2026-02 February 11, 2026 School Board Minutes

East Buchanan Community School District - Regular Board Meeting Minutes – February 11, 2026

Call to Order- President Andy Sperfslage called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm.  The board recited the East Buchanan Mission Statement.  Board members present were Tonishia Dockstader, Andrew Maas, Andy Sperfslage, Heather Steffens, and Troy Tempus.  Administration attending were Superintendent Kory Kelchen, HS/MS Principal Derick Ludwig, Elementary Principal Nathan Reck, and Business Manager/Board Secretary Teresa Knipper.  Several visitors attended the meeting. Motion carried with all ayes unless noted otherwise. 

Public Hearing – Flexibility Fund – Sperfslage called for a motion to open the public hearing.  Motion by Maas, second by Steffens to open the public hearing at 5:00 pm.  Kelchen explained the purpose of the flexibility fund.  No comments from the public.  Motion by Steffens, second by Tempus to close the public hearing at 5:02 pm.

Approve Agenda - Motion by Dockstader, second by Steffens to approve the agenda as presented.

Approve Consent Agenda - Motion by Dockstader, second by Steffens to approve the consent agenda. Items included on the consent agenda: minutes from the regular meeting on January 14, 2026; resignations of paraeducators Stacy Hirsch, Paula Aberle, and Sherry McCollough; expenditures listed; and financial reports.

Administrative Updates and Reports – Reck reported that the Leader in Me representative worked with all grade levels to provide direction, FAST screening data shows scores remained steady, the Battle of the East Buchanans reading challenge with a Missouri school is this month, the sixth-grade lighthouse team is leading the February assembly, and the 100^th day was celebrated.  Ludwig reported that attendance is improving, the dance marathon is later this month, plans are being made for ISASP testing, and the NHS inductee ceremony was on February 10^th.  Kelchen provided school-related legislative updates regarding SSA, property taxes, and SAVE.  He also presented a school calendar option with a 4-day week that was created with input from the district leadership team (DLT).

Flexibility Fund Resolution – Motion by Tempus, second by Maas to approve the expenditure from flexibility account resolution as discussed.  The resolution was adopted as follows:  WHEREAS, Iowa Code provides school districts with greater flexibility to transfer eligible funds to other specified purposes;  WHEREAS, the Board, in consultation with its community, through a public hearing with notice, by the board passing a public hearing date on February 11, 2026  as prescribed by the Iowa Department of Education, has determined that excess funds in the flexibility account shall be transferred to general use in order to provide the best quality education for the students of the school district; and WHEREAS, the Board proposes to use $162,846.29  from the flexibility account, which came from excess funds from Teacher Quality Professional Development (TQPD) and Teacher Leadership  Compensation Supplement (TLC). It has been certified that the statutory requirements for TQPD and TLC have been met and an approved copy of this board resolution submitted to the Iowa Department of Education.  NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board:  Passed and approved this 11^th day of February 2026.

Budget Adjustment Resolution – Motion by Dockstader, second by Steffens to approve the budget adjustment resolution as presented.  The resolution was adopted as follows:  RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of East Buchanan CSD, will levy property taxes for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa.  Passed this 11^th day of February 2026.

Sale of JD Tractor – Tabled

Financial Presentation – Kelchen presented information regarding the district’s financial status including fund balances, enrollment trends, solvency ratio, unspent authorized budget, and the impact of SSA.  He provided options for the board to consider regarding the amount to reduce the budget.

FY27 Budget Reduction – Motion by Maas, second by Dockstader to reduce the district’s budget by $650,000.  A work session to review the budget reduction areas will be held on February 25, 2026 at 5:00 pm.

Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Resolution and Agreement – Kelchen presented the agreement from the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool and explained that a premium will be paid from the management fund for natural gas as a cost-saving measure for the general fund.  Motion by Tempus, second by Steffens to approve agreement and resolution as presented.  The resolution was adopted as follows:  WHEREAS, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the East Buchanan Community School District in the County (Counties) of Buchanan, State of Iowa (the “School District”) is required by Section 274.3 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, to operate, control and supervise all public schools within the boundaries of the School District and is authorized to exercise any broad and implied power not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Iowa and administrative rules adopted by state agencies pursuant thereto, related to the operation, control and supervision of those public schools; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 670.7, subsection 1 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, the School District may join and pay funds into a local government risk pool to protect the School District against any and all liability, loss of property, or any other risks associated with the operation of the School District and the costs of local government risk pools shall be included in the School District’s management levy as provided in Section 296.7 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, or, if the School District has not certified a management levy, the costs shall be paid from the School District’s general fund; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 296.7 of the Code of Iowa, as amended, the School District may enter into agreements obligating the School District to make payments beyond its current budget year to establish and maintain local government risk pools to protect the School District from tort liability, loss of property,  environmental hazards or any other risk associated with the operation of the School District; and WHEREAS, the School District is authorized pursuant to Chapter 28E of the Code of Iowa, as amended, to enter into joint agreements with other public agencies and with private agencies (both as defined therein) for the joint exercise of powers, privileges and authorities exercised or capable of being exercised by the School District; and WHEREAS, because of the fluctuation of the costs of natural gas and variability of the quantities of natural gas used by the School District caused by changes in winter weather conditions, it is in the best interests of the School District to enter into a joint agreement with other public agencies, in substantially the form as has been presented to and considered by the Board (the “Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement” or the “Agreement”) providing for the forming and creation of the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Commission (the “Commission”) for the purpose of establishing one or more local government risk pools (together, the “Local Government Risk Pools”) to help the participating public agencies mitigate budget risks associated with winter heating and other natural gas consumption, to enter into contractual arrangements with private parties to access natural gas for the benefit of the participating public agencies, to establish premiums to be paid by the participating public agencies, to pool their risks and stabilize gas prices annually and to facilitate the purchase by and delivery to the participating public agencies of natural gas periodically;  NOW, THEREFORE, It Is Hereby Resolved by the Board of Directors of the School District, as follows:  Section 1. The participation by the School District in the Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement and the Local Government Risk Pools established in accordance therewith are hereby approved.  Section 2. The Iowa Local Government Risk Pool Agreement is hereby approved, and the President and Board Secretary are hereby authorized and directed to accept and execute the same and any related documents for and on behalf of the School District.  Section 3. The Board shall determine from time to time which, if any, of the Local Government Risk Pools established by the Commission are appropriate for the School District to participate in and shall enter into such related documents and agreements as may be necessary in connection therewith and the President and Board Secretary are hereby authorized and directed to execute the same for and on behalf of the School District.  Section 4. To the extent that the School District incurs obligations to pay premiums or other costs in connection with such Local Government Risk Pools, the Board agrees to include in its annual budget sufficient funds to pay such obligations each fiscal year from its management levy and/or general fund levy.  Section 5. The President and the Board Secretary (or their acting designees) are hereby authorized to execute and deliver any and all agreements, documents and instruments required in connection with the Agreement and to carry out the purposes set forth in this resolution.  Section 6. All resolutions or parts thereof in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict.  Passed and approved the 11th day of February 2026.

Certified Early Retirement Policy 407.6 Review – Tabled

Student Questions – Students asked about how curriculum, activities, snow days, and attendance would change with a 4-day school calendar. 

BucPr1de – Bus drivers work well as a team and three wrestlers competed in the girls wrestling state tournament.

Adjourn- Motion by Tempus, second by Steffens to adjourn the meeting at 6:25 pm.

The above are not official minutes until approved at the next regular board meeting.  A copy of the official minutes may be viewed in the office of the Board Secretary and Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm.