The Pella School Board discussed legislative priorities for the upcoming session at the second of two summer meetings Monday.
The board talked about what they’d like to advocate for with the Iowa Association of School Boards, which includes support of developing initiatives for student achievement and accountability, the legislature fully funding education, setting state aid when legally required and not dragging the process through the session, and extending Iowa’s statewide penny sales tax for school infrastructure.
Additionally, they appointed Mary Bogaard as the representative for an upcoming Tax Increment Financing amendment meeting for the Southwest Urban Renewal Area, reviewed the district’s policy for gifts, grants, and bequests, which included trying to clarify potential issues with Title IX for targeting gifts or spending to specific programs, and approved changes to the district’s teacher evaluation process.
The board also looked the school’s financial position ahead of potential cost cutting measures in the upcoming fiscal year budget process, including a scenario in which they offer early retirement incentives, as they did three years ago. Implementing early retirement could save the district from having to cut programs and staff paid for in the district’s general fund over the next several years, but Superintendent Greg Ebeling says they would also lose a vast amount of institutional and classroom knowledge from teachers who have a lot to offer to students and fellow staff. The possible plan would be developed this fall for fiscal year 2020.