2026-2027 District Budget Hearing/Regular Board Meeting Lawton-Bronson Community School District Library – 113 W. 1st Street, Bronson, Iowa Monday, April 13, 2026 7:00 p.m. The Lawton-Bronson Community Schools District will prepare all students to contribute productively to the global world of work and community. A. Call to Order -- Meeting called to order at 7:01pm. B. Pledge of Allegiance C. Mission Statement D. Roll Call White, Garnand, Reinke, Mesz present. Sappingfield arrived at 7:40pm. E. Welcome Visitors and Guests F. Public Forum Mrs. White our TAG teacher and assistant speech coach spoke on behalf of the speech team. This season speech had 31 students performing in 13 different large group acts and 45 students performing in individual acts. Seniors Carmon Reinke and Willie Molzen were also in attendance to share their stories as they performed at the All-State Contest. G. Approval of Agenda – Additions or deletions may be requested by Board members, visitors, or Administrators. An agenda which has been posted more than twenty-four hours prior to a scheduled meeting may be amended to include additional matters only if good cause exists requiring expeditious discussions or action on such matters. Garnand moved to approve the agenda. White seconded. All in favor. Code of Iowa, Chapter 21 – Open Meetings Law H. Budget Hearing Miller presented the FY2027 Budget I. Communications 1. Board member update Reinke attended the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) meeting and lobbyist where there discussing potential changes affecting school district with this year's legislative session. The proposal to reduce SAVE funds as left the station and some form of it will be implemented. This is detrimental to our district as we use SAVE funds to continually update our facilities. Things such as new fire alarm systems, reroof the high school building, built dugouts for both baseball and softball, and lots more. We anticipate our funding for SAVE to be reduced by $150,000 each fiscal year. Shook continued on in this conversation and brought up additional legislative changes that will affect the district. J. Reports 1. Elementary Principal's Report SOAR Assemblies – Students were recognized this month during student of the month celebrations, highlighted by a March Madness-themed assembly. We are proud of our students for consistently modeling what it means to SOAR! We held an ISASP kick-off assembly to build excitement and prepare students for upcoming assessments. The week included themed dress-up days, strong student participation and a staff dodgeball game that created a fun and engaging atmosphere. We welcomed families from Preschool, TK, and 2nd grade this month. (Kindergarten and 1st Grade did this back in November). Students performed a short program, shared donuts and juice with their grandparents, and then participated in an activity in their classroom. These events continue to strengthen connections between our school and community. 2. Secondary Principal's Report NASA Update – 8 students attended the SDSU Space Settlement Design Competition virtually due to weather. Along with roughly 40 students from other school students were divided into two different companies and followed a Request for Proposal to design a space settlement on the mood. Sam Keith won the Dick Edwards Award for showing quiet leadership during the work time. Sam Keith and Landon Kelly were selected to attend the International Competition in Florida at the end of July. Landon Kelly also attended the Space Settlement Design Competition at the Gilruth Center in Houston, TX. Landon was recognized by the CEO of Aerospace Education Competitions for saving a Skink. He was also selected as an alternate to attend the International competition. Prom is this coming weekend. Our theme is “Las Vegas.” Everyone is working hard to put on this fund and safe night. Iowa assessments will be conducted on April 27-May 1. Our teachers and students are working hard to prepare. Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) team recently competed at their state convention. Congrats to Sam Keith on being selected to participate at the Nation FBLA conference in Texas in June. Last month, our varsity quiz bowl team traveled to Waukee for the Iowa Quiz Bowl Championship and came home with 3rd Place! Junior, Sam Keith, was selected as the high school student of the month and 8th grader, Michael McChesney, was selected as the junior high student of the month. 3. Monthly financial reports Miller presented monthly financial reports. 4. Board Bill Auditor Report Reinke asked questions on board bills. K. Consent Agenda 1. Approve minutes of previous meeting 2. Approve bills payable 3. Approve budget summaries Mesz moved to approve the consent agenda. Garnand seconded. All in favor. L. Personnel 1. Approve new contracts White moved to approve new contracts as presented. Garnand seconded. All in favor. • Brittany Lesline – Elementary Special Ed. Teacher, contingent on obtaining the proper endorsements • Dustin Thoreson – Varsity head girls basketball coach • Lindsey Hopper – Additional varsity assistant track coach M. New Business 1. Approve 2026-2027 Certified Budget White moved to approve the 2026-2027 Certified Budget. Garnand seconded. All in favor. 2. Approve budget guarantee for 2026-2027 school year Garnand moved to approve the budget guarantee resolution for the 20262027 school year. Sappingfield seconded. All in favor. 3. Approve 2026 graduates -- Sappingfield moved to approve the 2026 graduates. White seconded. All in favor. 4. Approve 2026-2027 Teacher Master Contract Garnand moved to approve the 2026-2027 Teacher Master Contract. Sappingfield seconded. All in favor. Reinke and White abstained. 5. Approve non-certified employee contracts White moved to approve the non-certified employee contracts. Garnand seconded. All in favor. 6. Approve schedule D contracts White motioned to table the schedule D contracts to give the board more time to review. Garnand seconded. All in favor. 7. Approve contract for Superintendent White moved to approve the contract for Chad Shook as Superintendent. Sappingfield seconded. All in favor. 8. Approve contract for Secondary Principal Sappingfield moved to approve the contract for Brandi Jessen as Secondary Principal. Mesz seconded. All in favor. 9. Approve contract for Elementary Principal White moved to approve the contract for Austin Busch as Elementary Principal. Garnand seconded. All in favor. 10. Approve contract for Business Manager/Board Secretary Garnand moved to approve the contract for Mercedees Miller as Business Manager/Board Secretary. Mesz seconded. All in favor. 11. Approve changing the date for the regular June board meeting Garnand moved to change the date of the regular June board meeting to June 15, 2026. White seconded. All in favor. N. Discussion Item 1. Discussion regarding ordering an election on the issuance of a General Obligation Bond in this year's regular November election. O. Closed session pursuant to Section 21.5(1)(i) of Iowa open law 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. White moved to not enter closed session. Mesz seconded. All in favor. Sappingfield moved to adjourn. White seconded. All in favor. P. Adjourn -- Meeting adjourned at 8:34pm. ___________________________________Dennis Reinke, Board President ___________________________________Mercedees Miller, Board Secretary
