Superintendent's Message for March 2026
As we move into March of 2026, I want to begin with what matters most: our unwavering commitment to being great for our
Southwest Valley students. It has been a privilege to work alongside our dedicated staff, supportive families, and outstanding
students. I am grateful for the trust you have placed in me as your superintendent and in our district. Every decision we make is
guided by what is best for their learning, growth, and future success. That focus remains steady and strong.
I would like to take this opportunity to share some updates with our Southwest Valley community. We face challenging times in
education. Our business managers, board members, and administration continually work to find the balance between providing a
high-quality education and being mindful of the burden placed on our taxpayers. The primary focus in recent months has been
working through our certified budget process. This process requires careful evaluation of our current financial position, projections
through the end of this school year, and planning for the next 4 to 20 months. It is a fluid process, especially as we work to
balance available resources with the needs of our students and staff. The greatest factor influencing changes moving forward is
our enrollment decline over the past five years. Fewer students directly impacts the funding we receive, which in turn affects our
spending authority and long-term planning.
Two major changes will be coming that you will see: reducing our expenditures and setting our property levy and tax rates. All
buildings will feel some impact of reducing staff, though some will be more affected than others. Building leaders have begun
discussing these changes with their staff. In addition to staffing adjustments, Corning’s levies and tax rates will be increasing,
while Villisca’s will remain fairly close to current levels. Levies and property or income taxes generate revenue, but reducing
expenses also lessens the need for additional funding. As a point of clarification, the bond used to fund the Corning Elementary
building project cannot be used to pay staff wages. The changes that will be implemented for next year are directly correlated to
our enrollment and NOT the cost of the building project. If you have any questions about the complicated matrix of school
funding, please reach out to me directly. I would be happy to have a personal conversation about it.
Speaking of change, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Mrs. Liz Timmerman as she transitions to a new educational
opportunity. We greatly appreciate the years of dedication to SWV and wish her the best of luck in her new adventure. We will be
going through the hiring process of a new middle school principal in the coming weeks.
As we move into spring, I would like to congratulate all of our winter student-athletes. We have seen tremendous success in girls
and boys wrestling and girls and boys basketball. We have also recently hosted outstanding events, including the John Harris
Wrestling Tournament, Quiz Bowl, hosted the Pride of Iowa Speech event, and several home postseason basketball games. We
truly appreciate the strong community support for our Southwest Valley students.
Spring break will be March 9–13. When we return, we will begin the fourth quarter of the 2025–26 school year. We look forward to
finishing the year strong with many spring celebrations. We are excited to honor the graduating Class of 2026 at their
commencement ceremony on May 17th.
As we wrap up the current school year with purpose and pride, please know that we are working diligently to plan for a successful
2026–27 school year—both academically and financially. We remain committed to transparency, thoughtful planning, and
providing the best possible educational experience for our students. Thank you for your continued support of Southwest Valley
Schools.
Respectfully,
Joe Erickson
Superintendent
Southwest Valley Schools
