FROM THE DESK OF THE SUPERINTENDENT...
April 20, 2016
MAY 2016 DISTRICT DISPATCH
At the regular school board meeting held on Monday, April 11, 2016, the Underwood Community School District Board of Directors approved the certified budget for the 2016-17 school year at a total maximum amount not to exceed $11,833,400. Key information shared with the school board members during the meeting included the following: (1) taxable valuation in the school district has increased from $247,976,059 to $255,555,775; (2) the general fund property tax levy rate is projected to increase slightly from 11.51889 to 11.57635; (3) the management fund property tax levy rate is projected to decrease from 0.78637 to 0.76304; (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 1.68572 to 1.64831. The grand total property tax rate is projected to be 14.31770. This is a decrease of 0.00328 from last year’s property tax rate of 14.32098. The school district’s financial condition remains healthy in spite of low levels of supplemental state aid in recent years. In order to maintain the school district’s healthy financial condition, efforts must be made to limit 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 two to three 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 the month of May. “School Boards Matter: Making a Difference for Iowa’s Students” is this year’s Iowa Association of School Boards’ theme. This theme recognizes that Iowa’s volunteer school board members are providing innovative leadership through responsibilities ranging from strong financial stewardship to ensuring high-quality curriculum in order to make sure that all students are prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. 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 Neil Darrington, Jim Kuehn, Rick Larson, 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 some days from this past winter, the last day of classes for students will be Wednesday, May 25, 2016. We will have an 11:30 a.m. dismissal that day. Have a great summer!
