Mid-Prairie Community School District
Kalona, Wellman, West Chester
West Elementary Computer Science Room Wellman, IA 52356
August 10, 2026 – 6:15 p.m.
Vice President Jake Snider called the meeting to order in the absence of Board President, Randy Billups.
Board members present: Mary Allred, Denise Chittick, Kirah Johnson, Jed Seward, and Jake Snider.
Board members absent: Randy Billups and Ryan Schlabaugh.
Also Present: Superintendent Brian Stone, Board Secretary/School Business Official Jeff Swartzentruber.
Pledge of Allegiance
Read the School Mission Statement by Denise Chittick
Adopt the Agenda
Mary Allred moved to adopt the agenda as presented with 3i and 3j on the Bond Petition and Resolution tabled. Seconded by Jed Seward. Motion carried 5-0.
Hawk Highlight – Student for the Bond Petition – Superintendent Stone took the opportunity to recognize a group of Senior and Junior class students—Fiona McClellen, Emma Smith, Lael Seale, and Greyson Ghumm, along with Choir Teacher/Director Collette McClellen for their great effort as they took on the task of gathering signatures for the Bond Petition. The support has been outstanding for the 7 nights that they have been out in the community. They have gathered well over 70% of all of the signatures collected to date, a total of nearly 770.
Public Forum
No one spoke.
BUSINESS MEETING
Consent Items
Jed Seward moved to approve the following consent items.
Minutes of Previous Meetings
The minutes of July 13, 2026;
Finance Report
The Finance Reports for July, 2026; June, 2026 Partial Accrual;
Payment of Bills
The bills as listed for August 10, 2026; and Prepaid Bills;
Open Enrollment Requests
Open Enrollment In Requests total 3 students;
Open Enrolled Out Requests total 0 students;
Personnel Items
Contract issued to Annia Poll, Middle School Cross Country, $2,393 per season;
Resignation of Cheyenne Vawn, High School Custodian, $17.00 per hour, effective July 29, 2026;
Volunteer Coaches for Fall Sports
Brian Hervey – High School Football Derek Yoder—High School Football
Caleb Potts – High School Football Ryan Cortum – High School Football
Zeb Evans – High School Volleyball Dessa Poll – Middle School Cross Country
Fundraising Requests
Mid-Prairie Football requests approval to raise funds through sale of discount card to local businesses for payment of volunteer coaches, coach and player apparel, equipment, and supplies;
Mary Allred seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
Student Learning
Posting of School Board Agenda
Superintendent Stone reviewed the new annual requirement that School Board Meeting Agendas must be posted in a public space as well as on the District website. The District will continue to do the latter. An action is needed to state that the School Board Meeting Agendas will be posted on the bulletin board in the Central Office entry way within 24 hours of the scheduled meeting. The Board asked questions for clarification.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve the School Board Meeting Agendas will be posted on the bulletin board in the Central Office entry way as recommended. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
School Board Policy 501.11 Student Release Time During School Hours – Second Reading
Superintendent Stone noted that Policy 501.11 passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting and asked if there were any additional questions about the policy changes as it follows IASB sample policy language.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve Board Policy 501.11 Student Release Time During School Hours as presented on Second Reading. Jed Seward seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
School Board Policy 802.4 Capital Assets– Second Reading
Superintendent Stone noted the Policy 802.4 passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting and reviewed again the change to the policy for recommended additional language added for capitalizing bulk purchased assets.
Denise Chittick moved to approve Board Policy 802.4 Capital Assets as presented on Second Reading. Jed Seward seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
School Board Policy 503.11 Disruptive Behavior– Second Reading
Superintendent Stone noted the Policy 503.11 passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting and noted the new IASB Policy and the sample policy language.
Kirah Johnson moved to approve Board Policy 503.11 Disruptive Behavior as presented on Second Reading. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
School Board IASB Primer Updates– Second Reading
School Business Official Swartzentruber noted the 6 policies in Chapter 700 that passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting as:
- 701.2 Transfer of Funds – this contains specific updated language
- 701.5 Financial Management – this is a new policy
- 704.3 Investments – this contains specific updated language though the content is basically the same
- 705.5 Federal Awards Compliance – this is a new policy
- 706.4 Time and Effort Reporting – this is a new policy
- 707.1 Presentation and Publication of Financial Information – this contains specific updated language
Denise Chittick moved to approve Board Policies 702.1, 701.5, 704.3, 705.5, 706.4, and 707.1 as outlined above and as presented on Second Reading. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Board Policy Chapter 300 Administration – Second Reading
SBO Swartzentruber noted the 3 policies in Chapter 300 that passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting as:
- 302.2 – Superintendent Contract and Contract Non-renewal
- 302.4 – Superintendent Duties
- 303.5 – Administrator Duties
Jed Seward moved to approve Policies 302.2, 302.4, and 303.5 as outlined above and presented on Second Reading. Kirah Johnson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
School Board Policy 605.4 Technology and Instructional Materials– Second Reading
Superintendent Stone noted that Policy 605.4 passed on First Reading at the July 13, 2026 School Board meeting.
Jed Seward moved to approve Board Policy 605.4 Technology and Instructional Materials as presented on Second Reading. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Board Policy 504.6 Student Activity Program
Superintendent Stone shared the model language that the IASB has suggested for the HF2591, 8th Grade High School Sports Participation. The Board reviewed the language and asked questions to understand the current developments. He shared the document on the screen and stated the first thing is if the Board wants to proceed with the policy. The Board discussed the policy and sought input from Pete Cavanagh, Activities Director with focus on academic and code of conduct expectations. There was discussion of consideration of the policy implementation on a case by case basis rather than a blanket policy. Stone pointed out the policy has to be in place before an administrative regulation can be implemented.
Kirah Johnson moved to Board Policy 504.6 Student Activity Program as presented on First Reading. Jed Seward seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Activities Director, Pete Cavanagh, then discussed the Administrative Regulation for the policy in detail. This was done to educate the Board on the approach that is planned for implementation of the policy and gave examples. Stone stressed that communication is key—building to building, administrators and coaches to each other and communication with Families and students. The Board thanked Cavanagh for the explanation.
General Obligation Bond Petition Papers – Tabled to August 24, 2026
Resolution to Call and Election for General Obligation Bonds – Tabled to August 24, 2026
Finance-Long Range Planning
Bank Depository Resolution for the 2026-2027 School Year
School Business Official Swartzentruber presented the resolution for the 2026 2027 School Year. This is the annual Depository Resolution required in August. There are three changes from last year in anticipation of a November 2026 Bond referendum passage. This would remove the need to do a mid-year change.
RESOLVED, that the Mid-Prairie Community School District of Wellman, Iowa in Washington County, Iowa approves the following list of financial institutions to be depositories of the Mid-Prairie School, all funds in conformance with all applicable provisions of Iowa Code Chapters 452 and 453 (1983) as amended by 1984 Iowa Acts. S.F. 2220. The Business Manager/Board Secretary is hereby authorized to deposit the Mid-Prairie School funds in amounts not exceed the maximum approved for each respective financial institution as set out below.
Location of Maximum Balance Maximum balance in
Depository name Home Office effect under prior effect under this
___________________ __________ resolution resolution .
UMB Bank, N.A. Des Moines 2,000,000 2,000,000
Hills Bank Hills 20,000,000 35,000,000
Federation Bank Wellman 3,000,000 5,000,000
CBI Bank & Trust Kalona 6,000,000 8,000,000
Miles Capital Management Des Moines 2,000,000 2,000,000
Kirah Johnson moved to approve 08102601 as presented reading from the resolution. Jed Seward seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote: Kirah Johnson - yes Mary Allred - yes
Jed Seward - yes Ryan Schlabaugh - absent
Randy Billups - absent Jake Snider - yes
Denise Chittick - abstain
Motion carried 4-0, with Denise Chittick abstain.
Matching Funds Policy 903.6 Amount for the 2026-2027 School Year
Superintendent Stone and SBO Swartzentruber reviewed the policy. The provision is that the Board needs to select an amount to be offered as matching funds to the three main booster groups, which are: Fine Arts Boosters, Athletic Boosters, and Student Boosters. These funds will be matched with other funds raised by the groups for specific projects as named in the matching fund application. The amounts used over the past number of years is at a total of $45,000 with each group having access for the year to one-third of the amount. Groups are also able to agree to share amounts or portions of their allotment with the other two groups upon mutual agreement. It is recommended that the matching fund amount(s) stay the same as previous years for the 2026-2027 School Year. The Board asked questions for clarification.
Denise Chittick moved to approve the matching fund grant amount for the 2026-2027 School Year of $45,000 to be shared in equal thirds by the 3 booster groups. Mary Allred seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Insured Booster Groups for 2026-2027 – Approval of 8 Booster Groups and Clubs including Goldan Hawks Wrestling Club, Mid-Prairie Athletic Boosters, Mid-Prairie Alumni and Friends Association, Mid-Prairie Community School District Foundation, Mid-Prairie Fine Arts Boosters, Mid-Prairie Post-Prom Committee, and MP Archery Club for insurance coverage under the District Policy for a $250 annual fee to the District.
Mary Allred moved to approve the 8 Booster Groups for insurance coverage for the 2026-2027 School Year at an annual amount of $250 each as presented. Kira Johnson seconded the consent items. Motion carried 5-0.
IASB Legislative Platform Discussion for 2027 Iowa Legislative Session
Superintendent Stone and SBO Swartzentruber drew the Board’s attention to the IASB Legislative Priorities document for the 2026-2027 Legislative Year, especially starting with page 13 (page 1 for 2025 Legislative Resolutions). The process starts with the Board review of this document and then the process to determine the priorities to communicate to IASB for next year. The Board discussed the potential legislative priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
In the 2025-2026 Legislative Session the Board chose the priorities listed below:
- High-Quality Teacher Workforce
- Diverse and Engaging Educational Experiences
- Mental Health
- Supplemental State Aid
- Safe and Secure School Environment
The Board reviewed the 2026 document to identify four to five priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The Board included the following as focus items to IASB:
- 2 – High-Quality Teacher Workforce
- 3 – Diverse and Engaging Educational Experiences
- 4 – Mental Health
- 7 – Supplemental State Aid
- 8 – Safe and Secure School Environment
Additional Information
Board Policy Review of Chapter 400 Employees
Superintendent Stone reviewed the Chapter 400 Policies with the Board using the review document provided. This will be tackled at the August 24, 2026 Work Session
Board tabled this agenda item until August due to the length of the Policy Chapter.
Announcements and Suggestions for Next Agenda
The next Work Session Meeting will be on Monday, August 24, 2026 at 6:15 p.m. Agenda items to include: Board Policy Review of Chapter 400 Policies – Employees; MP Evaluation Tools; FFA Travel to National Convention October 21st to the 24th.
The next regular Board meeting will be on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. at the Central Office Community Room.
Tour of West Elementary
The Board then ended the meeting with a tour of West Elementary to view the new addition and the extensive renovations completed.
Board Highlights
The tour of the West Elementary building to see the addition and renovations near completion prior to the start of school.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m.