From the Desk of the Superintendent...
April 21, 2021
MAY 2021 DISTRICT DISPATCH
At the regular school board meeting held on Monday, April 12, 2021, the Underwood Community School District Board of Directors approved the certified budget for the 2021-22 school year at a total maximum amount not to exceed $12,468,224. Key information shared with the school board members during the meeting included the following: (1) taxable valuation in the school district has increased from $276,197,752 to $290,534,241; (2) the general fund property tax levy rate is projected to decrease from 11.73236 to 11.42332; (3) the management fund property tax levy rate is projected to increase from 0.94135 to 1.03528; (4) the schoolhouse property tax levy rate will remain at 0.33000; and (5) the debt service property tax levy rate will decrease from1.48875 to 1.43527. The grand total property tax levy rate is projected to be 14.22117. This is a decrease of 0.27129 from last year’s grand total property tax levy rate of 14.49246. 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 or three months without having to borrow any money.
The Underwood Community School District is joining the other 326 school districts in Iowa to honor its elected school board members during Iowa School Board Recognition Month throughout the month of May. “Leading Through Uncharted Waters” 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 Jeff Bonsall, Matt Brummett, Rick Larson, Teresa Mace, and Michelle Soloth. When the opportunity presents itself, please join me in telling them “thank you” for a job well done.
Speaking of “uncharted waters,” the 2020-21 school year fits that description very well. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant challenge, but I am proud of the way our community members, parents, faculty members, staff members, and students have risen to the challenge. We are making progress toward returning to a pre-pandemic state of normalcy, but continue to be cautious and closely monitor positivity rates. We are confident that we will begin the 2021-22 school year with our PK-12 student body members attending all-day/every-day, but we are in the process of working with the Pottawattamie County Department of Public Health, the Iowa Department of Education, healthcare professionals, and legal counsel to determine whether items such as our existing masking and social-distancing protocols need to remain in place. Details will be available at the time of registration on Monday, August 2, 2021, if not before.
Due to the need to make up days missed previously during this school year, the last day of classes for students will be Thursday, May 27, 2021. We will have an 11:30 a.m. dismissal that day. Have a great summer!
