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 October 21, 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: Seda, Wilson, Calderwood, Dvorak and Sniffin. Staker and Dostal were absent. Quorum Present. Also, present were: Superintendent Cain, Board Secretary Forrester, Principal Brown, Transportation Director Morrison, Student Representative Allen, and members of the public.
Public comments were called for, and one received. Kennan Seda commented on his opinion of the school needing to pay to repair/improve the bus stop in Clutier.
Dvorak made the motion to approve the agenda as presented. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included: the board minutes for North Tama County Community School District’s regular board meeting on September16, 2026, and special board meeting October 14, 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 $45,584.35 and Plunket Raysich Architecture LLC for $2,336.26 and $2,334.96, the hiring of Aubrey Azbill as associate, Lydia Taylor as assistant girls basketball coach and adjustment of Austin Unker from part-time to full-time custodian, the resignations of Jan Dillon as cook: the approval of the following fundraisers: art club for face painting, Skills USA for wooden stars and snowflake decorations, dance team for strawberries and sophomore class for beef sticks, the approval of the memorandum of understanding with Child, Adolescent, and Parent Support, INC through June 30, 2028, and the tuition out bill payable to Change Academy for $6,300.00, Hawkeye Community College for $18,378.94 and Cedar Falls CSD for $820.02. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Student Representative Allen gave a report to the board on Homecoming Week 2026 by sharing the weeks activities and pictures.
Principal Brown reported on the comparison of EVAAS data which shows student growth from 2019, 2022 and 2026. Overall students are growing educationally thanks to our district education curriculum changes and the work of our amazing teachers. Additionally, he highlighted on how the district is continuing to search for a qualified 5th-12th grade licensed science teacher and gave insight on the licensing restrictions that play a factor to limit those eligible to teach the courses the position requires and spoke about the planned credit recovery schooling to help eligible high school students make-up certain required courses needed for graduation requirements.
Superintendent Cain reported to the board on the proposed 2027 IASB legislative platform, the sale of the 2012 Bluebird, IGHSAU and IHSAA recent communication on 8th grade participation in high school sports, Pluncket Raysich Architects firms request to meet with the board to discuss the process and future improvements process, and the new pep bus/van procedure.
Dvorak left the meeting at this time.
President Calderwood called the public hearing for the proposed transfer to flexibility account to order at 7:06 P.M. Public comment was called for, with none received. Seda made the motion to adjourn the public hearing at 7:07 P.M. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Discussion topics included paying coaches as drivers, the required repair or replacement of a school van, a review of the proposed business procedures manual and a review of the current superintendent and other operational sharing position costs/revenues.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the resolution for the flexibility fund transfer totaling $125,000. Wilson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was completed by Secretary Forrester, Wilson-aye, Sniffin-aye, Dostal-absent, Dvorak-absent, Calderwood-aye, Seda-aye, Staker-absent. Motion carried 4-0.Sniffin made the motion to approve the scoreboard naming agreement with Farmers Savings Bank & Trust. Seda seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.
Dvorak re-entered the meeting at 7:30 P.M.
Seda made the motion to approve the cancellation of the 28E Agreement for Superintendent Operational Sharing with South Tama County CSD effective June 30, 2027. Dvorak seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0. Dvorak made the motion to approve and adopt the updates to the 2026-2027 Elementary Student Handbook with noted revisions to the K-5 Violent Behaviors section. Sniffin seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
Sniffin made the motion to approve the payment to ServPro of Ames for $16,880.05 for basement cleanup after sewage back-up. Wilson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
After a second reading was completed, Sniffin made the motion to approve 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, and 604.09, and to move board policy 604.10 to a third reading.
A first reading was completed on the following board policies: 603.05-E(1), 603.12, 604.11, 605.01, 605.03, 605.03- E(1), 605.03-E(2), 605.03-E(3), 605.03-E(4), 605.03-E(5), 605.06, 605.06-E(1), 05.06-E(2), 605.06-R(1), 605.07-R(1), 606.01, 606.02, 606.03, 606.04, 606.05, and 606.06. No action was taken.
Upcoming school events were noted.
At 7:56 P.M., Sniffin made the motion to move into a closed session in accordance with Iowa Code 21.5(1)(i), a closed session may be held, "To evaluate the professional competency of an individual whose appointment, hiring, performance, or discharge is being considered when necessary to prevent needless and irreparable injury to that individual’s reputation and that individual requests a closed session." Dvorak seconded the motion. A roll call vote was completed by Secretary Forrester, Dvorak-aye, Calderwood-aye, Seda-aye, Wilson-aye, Sniffin-aye, Dostal-absent, Staker-absent. Motion carried 5-0.
At 8:55 P.M., Sniffin made the motion to move out of closed session. Wilson seconded the motion. A roll call vote was completed by Secretary Forrester, Dostal-absent, Staker-absent, Dvorak-aye, Sniffin-aye, Calderwood-aye, Seda-aye, Wilson-aye. Motion carried 5-0.
No action was taken on the topic discussed in the closed session.
At 8:57 P.M., Sniffin made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Dvorak seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
The next regular North Tama County Community School District board meeting and the annual organizational meeting is planned for 6:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 18, 2026, in the North Tama Junior High Commons located at 605 Walnut St, Traer, IA 50675.
