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Tri-Center board adopts 2025–26 budget with $12.77 levy, approves contracts, staff changes and calendar
Summary
At its April 9 meeting the Tri-Center Board of Education approved the 2025–26 budget setting the levy at $12.77, accepted a $17,109 electrical bid, approved the Master Contract and multiple personnel moves, and adopted the 2025–26 school calendar.
At a public meeting April 9 in the secondary library, the Tri-Center Community School District Board of Education approved the district's 2025—26 budget and several staffing and contract items.
Business Manager Jennifer Harder presented the budget information at the start of the meeting. Board member Katie Ausdemore moved and Mike Olsen seconded a motion to approve the budget and "levy property taxes for the fiscal year 2025-2026 for the regular program budget adjustment as allowed under section 257.14, Code of Iowa." The motion passed 3-0 and set the total levy rate at $12.77.
The board then moved through a slate of routine and programmatic items. The consent agenda (payments, financial reports and minutes) was approved by motion from Mike Olsen, seconded by Katie Ausdemore, 3-0. Administrators updated the board on athletics (including statewide changes to girls wrestling classifications), testing, and upcoming student events and field trips.
On facilities and procurement, Chief Engineer Dustan Huber and Grounds/Custodian Brent Daringer reviewed bids to replace electrical panels. The board accepted a bid from G5 Services for $17,109 on a motion by Katie Ausdemore, seconded by Mike Olsen; that motion carried 4-0.
Curriculum and program items included board approval of a two-year agreement for Mystery Science for FY26 and FY27 (moved by Mike Olsen, seconded by Katie Ausdemore; 4-0) and approval of the district's District Career and Academic Plan after a presentation by Principal Chad Harder (motion by Ausdemore, second by Jeremy VanArsdol; 4-0). Principal Jami Bertelsen also presented the District Developed Special Education Deliver Plan to the board.
The board approved an MOU with Green Hills AEA for FY26 services on a motion by Mike Olsen, second by Katie Ausdemore; the motion carried 4-0. The board also approved the 2025—26 school calendar on a motion by Jeremy VanArsdol, second by Mike Olsen (4-0).
Following a closed (exempt) session under Iowa Code section 21.9 to discuss negotiations, the board approved the Master Contract and set certified staff contracts (motion by VanArsdol, second by Olsen; 4-0) and approved classified annual and hourly contracts (motion by Ausdemore, second by VanArsdol; 4-0). The board approved Schedule B changes, which include establishing a separate generator base for Schedule B and increasing lunch duty pay from 2% to 3% for FY26 (motion by Mike Olsen, second by Katie Ausdemore; 4-0).
Personnel actions approved included the resignation of Chloe Killpack as K—12 Instructional Strategist II (pending acceptance by another district), resignations of three coaches (Scott Manhart, David Carlson and Haley Kirlin) effective after FY25, the transfer of Jessica McMains from special education to secondary math for 2025—26, and hires for assistant softball, junior high football and additional junior high track roles (motions and approvals recorded 4-0). The board also granted unpaid leave requests for two employees listed in the record as Employee A and Employee B (motion by Mike Olsen, second by Katie Ausdemore; 4-0).
The board set its next regular meeting for May 14 at 6:00 p.m. and adjourned the April 9 meeting by motion (Ausdemore/Olsen); President Sara Arnold declared the meeting adjourned.
The meeting record notes that President Sara Arnold joined after the meeting began (recorded as joining at 6:16 p.m.), accounting for several early votes recorded as 3-0 and later votes recorded as 4-0.
