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Superintendent: district fiscally strong but special‑education funding shortfalls may require levying
Summary
Superintendent Jay Mathis told the Allamakee board that although fiscal‑year 2024 indicators show overall strength and strong School Report Card results, persistent underfunding of special education may force the district to levy for cash to meet obligations.
At the Allamakee Community School District annual meeting on Nov. 18, Superintendent Jay Mathis presented the district’s fiscal‑year 2024 financial health report and warned that continued underfunding of special education has created a budget pressure that may require a levy.
"Due to the lack of adequate special education funding for several years, the District must levy for cash to meet financial obligations and maintain a healthy fund balance," Mathis told the board. He said the district remains in an overall strong position according to several key performance indicators, but emphasized that special education funding shortfalls are the principal fiscal risk.
Mathis also reviewed the recently released School Report Card, saying all district buildings received ratings of either "commendable" or "high performing" and that the district outpaced the state average in most categories. Board members did not vote on levy action at the Nov. 18 meeting; Mathis framed the levy discussion as a budgetary warning tied to multi‑year funding patterns rather than an immediate proposal.
Administrators offered related updates: district career and technical education programs received continuing community support, fall activities and performance arts earned positive results (including a Division 1 band rating and successful runs of the high school musical), and district directors reported operational work including finalized special education head counts, an upcoming server/storage upgrade scheduled for December, custodial winter preparations and transportation‑department needs for substitute drivers. No members of the public addressed the board during the public forum.
What happens next The superintendent’s comments place special education funding and overall budget planning on the board’s near‑term agenda. Any decision to levy would require formal board consideration and public notice in advance of a vote.
Source: Superintendent’s oral financial health report and administrators’ reports as recorded in the Nov. 18, 2024 board minutes.
