Ottumwa Schools - Board Meeting - 3/9/2026

The Ottumwa Schools Board held a meeting on March 9, 2026, where key procurement-related discussions included the approval of the 2026-27 school calendar and the 2026-27 employee handbook. The board also reviewed and approved the property tax levy, noting a 50-cent reduction in the levy rate from 1466 to 1416, which is expected to decrease property tax for most residential taxpayers. Additionally, the board approved a budget guarantee resolution to maintain the authority to levy funds if needed, although no increase is planned due to legislative support. Another significant procurement-related action was the approval of a contract with a local government risk pool to stabilize natural gas costs, resulting in a projected $20,000 decrease in expenses. The board received updates on hiring efforts, including plans to fill a special education coordinator position internally to reduce reliance on more costly external services. No new contracts or vendor selections were explicitly mentioned beyond these items. The meeting also included routine policy reviews and community engagement updates.