Wellman

During the public forum, the Mid-Prairie school board heard from Luke Hertzler, who collected signatures in support of a Public Schools Strong resolution calling for public funds to support public schools.

Hertzler warned that the voucher system could strain the state’s budget and affect local property taxes in the future.

“If we continue down the trajectory of the voucher system, our state, which already has a tight budget, will continue to see that budget get tighter. And if the state doesn’t cover the cost, then our local property taxes will have to.”

He also discussed educators leaving Iowa for better-paying teaching jobs and others feeling burned out without adequate support, resources and pay.

While canvassing in Wellman, Hertzler said he spoke with residents from different political, religious and educational backgrounds. Despite those differences, he said they shared an interest in caring for children and providing them with a quality education.

 “Having strong public schools is important for those things to happen.”

Mid-Prairie graduate and former teacher Jeanine Redlinger also urged the board to make a public statement supporting school funding that fully meets students’ needs. She said Iowa’s public schools have been underfunded over the past 10 years.

“Each child that graduates from this school and all public schools in Iowa, I consider a gift to the world and the future. Giving cheap gifts is not acceptable.”

The board approved the resolution 5–1, with board member Jed Seward voting against it. Seward explained that his vote did not necessarily reflect disagreement with its contents. Instead, he was concerned about proceeding with a board member absent and wanted an opportunity to address questions that members may have raised. “But I want to be transparent,” Seward said.

President and vice president elected

The board reelected Randy Billups president in a 5–0 vote. Billups expressed interest in serving a second consecutive term. He was then sworn into office.

Mary Allred was elected vice president in a 5–0 vote. Seward also expressed interest in the position, but the board ultimately selected Allred, who was sworn into office.

The board also reappointed Jeff Swartzentruber secretary. 

HSAP flexibility transfer

The board approved a $240,000 Home School Assistance Program flexibility transfer. Swartzentruber said the district transferred $175,000 last year.

He estimated that about $80,000 to $85,000 of the transfer would help cover expenses at the Washington Township building, including custodial wages, utilities and minor repairs or upgrades.

Mid-Prairie superintendent Brian Stone said the remaining amount would be held for a future expansion project as the program continues to grow. He said enrollment had increased to more than 700, creating a need for additional space for children and parents.

Parking has also become a significant issue because of the number of people using the building, Stone said. The district is working on improvements to address the problem.

Swartzentruber explained that auditors had clarified the required order of the transfer and spending procedures. “What we’ve normally done is have a public hearing before this one, and we found out through the auditors last year, they had it backwards. So we do the transfer resolution without a public hearing. We’ll come back in January and do a public hearing and do the spending resolution at that point in time.”

Budget guarantee resolution

The board approved the fiscal year 2027–28 budget guarantee resolution.

Swartzentruber said the district’s resident enrollment count declined by 24 students compared with the previous October count. Meanwhile, the number of students enrolling into the district has increased. 

He explained that the resolution would protect the district’s budget authority at 101% of its 2026–27 level because the state’s increase in per-pupil funding might not offset the enrollment decline.

During the discussion, Swartzentruber mentioned graduating class sizes, incoming kindergarten enrollment and students transferring from public to private schools as factors affecting enrollment.

“So you have a larger senior class leave, and you have a slightly smaller kindergarten class come in. But we also have transfers from public school to private school that are happening. I would say that's the bigger challenge.”

Stone clarified that the current kindergarten class was larger than the class that just graduated. “Our kindergarten class is bigger than our senior class that just graduated. I think we're up over 116, the last time we counted for kindergarten. So I think the bigger piece is that kids are going elsewhere.”

Bond

The board also discussed the recently approved $19 million bond, which received more than 66% voter approval.

Among the 10 Iowa districts whose bond measures passed, Mid-Prairie had the fifth-largest bond request and the fifth-highest approval percentage.

Next meeting

The next Mid-Prairie school board meeting will take place Monday, Nov. 23, at 6:15 p.m. in the Central Office Community Room.