Regular Meeting
of the Board of Education of the
North Tama County Community School District
The Board of Directors of the Community School District of North Tama County met on September 16, 2026, for a regular open meeting at the North Tama County School, Junior High Commons, Traer, Iowa at 6:00 P.M. The meeting was called to order by President Calderwood.
On roll call the following board members were present: Dostal, Seda, Wilson, Calderwood, Dvorak and Sniffin. Staker was absent. Quorum Present. Also present were: Superintendent Cain, Board Secretary Forrester, Principal Brown, Transportation Director Morrison, Technology Director LaRue and Activities Director Knaack.
Public comments were called for but none received.
Dvorak moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an internal transfer hiring addition. Seda seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
The oath of office was given by President Calderwood to the new student board representative, Isabella Allen.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the consent agenda, which included: the board minutes for North Tama County Community School District’s special board meeting and board workshop on August 18, 2026, and regular board meeting on August 19, 2026, the approval of the financial documents (expenditures to date, approval of bills, monthly balances and expenses compared to the published budget), the approval of construction bills payable to Larson Construction for $208,041.35 and $212,436.09 and Plunket Raysich Architecture LLC for $2,302.93, the contract adjustment for Hannah Hunter as associate, the resignations of Katie Svoboda and Vickey Karr as associates, Paula Jacobs as cook and Leah Borgerding as assistant girls basketball coach, the internal transfer of Jan Dillon to cook and the termination of contract for Morgan Smith as associate: the approval of the following fundraisers: band fruit, meat and cheese sales, preschool pie sales, sophomore class kiss a farm animal, FCCLA boo baskets, FFA scotcheroo sales, drama club/high school student council haunted house; the approval of an out of state trip for FFA National Convention, the approval of clinical experience agreements with William Penn and Upper Iowa University and the tuition out bill payable to Change Academy for $6,300.00. Dvorak seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak noted on behalf of the board a retirement congratulations and a thank you to Vickey Karr for her twenty plus years of service at North Tama.
Student Representative Allen gave a student report on school sponsored clubs noting the number of members and current happenings of each club.
Principal Brown gave a report updating the board on the educational changes of moving to a partial block schedule in junior high and elementary teacher level changes. As well as showing the board historical and recent data on absences and referrals. He also introduced the plan to work with Good Era on the creation of promotional pieces to highlight facilities at the district.
Superintendent Cain reported to the board on recent basement cleanup needs, bat sightings in the building, the RSAI survey due, BoardCon 2026 board training opportunities, reminders of the auditor survey requested by each member, a recent donation received by a generous community member that will help insure free breakfast is available to all children regardless of family income levels for years to come, concerning recent student behaviors, the staff newsletter highlighting the 2026-2027 strategic goals, dual enrollment language changes and youth sports concession stands.
No public hearings were conducted.
Discussion topics included superintendent search options, 2026-2027 strategic plan goal review, construction updates for the MPR renovation, playground, junior high bathrooms, complex concession stand and “final’ punch list walkthrough scheduled for Monday, September 21st, prayer and religious expression guidance and junior high HVAC needs. Future action items corresponding to these discussions will be on upcoming meeting agendas. No action was taken at this time.
Seda made the motion to attempt the sale of a 2012 Bluebird bus by the district via advertising it online and placed Transportation Director Morrison responsible for the negotiating of sale with potential buyers. Dvorak seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak made the motion to set a public hearing for the flexibility of funds for the next board meeting on October 21, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Sniffin made the motion to accept the engagement letter for fiscal year 2026 auditor services with Nolte, Cornman & Johnson, P.C. as presented. Dvorak seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak made the motion to approve the memorandum of understanding for the 2026-2027 master contract which included flexibility with teacher workdays hours and removed the ticket taking notification requirements. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak made the motion to accept the bid from Infrastructure Technology Services, LLC for access points and installation of $13,315.00. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak made the motion to accept bids for the complex concession stand project by combining all aspects of the existing project and allowing bidders to include a potential timeline with each bid. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Dvorak made the motion to authorize the superintendent to request a Modified Supplemental Amount from the School Budget Review Committee for the district’s special education deficit. The amount of the request is $210,266.28, or the amount determined by the Iowa Department of Education following the DE Audit Review. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the request for Modified Allowable Supplemental Aid for LEP Allowable Costs in
excess of what was originally received through State Aid, in the amount of $7,644.50. Dvorak seconded the motion.
Motion carried 6-0.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the secondary handbook updates as presented including changes to the dual enrollment section to align with Iowa Code and minor language regarding school pickup locations and seat belt usage. Seda seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
After a fourth reading, Sniffin made the motion to approve board policies 705.01 and 711.02-R(1) as presented. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
After a third reading, Dvorak made the motion to approve board policies 507.02, 507.02-E(1), 507.02-E(3), 605.04, 605.04-E(1), 605.08, 605.08-R(1), 607.02, 607.02-R(1) and 901 as presented. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
After a second reading, Sniffin made the motion to approve board policies 103, 103-R(1), 201, 210.05, 501.15, 503.03-E(1), 505.08, 505.08-R(1), 506.01, 506.01-E(1), 506.01-E(2), 506.01-E(3), 506.01-E(4), 506.01-E(5), 506.01-E(6), 506.01-E(7), 506.01-E(8), 506.01-R(1), 506.02, 506.02-E(1), 506.01-R(1), 506.04, 603.01, 607.01, 711.02 and 711.10 as presented. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.A first reading was completed on the following board policies: 601.02, 602.04, 603.02, 603.03, 603.06, 603.07, 603.08, 603.08-R(1), 603.09, 603.09-R(1), 603.11, 604.01, 604.02, 604.03, 604.04, 604.05, 604.06, 604.07, 604.08, 604.09 and 604.10. No action was taken.
Upcoming school events were noted. Including Homecoming on October 9, 2026.
Sniffin made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:39 P.M. Seda seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
The next regular North Tama County Community School District board meeting including a public hearing for flexibility use is planned for 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 21, 2026, in the North Tama Junior High Commons located at 605 Walnut St, Traer, IA 50675.
