Southeast Polk superintendent delivers final report as retirement approaches; board receives May financials

Superintendent Dr. Lenick delivered his final superintendent report at the June 11 Southeast Polk board meeting, reflecting on 11 years of service and thanking staff, students and the community. He highlighted accomplishments from the 2025'26 school year, including summer programming, athletics achievements (boys soccer qualifying for state for the first time) and ongoing registration for the 2026'27 school year.

"Serving Southeast Polk and this community has truly been an honor," Dr. Lenick said, and the board presented him with a token of appreciation and applause. The board noted the district is continuing administrative transition work with incoming leadership and that Dr. Lenick's final formal responsibilities will be followed by standard handoff activities.

Following the superintendent report, Kevin McCau delivered the business services update for May. McCau said general fund revenues were up about 3.5% year to date, open enrollment and special-education tuition were up roughly 10%, and textbook fees were down about 12%. The district placed a $4 million certificate of deposit from general-fund cash and placed $8 million of food-service money in a CD maturing June 2027 to preserve interest revenue. All-funds revenue rose 45%, driven by recent general-obligation bond proceeds; excluding bond proceeds, all-funds revenue growth would have been near 2.8%.

Board members asked clarifying questions about auction proceeds and fund accounting; staff confirmed auction sales and asset dispositions were one-time miscellaneous receipts and the interfund accounting treatment discussed earlier is routine.

What happens next: Staff will continue transition work for district leadership, and the finance office will finalize year-end entries, CD placements and the approved interfund transfer.