Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community School District
Regular Board Meeting
10/01/2026 - 06:00 AM
5800 Discovery Blvd, Sioux City, Iowa 51111 Parking Lot A, Door 8, Room 2
MEETING MINUTES
Mission Statement
In partnership with parents and the community, the SB-L Schools will challenge students to take personal responsibility for their education and to apply their learning to a diverse and changing world.
Attendance
Tammy Matthey, Board Director
Lillyan Rodriguez, Board Director
Jeff Wright, President
Chris Barondeau, Board Director
Jason Gehling, Vice President- Absent
1. Call to Order
The regular October 2026 meeting of the Sergeant Bluff-Luton Board of Education was called to order by President Jeff Wright at 6:01 a.m. The meeting was held at the Northwest AEA, in Room 2.
2. Approval of the AgendaMotion to approve the agenda.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
3. Welcome Visitors & Guests
President Wright welcomed the visitors and asked if anyone present wished to address the board.
4. Approval of minutes from the previous meetings
The minutes of the meetings for September 2024 were reviewed by the board.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
5. Approval of the Secretary’s Monthly Reports
Motion to approve the secretary's monthly reports.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
6. Approval of Current Bills
Motion to approve the current bills.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results:
Abstain: Tammy Matthey
Yes: Lillyan Rodriguez
Yes: Jeff Wright
Yes: Chris Barondeau
7. Recognition
-Brad McCauley recognized the 5-12 Band and Choir Directors for doing a fantastic job recruiting student musicians into their programs.
Total in SBL Bands 185.
Ms. Scheebel - 77 in 5th Band, 34 in 6th Band, 29 in 7th/8th Band
Mr. Eggerling - 45 in HS Band.
Total in SBL Choirs - 224.
-Dave Schipper recognized Michelle Streck, Nicole Ryan, and Andrea Kuhl for their exemplary work for Homecoming. Good communication, with clear directions. Fun activities for the students, good backup plans for weather-related changes.
Justin Smith recognized the following:
Tennis Team:
Stella Britton and Camryn Glass both qualified for state individual tennis championships.
The team competed at Spencer yesterday and….
Volleyball Team:
Undefeated in conference.
Ranked in the top 10 again… big game tonight!
Cross Country:
Hudson Ter Wee was the athlete of the week. Broke 17 min in the 5K which very few SBL athletes have done in the past.
Football Team:
Off to a 5-0 start and ranked 2nd… dealing with injuries and athletes rising to the challenge.
Golf:
Finding ways to compete with the weather and the field… improving a lot from the beginning of the year.
Would like to recognize all the coaches and Tony Bos for their work with schedule adjustments due to weather these past few weeks.
I would also like to recognize our night custodians Randy and David, who clean up after games… especially this last one as it was left in a very undesirable condition by the visiting team.
8. Administrative Reports
a. Mrs. Bemus and Mrs. Konopasek
Mrs. Bemus and Mrs. Konopasek presented the board with a Primary and Elementary School report.
Went over the enrollment numbers, professional development and their 3 student teachers. Two of which are Sergeant Bluff graduates.
Mrs. Bemus and the Primary School are continuing to work on Character strong. Mrs. Konopasek and the Elementary School will continue to work on the 7-Steps.
9. Action Items
a. Resignations
Motion to approve the below new resignations as presented:
Megan Greigg - High School Kitchen.
Alejandra Valadez - Primary School Associate.
Sean Mendlik - Middle School Assistant Wrestling Coach.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
b. New contracts
Motion to approve the new contracts below as presented:
Ashlee Cookman - Primary School Daycare Associate. Level 4 $17.00.
Christina LaCroix - High School Kitchen. Level 5 $17.65.
Jamie Adams - High School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach. Step 2 $3,167.
Dan Conway - High School Assistant Boys Wrestling Coach. Step 6 $3,783.
Wyatt Skuodas - High School Wrestling Volunteer Coach.
Brandee Ostreem - Middle School Head Wrestling Girls Coach. Step 1 $2,068.
Sohpia Guntren - High School Head Varsiety Boy's Tennis Coach. Step 1 $4,883.
Matt Nelson - 7th Grade Assistant Boys Basketball Coach. Step 3 $2,200.
Dustin Kovarna - 8th Grade Head Boys Basketball Coach. Step 2 $2,419.
John Hensley - 8th Grade Assist Boys Basketball. Step 6 $2,337.
Mark Bliven - 7th Grade Head Boys Basketball Coach. Step 5 $2,683.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
c. Deposit and depositories fund balance of all accounts
Motion to approve the FY2026 Treasurer Report by Fund.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
d. Official depository maximum amount of deposits
Motion to approve a maximum amount of deposits of $14 million at Pioneer Bank and $1 million at Iowa School Joint Investment Trust.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
e. Legal counsel for 2026-2027
Motion to approve Ahlers and Cooney.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
f. Official Newspaper for 2026-2027
Motion to approve the Sergeant Bluff Advocate as our official newspaper.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
g. Appointment of Truancy Officer per Policy 410.3 for 2026-2027
Motion to approve the SBL police liaison officer, Travis Hutzell, as the district truancy officer.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
h. Request for Modified Allowable Growth for Special Education Deficit
Motion to approve the Modified Allowable Growth for the special education deficit of $961,273.74
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
i. Transfer Activity Fund Interest from Fiscal Year 2026 to Athletics
Motion to approve the transfer of funds as presented: $5,904.85
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
j. Approve superintendent of schools to sign checks in the absence of the board secretary as neededduring the 2026-2027 school year
Motion to approve the superintendent of schools to sign checks in the absence of the board secretary as needed during the FY2027 school year.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
k. High School Physical Education waiver
Motion and second to approve the physical education waiver form FY27 as presented.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
l. Request for Modified Allowable Growth for Excess Limited English Proficiency expendituresMotion to approve modified allowable growth in the amount of $175,024.81 to cover excess expenses in our limited English Proficiency programs.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
m. Approve Mrs. Heidi Utesch as the Homless Liaison
Motion to approve Heidi Utesch as the Homeless Liaison.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
n. Approve Policy 407.03: Early Retirement
Motion to approve the Early Retirement Policy as presented as it was reviewed as part of the superintendent's report last month. The change includes the following language: "Years of coaching only do not count towards the 15 years of consecutive employment (for example, a teacher from another school district that coaches at SBL would not count)."
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
o. 2nd Reading Series 600
Motion to approve the 600 policy series.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
p. CNOS Athletic Training Service Agreement
Attached is a contract for Summer Baseball/Softball coverage. This will be a three-year contract.
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
q. Approve policies 604.05, 701.05 & 701.05R1
Motion to approve to waive the second reading and approve policies 604.05, 701.05 and 701.05R1 as presented.
Motion made by: Chris Barondeau
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
r. 1st Reading 700 Series
1st reading of Series 700. No action was taken.
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
s. Approve amended Service Agreement with the NWAEA
Motion to approve the amended service agreement with the AEA as amended. Changes are related to how technology services are billed and the numbers for mentoring and induction.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Chris Barondeau
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
t. Approve purchase of a new server for the video cameras*
Approve the purchase of a server for the video cameras from RTI for $45,038.15. This will maintain our goal of 30-day retention and replace the storage service from Google which had become cost-prohibitive.
Motion made by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Motion seconded by: Tammy Matthey
Voting results:
Yes: Tammy Matthey
Yes: Lillyan Rodriguez
Yes: Jeff Wright
Abstain: Chris Barondeau
10.Superintendent Report
a. IASB Convention Nov 18-20, 2025
Mr. Janzen addressed the board to see if anyone was interested in attending the Iowa Association of School Boards Convention in Des Moines. Those interested should contact him.
b. Bond 2026 update
The Superintendent presented the board with an update on the 2026 Bond. The Plans over the next month and the Finance Committee Meeting.
11. Adjourn
Adjourn at 7:14A.M
Motion made by: Tammy Matthey
Motion seconded by: Lillyan Rodriguez
Voting results: Unanimously Approved
Board PresidentBoard Secretary
Published in the Sergeant Bluff Advocate weekly newspaper, Thursday, OCT. 15, 2026. The SB-Advocate is the Official Newspaper for the Sergeant Bluff-Luton CSD and is an Official Woodbury County newspaper. (PN#101526-00519)
