Instructional Support Levy (ISL)
The Dubuque Community School District Board of Education is seeking voter renewal of the Instructional Support Levy (ISL) used to support the district’s educational programs.
The current levy expires on June 30, 2019, and the levy is on the ballot during this year’s election to minimize the cost of having a special election next year when no school board elections are scheduled to be held.
RENEWING THE INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT LEVY (ISL) WILL MAINTAIN THE ISL LEVY RATE AT THE SAME AMOUNT AS IT CURRENTLY IS.
What is the Instructional Support Levy?
The Instructional Support Levy is a voter-approved levy that supports the educational programming of the district. The levy rate can vary from 1 percent to 10 percent of the district’s regular program district cost. At last count, 99 percent (330 of 333) of Iowa school districts have the Instructional Support Levy, with 96 percent (319 of 333) having the maximum 10 percent.
In Dubuque, the levy rate has been at the 10 percent level since 2009 (for the period ending on June 30, 2019). Prior to that, the ISL was in place from 2001-2009 at 5 percent.
What does the Instructional Support Levy fund in Dubuque?
The ISL generates approximately $5 million each year in the Dubuque Community School District. Since this levy began in the district, the ISL has funded (and continues to fund) the salaries of teachers in the kindergarten program. It also funds general fund expenditures including the salaries of some teachers in grades 1 through 3 for class-size reduction purposes, as well as continuation of per pupil budgetary allocations for instructional supplies and upgrading of outdated equipment items used for classrooms, curriculum initiatives, science laboratories, industrial technology printing services and other instructional support programs.
This snapshot of the last three years gives a good overview of the general expense allocations of the levy:
| YEAR | 2014-2015 | 2015-2016 | 2016-2017 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum Items | $681,213.74 | $828,351.52 | $352,660.36 |
| Building Budgets | $414,480.00 | $421,953.60 | $404,685.00 |
| Grade 1-3 Teacher (Salary/Benefits) | $1,836,531.59 | $1,469,882.01 | $1,988,792.92 |
| Grade K Teacher (Salary/Benefits) | $2,297,829.45 | $2,263,721.40 | $2,346,804.29 |
| Totals | $5,230,054.78 | $4,983,908.53 | $5,092,942.57 |
Voters renewed the Instructional Support Levy!
Thank you for your ongoing support of the Dubuque Community School District!