On an unseasonably warm evening on Monday, March 10, members of the Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools Board of Education met to discuss and approve several items, including student out-of-state trips, accepting a bid for the North Ridge parking lot extension and to discuss policy.
The board also agreed to set a public hearing on the proposed 2025-2026 property tax rate for Monday, March 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the District Business Office. The board will discuss and possibly vote on the 2025-2026 fiscal year proposed property tax levy, which if OK’d would start in July 2025.
Citing increases in property and casualty insurance costs, the levy assumes 0% State Supplemental Aid (SSA) funding. On-going state legislation proposes 2.25% funding but has not yet been approved.
“Supplemental State Aid was supposed to be set by mid-February and has not been set yet. Our governor has line-item veto power. We don’t know where it’s going to end up,†W-SR Superintendent David Hill explained.
School Board President Charlene Wyatt-Sauer said, “Our hands have been forced by the legislature not following their own laws. We’d like there to be no increase. It’s reflective of what we know today.â€
If the levy is approved at the March 24 meeting, it would mean a tax increase on residential property with an actual/assessed value of $100,000 to $110,000 from $615 to $711 and on commercial property valued $300,00-$330,000 from $2,713 to $3,179.
Out-of-state trips OK’d
Approved student trips included the long-standing Rocky Mountain backpacking experience for high school students, which is currently led by science teacher Renee Borglum.
The 12-day, every-other-year summer trek includes four chaperones and six students this year. Participant journals and photos have been shared with Waverly Newspapers in past years.
Orlando, Florida, is the destination for about 15 students who will attend and compete at the National FCCLA Leadership Conference trip July 5-9, 2025, led by W-SR High School Family & Consumer Science teacher LuAnn Bibler and W-SR Middle School teacher Kristie Kuhse.
Some of the $1,400 cost per student is funded by Take Home Chef sales and Rada and Pizza Ranch sales. Parents of participating seventh or eighth graders are required to attend.
North Ridge parking lot
Gage DeCook, project manager of Larson Engineering Inc., fielded 10 minutes of questions about the six bids received for the North Ridge Elementary parking lot extension.
The board accepted the low bid of $424,117 from Huff Contracting Inc. of Waterloo, with bids differing by more than $100,000. The work will include fill and concrete work and is scheduled to be complete by the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the district is obligated to accept the low bid.
Other business
A first reading of the 700 Policy series, Non-instructional Operations and Business Services, was introduced. It includes a wide range of topics including financial accounting, school records, student activity funds and fundraising, the school food program and transportation.
Newly purchased school buses have seat belts, and seat belt use procedures were discussed. Responsible technology use and social networking for employees are also outlined in this policy series. Policies are reviewed every five years.
High School Associate Principal Brady Weber reported that teaching vacancies have been filled in a timely manner. He noted the passing of W-SR instructor and coach Darren Uhlenhopp and thanked board members for their support of the incentives paid to teachers announcing their retirements in December, allowing principals to hire the best candidates.
Instructional Coach Allison Rasmussen reported that 17 high school teachers participated in work with the Cedar Valley Food Bank.
Kindergarten students will be welcomed and use big pencils to “sign on†as Go-Hawks during the roundup event, scheduled for March 14 and 15, according to North Ridge Elementary School Principal Mitch Parker. Online registration continues through April 4.
Many open enrollments were listed as part of the March-approved Consent Agenda, as the deadline for open enrollment was March 1. Currently, W-SR has a net gain of 48 students through this process, typical for W-SR, Hill stated.
The next regular meeting of the W-SR School Board is April 14, the second Monday of the month, at 5:30 p.m. A view-only Zoom link is available on the board agenda, posted on the school website.
