Superintendent's Message for May 2026

We are entering the last few weeks of school at Southwest Valley. Required
standardized testing wrapped up this week, spring activities are in full swing, field
trips and end of the school year activities are happening almost daily.
Monday night was the final public hearing for the budget in Southwest Valley.
Final tax rates for the districts were approximately $13.90 for Villisca and $14.23
for Corning. Previous updates have included details about how funds are used
and restrictions on levy limits. For this update, focus will be placed on a unique
step taken by Corning’s board to make adjustments based on taxpayer input in
the hearing.

One specific section of Iowa Code allows districts to reduce levies after they have
been published for the hearing, but they cannot be increased. While Corning had
significant needs to increase the amount of the levy for cash reserves, the current
balances of PPEL and SAVE led to discussion of not utilizing the full levy
amounts published. The Corning School Board has shown fiscal responsibility to
not fully levy the amount initially published, and instead use current funds to
make payments on bonds and the needs for the 2026-27 school year. This rare
action has reduced the overall tax rate for Corning’s school district from
approximately $14.89 to $14.23. The levy and balances are reviewed on an
annual basis, but at this time there is significant reduction on the school district
portion of the local property taxes.

As we wrap up another incredible school year, I want to take a moment to thank
our students, staff, families, and community for the support and partnership that
make Southwest Valley such a special place. We are especially proud to
celebrate our graduating senior class as they prepare for their next chapter, and
we wish them nothing but success in all that lies ahead. During Teacher

Appreciation Week, we also pause to recognize the dedication, passion, and
hard work of our teachers and staff who make a lasting impact on our students
each and every day. While we finish this year strong, we are already hard at work
preparing for the next—finalizing staffing plans, continuing our budget work, and
getting ready to welcome our newest preschool students and families into our
school community. It is an exciting time of both reflection and preparation, and I
remain grateful for the opportunity to serve this district as we continue our focus
on being great for kids.

Respectfully,

Joe Erickson
Superintendent
Southwest Valley Schools