Scott County Catholic Schools (SCCS) Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
March 30, 2026 — 5:30 PM
Assumption High School Board Room
Attendees: Rosie Salazar, Linda Duffy, Rosie Barton, Tammy Askeland-Nagle, Jim Hannon, Mike Byrne, Beth Tinsman, Andy Craig
Absent: Rob Edel, Carol Foster, Fr. Jason Crossen
Guests: Logan Ahnquist, Martha Korneisel
Invocation
The meeting began with a prayer at 5:33 PM.
Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the February board meeting were approved.
Reports
Mission/Governance
Updates provided on a pending education bill that could:
1.allow low-interest private school construction bonding, provided through the State of Iowa.
2. allow non-public SWVPP preschools to cooperate directly with the Department of Education, bypassing public school intermediaries.
3. allow a 2nd semester entrance to the ESA program (benefitting mid-year transfer students.)
Education
Current enrollment numbers are expected to continue their rise as registration slowly continues in the coming months.
JFK is nearly at capacity with strong re-registration rates. Saint Paul’s is slightly below last year but expected to increase. Saint Joan of Arc is projected to grow. All Saints faces challenges due to socioeconomic and language barriers.
AHS is anticipating a overall increase with incoming freshmen outpacing 2026 graduates.
There are 91 students who have registered but are awaiting principal approval, with some students registering at multiple schools.
Shadowing activity is down compared to last year (particularly at JFK), likely due to high enrollment and limited space, with ongoing efforts to track and encourage new registrations.
Finance
Net surplus of $112,008 for the month, and year to date of $1,215,012.
Received $991,754 in February, which is the remainder due to us from the State of Iowa for spring semester tuition.
Received $93,450 in registration fees for 26/27 from Odyssey Marketplace in March so far.
The 26/27 budget is being prepared, with a goal of presenting it for approval in April.
Estimated payroll expenses for the remaining months of the fiscal year are about $1 million per month, with a likely positive year-end position of roughly $2 million.
Human Resources
Recruitment is underway for new teachers due to increased enrollment and some turnover (retirements and personal choices). Turnover this year is lower than last year.
Final interviews for the incoming president are scheduled for three candidates, over two days, aiming for a decision and offer by mid-April.
An employee departure in accounting allowed SCCS to redefine positions and hire an assistant controller. We believe this change will allow better distribution of work within the department.
SCCS anticipated a 20% increase in our group insurance rate, however separating from the diocesan plan allowed us to achieve 13.4% increase. Down the road, options in the health insurance area could include partial self-funding and higher deductibles.
The base salary for next year will be slightly over 89% of local public school base salaries.
Communications/Marketing
No updates to report.
Facilities
Facility studies for Grant and All Saints are underway. All Saints is still awaiting information on mechanicals and roofing. The committee is working with Bray to complete the studies.
The committee plans to hire a construction manager (CM) within two weeks to provide cost estimates for both the Grant school and ASCS project, with interviews and a recommendation brought to the board.
Discussion covered advantages of using a CM and potential cost savings through design-build mechanicals, electrical and plumbing approaches.
The Buildings and Grounds Committee will make recommendations to the board for CM selection, aiming to provide the next president with clear options and cost comparisons.
Technology
Ongoing challenges acquiring technology equipment due to high demand, supply shortages, and rising prices. Some servers and devices have doubled in cost, with limited availability projected through 2027.
Plans prioritize purchases for freshmen and new students, with possible reallocation or delayed rotation at elementary schools if needed.
Unfinished Business
No updates to report.
New Business
No updates to report.
Follow-up Tasks
Work with Bray to initiate the process of hiring a Construction Manager (CM) for All Saints and Grant facilities, including scheduling interviews and mapping out the selection process within the next two weeks.
Send out access to the files containing the Grant School and All Saints facilities studies to all relevant board members, ensuring missing information is identified and communicated.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held in the AHS Board Room at 5:30 PM on Monday, April 27th, 2026.