ISL and PPEL levies asked to continue

By Amie Johansen

amie@charlescitypress.com

A public hearing concerning the continuation of the Instructional Support Levy program will be held during Monday evening’s school board meeting.

“What we’re doing is a continuation of a general fund funding source,” Charles City Schools’ Business Manager Terri O’Brien said. “In addition to the amount per people that we receive from the state we can also participate in the instructional support levy.”

The current ISL is set to expire June 30 or 2017. The District hopes to extend the expiration date to June 30 of 2022. According to O’Brien, the public will be asked to approve the extension of this levy.

“We want to extend that for another five years,” she said. “That’s what we’re going to put to the voters in the community that we want to continue.”

ISL monies can be used to pay for anything falling within the general fund.

“In the past we’ve used (ISL money) for any general fund purpose,” O’Brien said. “This is also a continuation that we can use for salaries, equipment and supplies.”

The District hopes ask voters to extend the participation in the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy as well.

“We’re also asking to continue our $1.34 levy for the Physical Plant and Equipment,” O’Brien said. “That one is extending 10 years from when it is supposed to expire which is June 30 of 2020. We’re doing it early, so it would then expire in 2030.”

Continuing these levies would not come at a cost to voters.

“We’ve levied for ISL before and we’ve levied for PPEL before using the same amount so this wouldn’t be an increase taxes,” O’Brien said. Taxes would not go up through support of these levies.

It is the recommendation of the superintendent that the Charles City School Board approve putting the continuation of ISL and PPEL to a vote. If approved, the election would be held April 5. Polls would open at noon and remain open until 5 p.m.

Also on Monday’s agenda is a discussion and action concerning the roof of the high school cafeteria project. Advance Builders was awarded the contract for $102,000 at the Jan. 8 meeting. The agenda item asks School Board members to approve execution of the contract with Advance Builders for the project.

Other agenda items include:

— Science teachers conference presentation

— Elementary math presentation

— Iowa Association of School Board Advocacy contact

— Advocating at the legislature

— Choir robe fundraisers

— Financial report for Feb. 2015