The Pella School Board held a public hearing to finalize the 2024-25 fiscal year budget at their meeting Monday. The board once again received the certified budget presentation and a comparison of property tax rates, which will hold at $14.60 per $1,000 of valuation. Action items on the agenda included the budget, Iowa Association of School Boards policy recommendations, a wellness policy, certificate of completion for football stadium lights, and the issuance of $11.8 million in general obligation bonds, all of which were approved.

The board also received an update about House File 2612 and the changes it will have statewide, and begin discussion on how it will impact the local funding stream — including what actions would need to be taken to get Pella’s teachers on the new salary plan. The current minimum salary in the Pella Community School District is $42,428, which is under the $47,500 now required under state law and what becomes $50,000 in FY26.

Superintendent Greg Ebeling says the business department isn’t sure just yet how much money they will have to ensure a balanced salary schedule that not only meets the new minimums, but also provides increases for teachers in-between the two new benchmarks.