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Stanton school board approves five-year instructional support program including property levy and income surtax
Summary
At a Feb. 18 special meeting, the Stanton Community School District Board of Directors approved a five-year continuation of the Instructional Support Program authorizing up to 10% additional funding of regular program district cost via a combination of property tax and an income surtax; no public comments were received.
The Stanton Community School District Board of Directors voted Feb. 18 to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program for five years, authorizing a combination of an instructional support property tax and an instructional support income surtax to help fund general fund purposes.
President Cameron Lewellen opened a public hearing on the proposed resolution and said there were no written or oral comments before the hearing was closed. Director Zach Ward moved to approve the resolution; Director John McDonald seconded. The board voted "all in favor," and the resolution was adopted.
The resolution, as read at the meeting, states the board determined continuation is consistent with the five-year finance plan and necessary to fund ongoing programs and services. It cites Sections 257.18 through 257.21 of the Code of Iowa and provides that the additional funding for the program "will not exceed ten percent (10%) of the total regular program district cost" for a budget year (and may include moneys received under Section 257.14, Code of Iowa, as a budget adjustment).
Under the adopted language, the Instructional Support Program will be funded by instructional support state aid, a property tax levy on taxable property within the district commencing with levies for collection in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, and an instructional support income surtax imposed on state individual income tax for district residents (the board will determine the percent of surtax each budget year). The resolution also notes that moneys received by the district for the program may be used for any general fund purpose.
The board noted that, unless the board secretary receives a petition within 28 days containing the required number of signatures of eligible electors (not less than 100 or 30% of the number of voters at the last regular school election, whichever is greater), the board's action is final and will be certified to the Department of Management. If such a petition is filed, the board may rescind the resolution or submit the measure to district voters at a special election.
Votes at a glance: the meeting record shows unanimous board approval for the resolution and for several other routine items. Director Ryan Hart moved to approve the meeting agenda (second Jackie Hoyt); the motion passed. The board also unanimously set a public hearing to adopt the fiscal year 2026-27 budget for April 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the STEM Room (motion by Ryan Hart, second by Jackie Hoyt); accepted the resignation of Lisa Smith as football and basketball cheerleading sponsor (motion by Zach Ward, second by John McDonald); and approved Board Policy 507.9 (motion by Zach Ward, second by Ryan Hart). President Cameron Lewellen adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m.
The board packet and the adopted resolution reference Code of Iowa Sections 257.18–257.21 and 257.14 for the legal authority to continue participation in the Instructional Support Program. The action authorizes the local combination of property tax and surtax mechanisms permitted under state law; district officials will set the exact surtax percentage annually and will determine the final additional funding amount each budget year up to the 10% cap.
