Pleasanton school district expected to exceed revenue neutral tax rate for 2025-26

Journal staff report, news release

PLEASANTON – The Pleasanton USD 344 Board of Education on Monday gave permission for Superintendent Don Epps to notify the Linn County Clerk’s office that the district intends to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate for the 2025-26 school year. School districts generally have a difficult time meeting the revenue neutral rate, partly because of the Legislature-mandated automatic 20 mil property tax rate for schools.

The board also approved the agreement with the teachers’ association that set salary rates for certified teachers for the coming school year.

Although the board approved increasing the prices of adult lunches to $4.50, it voted to keep prices for students at last year’s prices. Student lunches will remain at $3.50, breakfasts are $2, and milk will cost 60 cents.

The board also approved the purchase of a handicapped accessible van to accommodate the needs of wheelchair-bound students. Board members also approved allowing surplus equipment, including retired air conditioning/heating units, to be sold off via silent auction.

The date of the August board meeting was moved back a day to Tuesday, Aug. 12, to allow Epps to conduct a workshop on the afternoon of Aug. 11.

The board approved hiring Logan Hall as a junior-senior high social studies teacher, Dee Boykin as a sixth-grade teacher and Sandy Carpenter as a Title I program aide.