(Atlantic, Iowa) – A Public Hearing with regard to the Atlantic Community School District’s (ACSD) Certified Budget, will be held 5:30-p.m. Wednesday, April 12th, in the High School Media Center. During the Board’s Special Meeting March 29th, Superintendent Steve Barber and Director of Finance Sarah Sheeder reviewed the proposed certified budget for the 2023-24 school year, with a total property tax rate of 13.00317 per $1,000 taxable valuation. That is a decrease from the 2022-23 property tax rate of 13.25506, or about 26-cents per thousand.

During the Board’s regular meeting to follow the Public Hearing, they will act on resignations, including: Lenzi Robinson, 5th Grade Teacher; Sarah Sheeder, School Business Official/Board Secretary, and Lori Hayes, Paraeducator. They will also act on approving Superintendent Barber’s contract recommendations for: Nathan Block – 6th Grade Science Teacher; Mikayla Stockhaus – HS Vocal Music Teacher; Brett Johnson and Caroline Pellett – MS Softball Coaches.

Action items on the Atlantic School Board Agenda include (but is not limited to) the following:

• Approving the 2023-24 Certified Budget
• Setting May 10th at 5:30-p.m. as the date/time for a Public Hearing on a Certified Budget Amendment (amounting to an increase of $793,569). School officials say the amendment will NOT result in an increase in taxes. A detailed statement of additional receipts, cash balances and proposed disbursements will be available for public viewing at the hearing.
• Approval of a 2023-24 Operational Sharing Agreement with the Griswold School District, w/regard to Transportation Director, and
• Approval of 2023-24 Activities Sharing Agreements for: boys swimming (Audubon, Clarinda, Red Oak & Riverside, w/Atlantic as host); girls and boys soccer (CAM & Exira-EHK, w/Atlantic as host); and girls wrestling (CAM, Nodaway Valley & Griswold). There is no change from last year, with the exception of Atlantic serving as the host for girls wrestling.
• The Board will act on approving 2023-24 Non-Certified Staff Master Contract Agreement (Which includes the following increases: $2.75/hour for Bus Route Drivers & Bus Asst. Mechanic; $0.90/hour for all other Support Staff).
• The School Board is expected to pass a Resolution approving the Plans, Specifications and Form of Contract for the H.S. Storage Shed (estimated cost $190,000), followed by the awarding of a contract for the shed. Bids are due by April 12th….and,
• A Resolution approving the Contracts and Bonds for the Washington Elementary School Playground Project. Last month, the School Board awarded the project to Caliber Concrete, LLC, of Adair. The project cost amounts to $579,422.58.