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Linn-Mar Community School District board meeting, May 11, 2026

1 h 48 min · 2 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 48 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

School board approves sale of $28,125,000 in general obligation school capital loan notes 1:28:03

  • A team from OPN Architects reported on recent facility assessments, saying the final report would group projects over the next 10 years. 12:59
  • The board voted 6⁠-⁠0 to approve a resolution directing the sale of $28,125,000 in general obligation school capital loan notes, Series 2026. 1:28:52
Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and budget public hearing 3:11
    • Justin Foss called the meeting to order at 5 PM and said that, as vice president, Justin Foss would lead the meeting because the president was out of state. 3:11
    • Justin Foss opened and closed a public hearing on the amended certified budget for fiscal year 2026, stating that nobody had signed up to speak. 4:08
    • The motion to adopt the agenda carried. 4:08
  2. Teacher Appreciation Week video 4:08
    • As part of Teacher Appreciation Week, the board viewed a video of staff at 2 of the district's elementary school buildings. 4:36
  3. Public comment 6:48
    • A speaker at public comment raised concerns about the new performance hall at the high school, asking the board not to let unfinished contractor work slide. 7:20
    • The same speaker asked the board not to table a hallway project on the west side of the building, describing a $700,000 price tag. 9:26
    • Another speaker at public comment asked the board to reconsider a denied open enrollment request. 10:51
  4. Facilities assessment report 12:59
    • A presenter said the team assessed 17 attendance centers or sites and that a community survey drew about 533 responses, with parking and traffic flow the most consistent issue districtwide. 15:01
    • A presenter said a full HVAC replacement at Excelsior is the highest priority there and that ceiling, piping, lighting and fire alarm work could be grouped with it. 35:44
    • Brittania Morey asked about the timeline for next steps, and a presenter said the board would likely see something sometime in June. 44:39
  5. Venture Academics advisory report 1:00:41
    • Midhat Mansoor said the program is reevaluating how to offer science classes because of state changes. 1:03:10
    • Brittania Morey said the government teacher plans a mid-year project next year for students to learn about property taxes and levies. 1:04:01
    • A speaker presenting the report said the Exploring Education strand rose from 22 to 53 students and overall enrollment increased by about 10. 1:05:44
  6. Finance and legislative reports 1:07:30
    • Brittania Morey said the consent agenda includes a contract for a replacement Medicaid reimbursement system, and a staff member said it is a no-cost change from the old software. 1:07:58
    • Brittania Morey said the district will lose about 25% of SAVE, about $12.8 million plus or minus $3 million, and that the governor has signed 3 education bills. 1:09:17
  7. Superintendent's report 1:14:31
    • The superintendent said the high school girls 4x100 relay team took second place at Drake and broke the school record with a time of 47.73 seconds. 1:14:34
    • The superintendent said volunteers have contributed more than 18,000 hours of service this year and that the Oak Ridge band room project has gone out to bid. 1:14:34
  8. Policy recommendations second reading 1:19:18
    • Evan Langston moved to approve the second reading of the policy recommendations as presented in Exhibit 701.1. 1:19:28
    • The motion carried. ~1:19:46
  9. Sale of school capital loan notes 1:19:46
    • A presenter from Piper Sandler said the district received 4 proposals and the winning bidder offered a 3.27% true interest cost. 1:19:46
    • The presenter said the district's bond rating did not change but its outlook moved from negative to stable. 1:25:57
    • Barry Buchholz moved to approve the resolution directing the sale of $28,125,000 in notes for $29,229,167.38. 1:28:03
    • The motion carried 6⁠-⁠0. 1:28:53
  10. Amended fiscal year 2026 budget 1:29:01
    • A staff member said the annual amendment adjusts the certified budget to match actual expenses and is not a cash matter. 1:29:26
    • Brittania Morey said the district does not set its budget at the maximum amount and that the amendment reflects actual spending. 1:30:03
    • The motion to approve the amended certified budget passed. 1:29:08
  11. Magma Math subscription 1:31:47
    • A staff member said Magma Math is a show-your-work tool, not a curriculum, for approximately 700 students at the high school. 1:31:59
    • A speaker asked about limited pencil and paper work, and the staff member said pencil and paper work will remain. 1:35:33
    • A staff member said the quote is $11,200 per year for 3 years. 1:40:37
    • The motion to approve the subscription carried. 1:40:51
  12. Open enrollment and student fees 1:41:38
    • Midhat Mansoor moved to approve the open enrollment request as presented, and Brittania Morey moved to approve the student fee schedule for the 2026⁠-⁠27 school year. 1:41:40
    • Both motions carried. ~1:41:54
  13. Staff compensation packages 1:42:25
    • The board considered a 3.03% total package increase for the Lindmar Service Association and a 3% increase for Transportation Department staff for fiscal year 2026⁠-⁠27. 1:42:26
    • Barry Buchholz moved to approve a 5.53% total package increase for part-time nutrition services staff, and a staff member said it brings them to a $16 an hour starting wage. 1:43:15
    • The motions carried. ~1:42:46
  14. Consent agenda 1:44:57
    • Midhat Mansoor moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. 1:44:57
    • The motion carried. ~1:45:18
  15. Board calendar and communications 1:45:18
    • Justin Foss noted the graduation ceremony on May 24 and the June 8th Board of Directors meeting. 1:45:18
    • Laura Thomas asked when the Facilities Advisory Committee would meet, and a staff member said the board would get a couple weeks notice. 1:46:51

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “Linn-Mar School Board Meeting - 5pm - May 11th, 2026”