Two issues at the West Burlington Independent School District will be decided during an April 7th Special Election.
The two items on the ballot are a seat on the school board, as well as a new tax levy designed to fund the district’s 1-to-1 computer initative.
The levy, known as a Voted Physical Plant and Equipment Levy, or “PPEL”, would increase the city’s current voted PPEL from .64 cents for every $1,000 in taxable valuation to $1.34 for every $1,000 in taxable valuation–the maximum allowed under Iowa Law.
Superintendent David Schmitt says that the increase is going to a good cause: a technology initiative currently underway that provides a computer to every student in the district.
“Grades six through 12 all have individual devices that they take home with them…in grades 3-5, students have individual computers available to them, and in K-2, student shave computers available to them throughout the day,” Schmitt told KBUR.
Schmitt says that computer access is incredible beneficial to the students.
“Students do many activities on them, they access the internet, students do lessons on them, they [read books] on them. We’re really at the tip of the icebergs using these items the way they could be used,” Schmitt said, “And we’re learning.”
If the PPEL does not pass, Schmitt says the initiative will still take place at the expense of less spending on building projects.
The school board seat currently occupied by Wayne Ross is up for grabs. Ross is vacating his position. Pursuing the seat are Dan Hockett and Brent Mixer.
Because Ross was appointed to the position, the winner of the race will have to run again at the formal end of the term this fall.
