704.03 - Investments

School district funds in excess of current needs shall be invested in compliance with this policy.  The goals of the school district's investment portfolio in order of priority are:

• To provide safety of the principal;
• To maintain the necessary liquidity to match expected liabilities; and
• To obtain a reasonable rate of return.

In making investments, the school district shall exercise the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use to meet the goals of the investment program.

School district funds are monies of the school district, including operating funds.  "Operating funds" of the school district are funds which are reasonably expected to be used during a current budget year or within fifteen months of receipt.  When investing operating funds, the investments must mature within three hundred and ninety-seven days or less.  If, during the current budget year an amount of public funds will exceed operating funds by at least thirty-three percent, the amount of public funds that exceed operating funds by greater than thirty-three percent may be invested in certificates of deposit at federally insured depository institutions which mature within sixty-three months or less, in accordance with state and federal laws.  When investing funds other than operating funds, the investments must mature according to the need for the funds.

The board authorizes the treasurer to invest funds in excess of current needs in the following investments.

• Interest bearing savings, money market, and checking accounts at the school district's authorized depositories;
• Iowa Schools Joint Investment Trust Program (ISJIT);
• Certificates of deposit and other evidences of deposit at federally insured Iowa depository institutions;

It is the responsibility of the treasurer to oversee the investment portfolio in compliance with this policy and the law.

The treasurer is responsible for reporting to and reviewing with the board at its regular meetings the investment portfolio’s performance, transaction activity and current investments.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to deliver a copy of this policy to the school district's depositories, auditor, and outside persons doing investment business with the school district.

It will also be the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the treasurer, to develop a system of investment practices and internal controls over the investment practices.  The investment practices are designed to prevent losses, to document the officers' and employees' responsibility for elements of the investment process and address the capability of the management.

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 11.2, .6; 12.62; 12B.10, .10A; 12C; 22.1, .14; 28E.2; 257; 279.29; 283A; 285; 502.701; 633.123.

Cross Reference:  206.3   Secretary-Treasurer
                              704      Revenue

 

Approved:  11/01/2024

Reviewed:  10/26/2009, 11/17/2014

Revised:  04/15/2019, 11/18/2024