Focus Group Committee

May 11, 2026 at 6:30 PM

District Office, 222 Walnut Street, Eddyville

 

 

1. Welcome
2. Roll Call
3. Agenda Review
4. Create schedule
   
   1. Time:
   2. Date(s):
   3. Location:
5. Open Meetings Training
   
   1. Interpretation is this EBF Focus Group will have a significant impact on the EBF school district. Therefore, the members of this group must complete Open Meetings & Public Records Meeting Training.
   2. The requirement was enacted into law through House File 706 during the 2025 legislative session and is codified under Iowa Code section 21.12.
   3. Options
      
      1. In-person District Training for Board Team ($650)
      2. Online Module via AEA Learning Online ($99)
6. Operating Procedures & Ethics
   
   1. Professionalism in conversation
7. Expanded discussion Procedures & EthicsPurpose:
   
   1. Provide recommendations for the EBF PK-12 structure regarding education, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and administration. The structure review is due to declining enrollment’s direct effect on the reduction of EBF financial resources.
   2. Discussion
8. Overview of the current enrollment and finance
9. What data do you want to review?
   
   1. Discussion
10. Adjourn

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Focus Group Committee

June 8, 2026 at 6:30 PM

District Office, 222 Walnut Street, Eddyville

1. Welcome
2. Roll Call
3. Agenda Review
4. Purpose: Provide recommendations for the EBF PK-12 structure regarding education, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and administration.  The structure review is due to declining enrollment’s direct effect on the reduction of EBF financial resources.
5. Open Meetings Training
   
   1. IASB personnel is presenting
   2. Presentation Time - 90 minutes
6. Data Received Discussion - Verification that members of the committee understand the data.
   
   1. Building Expense Data
   2. Educational Research
   3. Building Capacity
      
      1. Eddyville              360-440
      2. Blakesburg           160 students  - 8 classrooms
      3. Fremont                320 students  - 16 classrooms
      4. Jr-Sr High
         1. 680 -  ( 23 x 25 students, 3 x 5 students, 2 x 15 students, 2 x 30 students)
         2. 730  - ( 25 x 25 students, 3 x 5 students, 2 x 15 students, 2 x 30 students (includes using two rooms on south campus)
   4. Current Elementary Building Enrollment by Sections
   5. Teacher Leadership Supplement funding (Commonly referred to as TLC)
      
      1. EBF Teacher Leadership Funding is based upon a state formula of resident students, not students served.  The amount this year is $315,265, $393 per budget enrollment student.  The funding was implemented in the 2014-2015 school year to develop leaders in the teaching profession without becoming an administrator creating teacher coaches in the school systems along with mentoring programs.
      2. At EBF the amount is used to pay the salaries of the curriculum director, teacher coaches, mentors, and mentees.
      3. TLC is known as a designated fund.  Recently the Iowa legislature and governor signed a bill allowing funds from TLC to be placed in “Flexed Spending” and the Board of Directors can direct how the funds will be spent outside the definition of the TLC legislation passed multiple years ago.  Currently EBF spends all the TLC resources on TLC positions.
   6. Low Hanging Fruit
      
      1. Absorb positions when possible
      2. Maximize bus routes for transportation
      3. Combination Classrooms (1st & 2nd grade in the same room to meet a minimum number of students.)
      4. Summer School in one location
7. What data or questions need to be answered.
8. Adjourn

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Focus Group Committee

July 13, 2026 @ 6:30 PM

District Office, 222 Walnut Street, Eddyville

1. Welcome
2. Roll Call
3. Correspondence
   
   1. Email from Brad Steele
4. Agenda Review
5. Purpose: Provide recommendations for the EBF PK-12 structure regarding education, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and administration.  The structure review is due to declining enrollment’s direct effect on the reduction of EBF financial resources.
6. Operating Procedures & Ethics
   
   1. Professionalism in conversation
   2. Expanded discussion Procedures & Ethics
7. Open Meetings Training - Process for those who missed the training
8. Survey sent to schools serving similar size elementary populations
   
   1. Copy of the EBF Elementary FTE Survey
   2. Current results
9. Recap Funding Procedures & Current Financial Analysis FY26 & Future
10. Trigger Points to Reduce Expenditures with Reasons for August
    
    1. Examples:
       
       1. The amount of Deficit Spending acceptable  for 2027-2028.
       2. What is the stated  minimum Unspent Authorized Budget (UAB)
       3. Class size trigger point for action -OR- Minimum size classrooms
       4. Other Suggestions…
11. Discussion
12. Adjourn

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Focus Group Committee

August 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM

District Office, 222 Walnut Street, Eddyville

 

1. Welcome
2. Roll Call
3. Agenda Review
4. Open Meetings Training
5. Purpose: Provide recommendations for the EBF PK-12 structure regarding education, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and administration.  The structure review is due to declining enrollment’s direct effect on the reduction of EBF financial resources.
   
   1. Discussion
6. Operating Procedures & Ethics
   
   1. Professionalism in conversation
   2. Expanded discussion Procedures & Ethics
7. Review Finance and Enrollment
8. Discussions
   
   1. What is the cost reduction value the group would like to see in the academic year…
      
      1. 26-27
      2. 27-28
      3. 28-29
   2. Cost Reductions
9. Adjourn

 

 

 

Agenda Review – No Changes

 

Create Schedule:

• Date: 2^nd Monday of each Month
• Time: 6:30 pm
• Location: EBF Board Offices (222 Walnut Street, Eddyville)

Open Meetings Training:

• Discussion determined that the training would be done as a group in one evening.  Those that are unable to attend the Open Meetings Training would complete the training online.  The EBF school district will pay for the training’s cost.

Operating Procedures & Ethics

• Mr. Glenn stated that the process will include difficult conversations and believes the committee members will be able to hold professional discussions around these difficult topics.

Expanded discussion Procedures & Ethics Purpose:

• Scott Williamson identified the purpose of the committee is to provide recommendations for the EBF PK-12 structure regarding education, extracurricular and co-curricular activities, and administration to the EBF Board of Directors. 

 

The review is due to declining enrollment’s direct effect on the reduction of EBF financial resources. Emphasis will be on all aspects of the EBF school district which include:

• • Employe structure from the Superintendent – Certified Staff – Classified Staff
  • Operational Sharing between school districts
  • Reviewing all supplemental schedules and extended day contracts
  • Administration and Director structures
  • Bus Routes
  • Extra-Curricular Activities
  • 3^rd Party Vendor contracts
  • Emphasis on the entire educational programming structure at EBF

Overview of the current enrollment and finance - Enrollment History and Forecast

• Mr. Williamson provided historical enrollment information along with forecasted enrollment information.  A handout was provided and is attached to the minutes.  The forecast enrollment showed the disparity between the next four graduating class sizes starting in 2027 which is between 70 and 80 students and incoming classes in the preschool and kindergarten that are between 33 and 40 students.  This represents a significant loss of students over that period.

 

Mr. Williamson also stated the district currently has a strong foundation fiscally, but the strength will diminish without significant change occurring in the school district.  If we continue to operate with the same infrastructure for multiple years the cash balance and Unspent Authority Balance (UAB) will decrease quickly.  The EBF school district is operating at a deficit this year knowing that the UAB and cash balance can absorb the deficit spending.  EBF will need to stabilize the UAB and cash balances in the next few years with reductions in expenses.

 

An overview of the 5-year history of revenues and expenditures was presented.  More details will occur as the committee progresses.

 

What data do you want to review?

• Below is list of items the Focus Group Committee would like to see moving forward.
  
  • A list of items that are considered “Low Hanging Fruit,” an easily reduce expenditure.  Mr. Williamson will provide a list of items.
  • Number of students served at each attendance center
  • The capacity of each attendance center
  • The cost of each attendance per student – Mr. Williamson stated this would be done based upon the building expenditures only.  District overhead costs would not be included.  Examples of district costs include the following: board office personnel, district directors for transportation and maintenance, bus drivers, gas for transportation, and special education.
  • Teacher Leadership funding
  • Research on the class sizes for elementary and secondary students

 

 

 

 

            Ed Glenn – Arrived at 7:45 pm

Agenda Review – No Changes

IASB Open Meetings Training:

• Presenters from IASB: Anna Harmon and David Hoth
• Training went from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
• Handwritten Notes and IASB Training Handouts from IASB linked here: Training Notes

Verification from the committee members received the data that will be discussed at the July 13^th meeting.  Each member stated they received the data.

Request to find the cost of other school districts elementary programming that serve a similar amount of students as EBF.

Scott Williamson

 

 

 

 

Agenda Review – No Changes

 

Data Reviewed

Survey data shared between multiple schools with very similar K-6 enrollment. 

School Districts serving 379 to 434 students in grades K-6 from 2025 fall enrollment.

EBF served 406 students K-6.

• General information from multiple districts
• Survey – K-6 Staffing results

 

Financial Data

• Current data has deficit spending at $770,000  General Fund Expenses and Revenue
• The “Certified Annual Report” to the Iowa Department of Education is not completed until September 15.  The special education expenses and revenues are not finalized until that report is completed.  A special education deficit increases EBF’s Unspent Authorized Budget (UAB).  The UAB is the most important financial number of the general fund.  EBF can expect a decrease in our UAB.
• Financial Breakdown

All documents in one pdf file:  All Documents

 

The committee discussed items viewed from the data presented. Questions and statements.

• Need 3 sections for EBF elementary students. How?
• Is there more opportunity to attract Open Enrollment. 
• Budget Guarantees require action on expenditures.
• Should class section size trigger points be implemented?  What would be the required action if a class is below that minimum number?
• What are the outcomes around a single elementary or all grades in the same location with 3 sections.
  
  • Preschool may need relocation if all K-6 is at one building.
  • Special Education services would be more efficiently implemented.
  • Specials: Art, Music, Band, PE, and Health would be stronger with more participants and efficiency.
  • Cafeteria sizes would be challenging with all students in one location.
• Building Configuration
  
  • Jr-Sr High serves grades 9-12
  • Eddyville Elementary would serve grade 5-8.  Keeps extra-curriculars near their practice and allows for acceleration in academics to high school courses.
  • Fremont and/or Blakesburg serves PK-4
• Staff Reduction is a priority
  
  • Early Retirement is an offer to do this through other financial funds and attrition.
  • Recognizing responsibilities may be combined in administration and other areas.
• Blakesburg buildings may have a land trust agreement if the property is no longer used by the school district.  More information is required.

Other Points at the conclusion of the discussion:

• Centralized location –
  
  • This is very tough, it is likely to lose students to travel if students need to go to from Fremont to Blakesburg for grades.
  • Do not get blinders on this as the solution.
• Understand changes are required, they are significant changes.

At the August meeting provide thoughts on actions.

 

,

 

Scott Williamson

Superintendent Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD

 

 

 

Agenda Review – No Changes

 

Data Reviewed

• Supplementary Schedules and Extended Contracts presented.
• Current Enrollment numbers

 

The committee discussed actions that need to be considered and expensed.

• Actively search for reduction in the 26-25 school year recognizing these reductions will not occur with salaried personnel.
• Reduce administrative costs for 26-27.
• Activity routes require a minimum number of students to operate.
• EBF should actively search for sharing opportunities for all positions.  Especially administrative and director positions.
• Review vehicle allocation to employees of the school district.
• Commit to 3 sections or less for grades PK-6.
• Restrict the minimum number in a section.
• Need a presentation on the employee allocation and district costs if one central elementary is created.  Review all positions from administrative, teachers, and classified.
• Reviewing the presentation of staffing from school districts of similar size the EBF school district must commit to creating a staff size that is more in line with the data from the survey.  35 positions supporting K-6 certified classroom positions.
• Need a presentation on the employee allocation and district costs if one location is used for each grade level for grades PK-6.  Review all positions from administrative, teachers, and classified.
• Create a financial forecast if these reductions occur.
• If you centralize to one building, where do all the adults who do not have classrooms, but are using classroom space as office space reside?  In one of the other buildings?
• Discussion of the cost to build classrooms and the SAVE funding will decrease by 30% by 2031 with legislation that was passed in the spring of 2026.  EBF SAVE funding will also decrease because it is based on resident enrollment, not students served.  When does the open enrollment into the EBF district create stress on the taxpayers of EBF who pay property taxes through PPEL or if a bond is enacted to maintain or expand facilities.
• Strong recognition from the group a bond has no real support by community members in Fremont and Blakesburg if their buildings are closed to build structure to centralize the elementary.
• Committee members noted that, “The ability to impact all students efficiently,” is an important thought as they speak about all solutions when ranking solutions.
• Can a community de-consolidate from EBF and create their own school district for their community?  Did Baxter just do this, or did they discontinue a 28E sharing agreement?  Need to find out.
• The Blakesburg land Trust agreement: This should be on file with the Wapello County Recorder.  Need to follow up.

 

 

 

 

Scott Williamson

Superintendent Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont CSD