School Board approves certified budget, more hiring incentives
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The 2023-2024 school budget is now set for the Marshalltown Community School District after Monday's regular board meeting as the board unanimously voted to approve the certified budget for the next school year.
Most notably, the certified budget featured a property tax rate of $15.99 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, approximately a $1.87 or 4.8% decrease compared to the current rate.
Additionally, money set aside for "Instruction" saw an increase of 4.1% while "Total Support Services," such as student support services, instruction staff support services, and administration services also received an increase of 4.1% in designated funds.
Earlier in the meeting, the board also voted unanimously to approve a $5,000 sign-on incentive for Industrial Arts Technology and Family and Consumer Sciences teaching positions for the 2023-2024 school year.
Dr. Nora Ryan, Director of Human Resources, came before the board to explain the request for the hiring incentive.
"Historically, these have always been extremely difficult to fill," Ryan said. "Even so more now with the shortage. Principal [Jacque] Wyant and I have done the best to our ability attempting to recruit, and we do feel this may be one more tool in our shed to use."
Ryan also added that they would carry the same stipulations as previously approved hiring incentives, including a three-year commitment with payback requirements if the teacher departs before fulfilling it.
In other business, the board:
• Officially accepted three separate contracts for the upcoming Marshalltown High School Athletic Complex;
• Approved the purchase of Woodbury dual language literacy curriculum for $88,260.12;
• Approved an out-of-state field trip request from the MHS Healthcare Careers club to Mayo clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and Northwestern health Sciences University in Blooming, Minnesota;
• Heard a presentation from Anson Elementary School about ongoing literacy efforts;
• Heard presentations about District and Independent Career and Academic plans in MCSD and the Junior Achievement program.
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Contact Nick Baur at 641-753-6611 or
nbaur@timesrepublican.com.