FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT...
MAY 2014 DISTRICT DISPATCH
At the regular school board meeting held on Monday, April 14, 2014, the Underwood Community School District Board of Directors approved the certified budget for the 2014-15 school year at a total maximum amount not to exceed $11,052,635. Key information shared with the school board members during the meeting included the following: (1) taxable valuation in the school district has increased from $233,013,459 to $241,237,897; (2) the general fund property tax levy rate is projected to decrease from 12.47792 to 11.99481; (3) the management fund property tax levy rate is projected to decrease from 0.81540 to 0.78760; (4) the schoolhouse fund property tax levy rate will remain at 0.33000; and (5) the debt service property tax levy rate will decrease from 1.79477 to 1.71539. The grand total property tax rate is projected to be 14.82780. This is a decrease of 0.59029 from last year’s property tax rate of 15.41809. The school district’s financial condition remains healthy in spite of low levels of allowable growth in recent years. To continue this trend, diligent efforts must be made to curtail expenditure increases and guard against becoming overstaffed and underfunded. Our goal is to maintain a cash balance backed by spending authority which enables us to operate for 2-3 months without having to borrow any money.
The Underwood Community School District is joining other school districts throughout Iowa to honor its elected school board members during Iowa School Board Recognition Month during May. “Educate! Advocate! Celebrate!” is this year’s Iowa Association of School Boards’ theme. This theme recognizes that Iowa’s volunteer school board members are providing leadership, through responsibilities ranging from strong financial stewardship to ensuring high-quality curriculum, to make sure that all students are prepared for a bright future when they graduate. As elected leaders, they represent the citizens of the Underwood Community School District in a continuing commitment to local citizen control. Too often the efforts of school board members go unrecognized and unrewarded, so let’s take this opportunity to thank them for their service. The members of our local school board are Bill Bracker, Becky Constant, Neil Darrington, Keith Petersen, and John Rasmussen. When the opportunity presents itself, please join me in telling them “thank you” for a job well done.
Due to the need to make up one snow day from this past winter, the last day of classes for students will be Wednesday, May 21, 2014. We will have an 11:30 a.m. dismissal that day. Have a great summer!