Underwhelming legislation affects East Union budget and calendar

Less than ideal decisions made during this year’s legislative session dashed some of East Union’s plans for the next school year. Following two public hearings on Monday, the district approved the budget and calendar for the 2025-26 school year.

East Union’s budget was created and proposed with the impression Iowa Congress would pass a supplemental assistance growth of 2.25%. However, the legislature is currently pushing forward with a rate of 2% SSA.

The initial proposal offered a levy rate $16.34501 per $1,000 of taxable valuation, the same rate as the previous year. This was lowered during Monday’s public hearing to $16.30480 following news from Iowa legislation. The district is expecting to pay a lower state tax rate due to the decrease in state funding. The levy rate was approved later that meeting.

Legislation will also not make changes to the start date of the school year to the displeasure of East Union board members. The district had held hopes for a planned start date earlier in August based on plans Iowa legislation had made. However, those plans did not continue, and the start date for the 2025-26 school year will be on Aug. 26.

This gives students winter break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2, 2026 and begins summer vacation after Memorial Day with a last day of school on May 29, 2026.

In other East Union school board news...

East Union’s Career and Technical Education team gave a presentation regarding their work in the district preparing high school students with academic and career plans while also noting changes the district will be making to accommodate new state regulations. The CTE team manages college readiness for students from eighth grade to their graduation.

Out of all East Union graduates in the last four years, 63% of them enrolled in a college or university after their high school graduation. Over the current school year, the team focused on gathering evidence of East Union’s career readiness activities which prepare students for their live outside of the district’s schooling.

The CTE team revised their District Career and Academic Plan to keep in line with college and career prep state guidelines. Iowa changed the definition of work-based learning for the next school year, forcing a restructuring of how East Union will manage the requirement.

Learning has to be done at a business with an industry-aligned credential or through an apprenticeship or internship approved by the state. Additionally, these work-based experiences have to align with the career plan the student established as early as eighth grade in order to meet requirements.

School lunch prices will see an increase in the 2025-26 school year, the first increase in two years. The proposed increase is intended to keep East Union aligned with federal guidelines and to support sustainability in the district’s food service from rising food and labor costs.

Student breakfast will be raised to $2.50, lunch for K-5 students to $3, lunch for 6-12 students to $3.25 and adult breakfast to $3.

Superintendent Tim Kuehl’s report to the board mentioned a willingness to move away from a planned facilities assessment from Denovo, instead preferring staff members to create a list of critical areas which might need maintenance. The facilities update was tabled during last meeting with no action made on Monday.

East Union’s 2025 class of 32 seniors was approved for graduation pending the fulfillment of all graduation requirements.

Jamie Buffington was absent from Monday’s meeting.

The following contracts and resignations were approved.

Contracts: Cameron Hamilton, IT assistant, internship; Thad Tussey, elementary guidance counselor; Jared Carter, head boys basketball coach; Chris Wilson, junior high football coach.

Resignations: Mike Hansen, high school boys basketball coach; Jeramia Norman, assistant high school wrestling coach; Shannon McMillen, concessions manager; Kelly Hartley, custodian.