Oskaloosa School Board Approves Levy, Preschool Agreement
Oskaloosa Community School Administration
By R.D. Keep
Oskaloosa school board met in special session Monday night to approve the 2013-14 school budget and an agreement for preschool management. The meeting also included a couple action items relating to personnel.
Despite the Iowa Legislature’s lack of agreement on allowable growth, school districts have to certify their budgets by the end of March. The board was asked to approve a levy based on projected revenue and expected expenses.
What has made it difficult for the district to determine the amount of levy is knowing what amount of allowable growth and what the final amounts of contracts will be after negotiations.
Superintendent Russ Reiter stated that the Iowa Legislature has not approved an allowable growth. He said he is anticipating a 3 percent but cannot be sure. District business manager Chad Vink told board members what they were voting on Monday was the amount of the levy to be published in the newspaper. Actual budget approval will come at the April 9 regular meeting.
Reiter emphasized the board could reduce but not raise the levy after it is published. Vink and Reiter presented five scenarios ranging from zero allowable growth to the requested 4 percent growth for board members to consider. Zero growth would result in a $15.53 levy, which would be 40 cents less than the current school fiscal year.
The current tax rate is $15.91. The Oskaloosa district has seen reduction in the asking in recent years. The rate for fiscal year 2005 was $17.52 and dropped under $16 for first time this year.
Under the scenarios presented, four percent allowable growth would drop the levy to $15.26 while 3 percent would be $15.23. The board members opted for $15.53 per $1,000 valuation.
Board member Tom Richardson asked Vink what the timeline for knowing what the levy should be based on the Legislature’s decision.
“Generally, a month after the governor signs the bill, then we will receive notification from the management division,” said Vink. “After that we will be able to let them know what our actual amount will be.”
Reiter was sure the final levy request will be less than the approved amount, but suggested the higher amount to allow the board room to work based on the pending Legislature.
The second major business matter was the approval of a 28E agreement regarding preschool in Oskaloosa. The district has been working with other preschool providers to work in coordination to provide services.
“We are responsible for preschool in the district,” said Reiter. “We think if it is all coordinated under one would be better in the long run.”
Board members asked about special education classes. Reiter indicated that there could be expenses for specialized services that the group may not be able to handle. The district would retain those classes that are for special education students under terms of the agreement.
Preschools considering the partnership include, YMCA, Headstart, SonShine and Kid’s Korner. The other organizations have been awaiting the Oskaloosa board decision before proceeding with their own decisions.
Oskaloosa would oversee the finances since, under Iowa law, it is responsible for preschool services in the district. The district is allowed to utilize up to 5 percent of preschool funding for administration. The remaining 95 percent would be passed through to those who are part of the agreement. The approved agreement will allow the entities to move forward with their planning.
The board passed the agreement unanimously.
The final order of business was the acceptance of resignations from Mark Schilb and Krista Schilb. Both have been teaching in the district the past two years.
Mark Schilb is a physical education teacher and football coach at the high school Krista is an instructional specialist at the elementary. Both have accepted positions at Mark’s home district of Clarinda. He is expected to serve as dean of students and head high school football coach. Krista will be teaching in the Clarinda District.
The next meeting of the school board will be Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.
