Superintendent's Message for March 2023

SPECIAL SCHOOL ELECTION - MARCH 7TH

The Chariton Community Schools has a special election Tuesday, March 7th, to elect a school board member and to consider approval of an updated Revenue Purpose Statement. If approved, Chariton Community Schools may continue to spend state sales tax funds to improve our public schools and benefit local taxpayers. This revenue purpose statement states what the school district plans to do with the funds. The tax will still be collected if you vote NO - the difference is that the money will go to other schools in the State instead of ours locally.

SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTION

The Chariton Community School Board is filling a seat in District 1 in this election.  No candidates took out nomination papers, so this will only be a write-in ballot.  At this time, you must live in District 1 to be eligible for this seat.  Please go to the district website, www.charitonschools.org, to see the map of District 1.

WHAT IS A REVENUE PURPOSE STATEMENT?

A Revenue Purpose Statement is a ballot measure that describes how school districts can spend penny sales tax funds that the State of Iowa has dedicated to public schools. It is a commitment by the school district on how it plans to use sales tax revenue from the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education Fund (SAVE) to improve public school buildings while providing relief to property taxpayers.

School districts must put their Revenue Purpose Statements before the voters from time to time for public approval. It is one more critical part of being transparent about how the sales tax revenue is being used to benefit our public schools and local taxpayers.  Regardless of whether or not this measure is approved locally, the penny sales tax will continue to be collected across the state and go to other schools instead of ours.  

HOW WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR SCHOOLS?

The Revenue Purpose Statement on the ballot outlines several current and future needs for which the sales tax revenue will be used. Examples include:

• Property tax relief.
• Acquire or install information technology infrastructure in our schools.
•  Update and install school safety and security infrastructure.
• Improve schools by constructing and furnishing new buildings; building and furnishing additions to existing ones; remodeling, reconstructing, repairing, expanding, and improving existing ones.
• Respond to demographics requiring the construction of additions or improvements to school buildings or new ones.
• Implement energy conservation measures.
• Establish and maintain public recreation places and playgrounds, provide for supervision and instruction for recreational activities, or support community education purposes.
• Provide funds for the payment of principal and interest or the retirement of general obligation bonds issued for school infrastructure purposes as well as energy improvement loans and sales, service, and use tax revenue bonds authorized under Iowa law.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR TAXPAYERS?

Approving the Revenue Purpose Statement will not change or increase the tax rate. Instead, it promises taxpayers how the state-wide sales tax will be used in our community.

In fact, by voting yes to the Revenue Purpose Statement will help hold the line on property taxes. The first priority listed above read: “Property tax relief.”

Approving the Revenue Purpose Statement allows Chariton Community Schools to access future SAVE funds without changing the current sales tax rate. This vote is about how the school district will utilize funds already being collected. The penny sales tax that funds SAVE will continue to be collected across the state regardless of whether or not this measure is approved. By voting YES, the State will allocate these funds to the Chariton Community School District instead of other public schools across the State.

HOW THESE FUNDS HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PAST

The school district’s current Revenue Purpose Statement has enabled several improvements for our students, staff, and community. Some of these highlights include:

• Local property tax relief
• Building maintenance and repairs
• Building Renovations: carpet, paint, and fixtures
• LED lighting throughout the district buildings
• Baseball Field backstop and dugouts
• Roof Repairs and maintenance
• Roof Replacements
• Building Renovations: carpet, paint, and fixtures
• Tuck Pointing on buildings throughout the district
• Concrete repairs and additions
• Exterior and interior door and lock improvements
• HVAC throughout the district
• Student Technology K-12 grade
• Security maintenance, installation, and enhancements to our facilities

WHY VOTE TUESDAY, MARCH 7TH?

The Revenue Purpose Statement for Chariton Community Schools allows the school district to give relief to local property taxpayers, formulate plans for future needs, assist in any future bonding needs to meet its infrastructure requirements, and potentially save money with longer-term financial planning and respond to future cost increases.

QUESTIONS OR NEED ADDITIONAL CLARIFICATION?  

Please call Chariton Community Schools’ Central OIffice at 641-774-5967 and ask for Mr. Baker, Superintendent of Schools.

IN OTHER SCHOOL NEWS

Chariton High School received a STEM Best award to Charger Manufacture for welding lab improvements.  This is a cost-accruing grant, which means the grant foundation will reimburse us for the money we spend on the project.  We also received an anonymous $10,000 donation to use toward the project as well. Instructor Seth Vernon and Tracy Hall were instrumental in getting this awarded to our school.

Lots of student and staff successes in our district to celebrate.  McKenzie Snook has broken the career steals and rebound records for our school, Mason Smith scored his 1000 point this winter, Leah Chandler placed 3rd in the first-ever Girls State Wrestling Tournament, James Allen Wintson recorded his 100 career win, Jake Chapman qualified for the State Wrestling Tournament, CCSD Choir performed at Carnegie Hall, and finally check out our FBLA state qualifiers in the picture below - WOW!!!!. I am sure I missed someone, and I apologize, but our students are successful and productive and are very hard to keep track of which is a great problem to have. Congratulations also to Coach Anderson and Coach Harvey on a good wrestling season and our boys' and girls' basketball teams. Both teams advanced to their 2nd of the tournament before being eliminated. Shout out to  Coach Nolte, Coach Sandy, Coach Curnutte, Coach Pierschbacher, and Coach Lynch for all you do. We appreciate everyone that dedicates their time to our students at CCSD. Finally, our talented groups that performed at our games - the drill team, cheerleaders, and band. Thanks for sharing your talents and skills to make our home games fabulous.  Special thanks to Mr. Kraber, Coach Chandler, Coach Caudill, and Coach Wickett.   Not to mention many of our seniors signing letters of intent to continue their talents all over the state. 

How about an awesome little data to finish off the month of February?  The Columbus staff celebrated their students’ success as illustrated in the graph below.  The gains these students made were from the hard work and dedication of the students and staff respectfully.   Congratulations to everyone involved in making a difference in our children's success.  

Until Next month.  #LBE

GO CHARGERS and THINK BIG !!!!  

Mr. Baker

Phone - 641-774-5967

Email- brad.baker@chariton.k12.ia.us

Twitter -  @Super_Charger