Nevada school board sets FY26 levy, finalizes calendars and approves fleet, roofing and tech contracts

The Nevada Community School District Board of Education on April 7 advanced a proposed fiscal-year 2026 property-tax levy and approved a series of operational purchases and contracts, including a wheelchair-accessible van, phased high-school roof repairs, precast expansion-joint work on the safe room and technology upgrades funded in part by the federal E‑Rate program.

The board reviewed a proposed FY26 levy that produces a calculated tax rate of 13.9531 (up from about 13.1309 the previous year). Board members were told most of the increase is attributable to the district—s debt-service levy to cover scheduled debt payments tied to recent building work, including a middle-school renovation. The board opened and then closed a public hearing on the levy at the meeting and scheduled a second, special meeting to adopt a final levy in accordance with Iowa code timelines.

Board members also approved a final adjustment to the 2024–25 district calendar: the last day for students will be Friday, May 30, 2025, with the district waiving the partial day that had been planned for Monday, June 2. The board adopted the draft 2025–26 calendar as presented; administrators said state code limits the district—s earliest possible start date to Aug. 25 unless changes are made at the state level.

On facilities and operations, the board approved multiple contracts and purchases recommended by district staff. The board authorized administration to purchase a used wheelchair-accessible van (the recommended Option A) to expand daily capacity and provide on-call transport for students who use wheelchairs; administrators said the recommended vehicle has lower mileage and parts commonality with the district—s existing fleet.

For building repairs, the board contracted with Central States Roofing to replace three sections (identified as B, C and D) of the high-school roof this summer. District buildings-and-grounds staff described the phased approach as an initial stage of a multi-year roofing program; the new roof work will meet at least R‑30 thermal insulation where feasible, improving energy performance.

The board also approved a contract with CK Fairhorn (listed in materials as C.K. Fairhorn/CK Fairco) to address expansion joints and precast repair for the high-school safe room and adjacent upper-level precast walls; the approved amount on the motion as presented at the meeting was $40,040.73. Facilities staff said the work uses an elastomeric coating intended to better bridge movement cracks than the previously used stain and to limit future water penetration and corrosion risk in precast concrete panels.

Technology and maintenance purchases were approved as well. Technology staff recommended renewing a five-year Internet service agreement with Mediacom at a 1-gigabit level and awarding a category‑2 infrastructure contract for replacement network switches to Aircorp; staff said most of the cost of the switches will be reimbursed through the federal E‑Rate (Schools and Libraries Universal Service) program while the district covers the remaining local share. The board approved a quoted floor scrubber from Capital Sanitary for $18,340.22 to replace a 2006 unit used across district buildings.

All motions described above were moved, seconded and approved by voice votes during the April 7 meeting. Administrators said several of the capital projects are phased to smooth costs across fiscal years and to keep portions of the work eligible for warranty and E‑Rate funding where applicable.

Board members and staff discussed the uncertainty of final state education funding while setting the levy: speakers referenced legislative activity on school funding but said final state aid levels for next year were not yet resolved and the board was required by statute to set a levy now to meet timelines. Trustees asked staff for follow-up information on state funding scenarios and on project timing and warranties for the approved repairs and equipment.

The meeting also included the routine consent agenda and personnel and financial reports; the board set another special meeting for final levy adoption to meet statutory deadlines and adjourned after the actions above.