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

Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont Community School District

Focus Group Committee

September 14, 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.
   
   1. Discussion
5. Operating Procedures & Ethics
   
   1. Professionalism in conversation
   2. Expanded discussion Procedures & Ethics
6. Superintendent Information
   
   1. Baxter Community School District
      
      1. Discontinued their 28E Agreement with Collins-Maxwell
         1. News Article from Ames Tribune
         2. Internet search information document
   2. Blakesburg Building and Land
      
      1. The Building Deed from Wapello County Recorder does not mention a Trust existing.
         1. Mr. Jon Cook: I spoke to Mr. Cook by phone.  He believes the statement was a handshake between his grandfather and the town of Blakesburg.  No real paper trail at this time.  More to the story that can be shared verbally
      2. The Baseball Field Deed
   3. Create draft recommendations and timelines for the EBF Board of Directors.
      
      1. Draft recommendations and timelines.
         1. Information provided to the Focus Group
         2. Recommendations discussed by the Focus Group
7. Adjourn