At its regular meeting on Monday, the Webster City School Board approved a $0.10 increase to the PPEL rate to be considered by voters in the November election.

Increasing the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy or PPEL as it is commonly known, allows school districts to repair, built, replace and update buildings.

The Webster City School Board proposed an increase in the existing levy of $0.67 to $0.77 in order to generate $68,000 in additional funds.

The tax cost to a homeowner would be an additional $10 for each $100,000 of accessed valuation. The levy would be locked in for ten years.

Board Director Eric Patterson noted that the increase remains one of the lowest accessed levies compared to those of surrounding school districts and that currently Webster City district patrons have a three-year tax abatement due to the reorganization which took place in July 2019.

While the board noted several projects that need to be addressed, installing air conditioning in several of the older buildings and classrooms is a priority.

“Air conditioning is an issue,” said Webster City Superintendent Dr. Mandy Ross. “The staff is not complaining, but the rooms make learning difficult.”

Ross added that while current overnight temperatures are falling, the classrooms remain warm and never totally cool down.

Board Director Chuck Bonjour also noted that the district experiences the same problem in the spring when making up snow days extends the school year into the warmer months.

In other business, the board approved the resignations of: Kacey Pruismann, paraeducator; Mindy Law, paraeducator; and Mavis Chen, paraeducator.

The board approved the transfer of Deb Dunham from Title I Reading to Kindergarten teacher. Ross noted that the Kindergarten classrooms in both Webster City and Northeast Hamilton are at capacity and it was necessary to add another Kindergarten section.

The board also approved the appointments of: Stephanie Pace, Large Group Speech; Derek Turner, seventh grade Boys Basketball coach; and named as Mentor Teachers Libby Anderson, CJ Clabaugh, Molly Ferrell, Sally Greenfield, Jeri Jass, Danika Klaver, Julie Kramersmeier, Tammy Massman, Beth Meyer, Erica Miller, Nicole Muhlenbruch, Katie Peterson, Amanda Ross, Katie Sonsalla, and Stacy Zoske.

“Our kids were ready to come back and our staff was ready,” Sunset Elementary Principal Kelli Reis told the board in presenting a district-wide recap of Monday’s first day of school. She reported that Ross visited all the district buildings and spoke with many students.

“It was a welcoming feeling,” to be greeted by eager students Ross told the board. “I am pleased and impressed by the start up of the new year and the admirable work of the principals and staff.”

The board has scheduled a Sept. 5 work session which will include a tour of the Webster City High School facility.

The board approved three fundraising requests by the FFA for Homecoming t-shirt sales, the fruit sales in October and the spring plant sale.

The meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. in the School Administration Office board room.