Dear Parents, Students, and Community members,
Back-to-School
What a fast and exciting first week of school! Thank you to all of our staff who prepared and worked hard for our students' first week of school. From the bus drivers who see our students at the beginning and end of the day, to the custodians, office staff, lunch staff, teachers and support personnel who helped guide each of our students during their first week of school. We appreciate your hard work and dedication to our students! Thank You AC/GC Staff!
Lunches
As many of you are aware, the free lunch program which began during the COVID-19 pandemic, ended this past June. With the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, students will be required to pay for their school breakfast and lunches. The price of a student breakfast is $1.50 and a school lunch is $2.45. These prices were agreed upon and set in an AC/GC joint board meeting last July, with no increases for student breakfast or lunches. If your family is in need of financial support in regards to school lunches, please see our school website or contact the school to obtain a free and reduced lunch application.
Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL fund)- Guthrie Center
Earlier this summer, the Guthrie Center school board passed a resolution to order an election of continuing the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) for the Guthrie Center School District. This election and vote will occur on September 13th at the Christian Church Fellowship Hall for all voters in the Guthrie Center Community School District.
PPEL- What can the PPEL fund be used for?
The state is very specific on what the PPEL fund can be used for. The PPEL fund is created to improve and maintain buildings and grounds; purchasing transportation equipment like buses and suburbans; purchase and lease technology equipment like student and staff computers; purchase or improve school district facilities.
PPEL funds cannot be used for salaries, benefits, textbooks, or educational programs.
PPEL- How are the PPEL funds used in the Guthrie Center School District?
-Purchase buses, cars, mowers, and tractors -Roof repairs and replacement
-Asbestos service/removal -HVAC units and services
-Carpet for classrooms -Security system upgrades
-Paving projects -Daycare site building
-Website purchase and maintenance -Internet connection and WiFi
-Copier Lease -Accounting software
-Student Information System purchase -Sidewalks
-Retaining walls -Bleachers and repairs
-Painting parking lot lines -Grading and rock purchases
PPEL- Vote
Tuesday, September 13th will be the date the Guthrie Center School District will vote to continue their current $1.34 PPEL property tax for an additional 10 years. This tax will authorize the school to levy a tax not to exceed $1.34 per thousand of assessed property in the district. This vote will not increase your taxes, but support our district and address the facility needs. For more information about the upcoming vote to extend the PPEL Levy, please contact the Guthrie Center School Administration Office at 641-332-2972. Thank you for your continued support of the Guthrie Center Schools!
Activities
Good Luck to all of our High School and Middle School extracurricular activities as they begin their seasons this week! Go Chargers!
Josh Rasmussen
Superintendent
AC/GC Schools