Waterloo SchoolsBoard of Education Meeting MinutesApril 27, 2026 – 5:00pm
The Waterloo Schools Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting in the Board Room of the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington Street, Waterloo, Iowa. The meeting was called to order at 5:02pm. Board members Williams, Schmitt, Cox, Ewing, Knight, and Mills present. Board member Madlock absent.
Public Hearing for 2026-2027 Budget Certification opened at 5:06pm. No public comments. Moved by Knight, seconded by Mills, to close the Public Hearing for the 2026-2027 Budget Certification. Motion carried 6-0 on a roll call vote. Public Hearing closed at 5:07pm.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Knight, that the Board of Education approve the unification of the following sports under the Waterloo United Titans name, beginning with the 2026-27 school year: Volleyball, Boys Wrestling, Boys and Girls Cross Country, and Boys and Girls Bowling. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Ewing, seconded by Mills, that the Board of Education approve the revised Consent Agenda including Item i (Approval of Minutes: April 13, 2026, Regular Board Meeting) , Item ii (Personnel Appointments and Adjustments) , Item iii (Bills Due & Payable and Bills Paid Between Board Meetings) , Item viii (Bond Counsel and Disclosure Counsel Engagement Agreement) , Item ix (Resolution Fixing the Date for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Issuance School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds) , and Item x ( Set Date of Public Hearing for the 2026/2027 School District Calendar). Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Knight, that the Board of Education approve travel for the WCC advisor and students to attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference, in Atlanta, GA, from May 31-June 6, 2026. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve the 2026-2027 Service Agreement between Central Rivers Area Education Agency and the Waterloo Community School District as presented. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve the purchase of the TalkingPoints communication platform at a cost of $64,525 for FY2026. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve the contract bid from RelayHub, LLC, for 6% of claims as presented from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. Motion carried 6-0.
Ewing and Mills agreed to friendly amendment to remove item x (" Resolution Fixing the Date for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Issuance School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds ") from the consent agenda and vote on the issue separately.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve the Resolution Fixing the Date for a Hearing on the Proposed Issuance of Approximately $7,000,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds and set the date of the Public Hearing for May 11, 2026, at 5:00 pm, in the Board Room of the Education Service Center, 1516 Washington Street, Waterloo, Iowa. Motion carried 6-0 on a roll call vote.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve the proposed agreement with the Waterloo Education Association (WEA) for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approves the adoption of Sepup Science by Lab Aids digital licenses, student textbooks and lab materials, in the amount of $776,805.34, and the adoption of Inspire Science by McGraw digital licenses and student textbooks in the amount of $90,837.71, for a total cost of $867,643.05, as presented. Motion carried 5-1; Schmitt voted no.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve a three-year purchase agreement of GoGuardian at a cost of $52,500 per year. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education certify and adopt the 2026-2027 Budget with maximum expenditures of $265,741,217 and the property tax levy rate of $16.74483 as presented. Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Mills, seconded by Ewing, that the Board of Education approve adoption of the following policies: Foreign Students , Depository of Funds , Fiscal Management , Cash in School Buildings , Local - State - Federal - Miscellaneous Revenue , Debt Management , Gifts to the District , Student Activities Fund , Fundraising with the District , Purchasing , Payment for Goods and Services , Expenditures for a Public Purpose , Payroll Periods , Payroll Deductions , Presentation and Publication of Financial Information , Insurance Program , Meal Charges , and Student Transportation for Extracurricular Activities ; and the deletion of Budget Monitoring and Control , Donations and Naming Rights , Group Gift Participation , Application for and Acceptance of Outside Funding , Incentive Programs with Businesses , Purchasing Authority , Risk Management , Food and Beverage Sales in Competition with the Food Service Program , and Use of School District Vehicles .The Superintendent's recommendation is that the Board of Education approve the following policies: Foreign Students , Depository of Funds , Fiscal Management , Cash in School Buildings , Local - State - Federal - Miscellaneous Revenue , Debt Management , Gifts to the District , Student Activities Fund , Fundraising with the District , Purchasing , Payment for Goods and Services , Expenditures for a Public Purpose , Payroll Periods , Payroll Deductions , Presentation and Publication of Financial Information , Insurance Program , Meal Charges , and Student Transportation for Extracurricular Activities ; and the deletion of Budget Monitoring and Control , Donations and Naming Rights , Group Gift Participation , Application for and Acceptance of Outside Funding , Incentive Programs with Businesses , Purchasing Authority , Risk Management , Food and Beverage Sales in Competition with the Food Service Program , and Use of School District Vehicles . Motion carried 6-0.
Moved by Ewing, seconded by Cox, that the Board of Education adjourn the meeting. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:55pm.
Pamela G. Arndorfer, Board SecretaryLeigh Schmidt, Recording SecretaryCOL-IA-603867