the Public Hearing. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Public Hearing - Conveyance of an Interest in Real Property (Old Middle School): President Dolezal opened the Public Hearing at 5:02 p.m. on the proposal to convey an interest in real property (Old Middle School). Hearing no public comments, President Dolezal asked for a motion to close the Public Hearing.

Motion by Hanus, second by Keahna to close the Public Hearing at 5:03 p.m.

The Regular Session was called to order at 5:03 p.m.

The Board and guests stated the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the District’s mission statement.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the agenda with the removal of Presentation 1. End of Year Activities Update. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Public Forum - None

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the consent agenda as presented. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Director of Finance Katie Mathern presented the unofficial annual end-of-year financial update to the Board.

Superintendent Cain presented the district’s annual progress report, highlighting updates on student achievement and improvement goals, curriculum and instructional initiatives, safety and reunification planning, bullying prevention efforts, career pathways, and the district’s year-end financial status, with state assessment results to be reviewed at a future board meeting once finalized by the Iowa Department of Education.

Administration reviewed the district’s communication platform selection process and recommended ParentSquare as the preferred platform based on committee feedback, ease of use, and overall features.

Superintendent Cain provided an update on open positions for the 2026-2027 school year, including ongoing recruitment efforts and contingency plans, and reminded the Board of the board training scheduled for July 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the following personnel requests. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Hires: Ashlee Garcia - Middle School ELL Paraeducator, Kelly DeLong - K-12 Special Education Teacher (PHS) effective January 2027, Lorna Perkins - Special Education Town Van Route, Nate Doran - Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball, Phoebe Osgood - Assistant Individual Speech, and Delsey Curtis - 7th Grade Literacy

Resignations: Elizabeth Weitzell - Middle School ELL Teacher and Mattison Pladsen - Middle School Paraeducator

Officials: Layla Pansegrau - Middle School Softball

Other: Harley Doty - Math PLC Position

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the Ames Ford quote, in the amount of $59,074.00, for a 2027 Ford Expedition for Special Education purposes. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hanus, second by Keahna to approve the Tyler Technologies renewal, in the amount of $15,919.24, for the Tyler Drive Computer Program and tablet support and maintenance. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the IXL quote, in the amount of $20,825.00, for an IXL site license (Grades 5-12). All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the Cambium Assessment invoice, in the amount of $7,706.50, for ELPA21 English Learner Assessments. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve Thomas Company quote, in the amount of $5,548.00, for the HVAC needed in the High School Concessions and Coffee Shop. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the Scharnweber quote, in the amount of $5,800.00, for the electrical needed in the High School Concessions and Coffee Shop. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the Resolution for Conveyance of Real Property authorizing the sale of the old middle school property to Ptero Investments, LLC. Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Dolezal, Hopper, Avis, Hanus, and Keahna. Nays - None. The motion carried.

Motion by Hanus, second by Keahna to approve the ParentSquare proposal, in the amount of $7,837.85, for a communication application for the 26-27 school year. The motion carried.

Motion by Hanus, second by Hopper to approve the Street Smarts invoice, in the amount of $6,062.00, for Drivers Education Class completed. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Keahna to approve the following 2026-2027 handbooks: Preschool, Elementary/Middle/High School, Certified, Classified, and Student-Parent Activities Handbook. All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hopper, second by Hanus to approve the first readings of the following policies: 103 - Long-Range Needs Assessment (update), 103 R1 - Long-Range Needs Assessment - Regulation (update), 203 - Board of Directors’ Conflict of Interest (update), 505.08 - Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide Policy (Formerly Parental Involvement) (update), 505.08 R1 - Parent and Family Engagement District-Wide Policy (Formerly Parental Involvement) - Building-Level Regulation (update), 506.01 - Education Records Access (update), 701.05 - Fiscal Management (update), 704.03 - Investments (update), 705.01 - Purchasing-Bidding (update), 705.01 R1 - Purchasing-Bidding-Suspension and Debarment of Vendors and Contractors Procedure (update), 705.01 R2 - Purchasing-Bidding-Using Federal Funds in Procurement Contracts (update), 705.04 - Expenditures for a Public Purpose (update), 705.04 R1 - Expenditures for a Public Purpose - Use of Public Funds Regulation (update), 705.05 - Federal Awards Compliance (new), and 706.04 - Time and Effort Reporting (new). All Ayes. The motion carried.

Motion by Hanus, second by Keahna to approve the third readings of the following policies: 713 - Responsible Technology Use & Social Networking (new) and 713 R1 - Responsible Technology Use & Social Networking - Regulation (new). All Ayes. The motion carried.

Superintendent Cain provided updates on upcoming events.

Each Board member presented a “positive” they have witnessed in the District or their role as a Board member.

Motion by Hanus, second by Keahna to enter Closed Session at 6:28 p.m. pursuant to Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i) to evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when a closed session is necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation, and that individual requests a closed session. Roll Call Vote: Ayes - Dolezal, Hopper, Avis, Hanus, and Keahna. Nays - None. The motion carried.

The Board returned to open session at 7:11 p.m.

The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 5: 00 p.m., at the Partnership Center, Tama, IA.

Motion by Keahna, second by Hanus to adjourn the meeting at 7:11 p.m.

Elizabeth Dolezal, Board President Katie Mathern, Board Secretary

kmathern@s-tam… Fri, 07/17/2026 - 14:54