Board approves annual assessment contracts; trustees call them unfunded mandates

The board approved two assessment-related purchases July 21 that district leaders described as unfunded state and federal mandates: payment of a Cambium invoice for ELPA21 administration and an estimated purchase of ISASP testing for grades 3–11.

Angela Bemis told the board the ELPA21 (Cambium) invoice totals approximately $127,553 and recommended approving payment. The board then approved the Iowa Statewide Assessments for Student Progress (ISASP) contract for grades 3–11 for an estimated $94,000 for the 2025–26 school year. Bemis described both line items as "unfunded mandates" — unavoidable costs the district must absorb even though state and federal testing costs have increased.

Trustees asked about whether actual costs sometimes come in under estimates; staff said last year's charges exceeded their earlier estimates and that the district adjusted its estimate upward for the coming year to avoid midyear amendments.

Ending: Both assessment purchases were approved. Staff will budget for the estimated costs and return if final state invoices differ from the estimates.