Muscatine board certifies FY26 budget, approves labor deals and hires director of student services

The Muscatine Community School District Board of Education certified the district’s fiscal year 2026 budget and approved a package of labor agreements and administrative appointments at its April 14 meeting.

The board certified a budget of $87,039,673 and a tax levy rate of $13.92138. Superintendent Clint noted that state action could allow the district to lower the levy later: "Remember, what you're approving tonight, we can lower as we need. So it can't go any higher than what you approved tonight," he said.

The board also approved collective bargaining agreements and salary adjustments that set pay and staffing expectations for the coming year. Actions taken in the meeting included approval of the Muscatine Education Association contract for 2025–26, collective‑bargaining agreements with Local 1560 Council of AFSCME covering bus drivers, food and nutrition staff and custodial/maintenance mechanics, a 2.6 percent salary adjustment for classified/professional employees, and a 2 percent adjustment for…