The Saydel School Board of Education approved the following list of individuals to become the first Community Education Advisory Council as a two-year appointment. The Opportunities Committee will meet with the Community Education Advisory Council until July. In July, the Advisory Council will meet quarterly.

Appointed Members:

• Superintendent of Schools –  Todd A. Martin
• Director of Community Education – Melissa Crosse
• Community Education Secretary -- Shannon Riddlebarger
• Board Members – Roland Kouski, Jr.,  Jennifer Van Houten, Julie Jennings
   

Community Education Advisory Council Members:

• Joshua Heyer
• Julie Jennings
• Roland Kouski, Jr.
• Jessica Light
• Valerie Skow
• Melissa Smith
• Jennifer Van Houten
• Henry Wood

HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT PERL? 

• Read general information about PERL below.
• Email question to PERLQuestions@saydel.net
• Call the Saydel District Office at 515-264-0866

View short 3 part series which overview what PERL is, its intended uses in Saydel and the potential tax impact of PERL here.

See our Frequently Asked Questions about PERL here

Download and view the PERL mailer here

What is PERL?

Revenues from the Public Education & Recreation Levy (PERL) are used to establish and maintain public recreation places and playgrounds in the public school buildings and grounds of the district.  The PERL revenues are also used to provide public educational and recreational activities within the district boundaries and for community education as defined in Iowa Code. The levy provides $0.135 per $1,000 to support public education and recreation opportunities in the Saydel School District.  If approved, the tax would take effect for the 2017-2018 school year. The goal of this levy is to elevate an already strong sense of community in Saydel through expanding opportunities for community recreation and engagement for all ages.

Why has the public requested a vote for PERL?

Saydel resides in an unincorporated area of Polk County. While we have strong established communities, our communities do not have the same level of community engagement and recreation opportunities experienced by citizens of incorporated areas. There is no public entity to support public recreation for youth or adult educational opportunities for the general public. While Saydel has a strong and successful history of youth athletic programs, the scope of these programs is limited by available volunteer coordination and funding. In addition, there are no opportunities for the general public to fully utilize school facilities for recreation and learning beyond school hours. 

If approved, PERL will generate approximately $95,000 per year (based on yearly valuation) to support:

• Creation, organization and staffing of a community education program.
• Funding to support facility and resource enhancements to areas utilized by the general public for non-school related activities.

The intention of creating a Community Education Program is to:

• Increase access and availability of athletic, fine arts and club programs for K-6 students outside of the school day and year.
• Increase availability for facility use and community learning opportunities for the general public, including creating adult education courses and community engagement opportunities.
• Complement and enhance opportunities for 7-12 students to engage with the greater community.

Why not just start community education programs without assessing the tax?

PERL will give us the funding to create a self-sustaining community education program. Currently, these programs are coordinated by volunteers and exist outside of the Saydel Community School District. Because of this status, the Saydel Schools cannot fully assist in the promotion, organization or operation of these programs. Having support to coordinate volunteers, arrange events and assist in promotion and communication will be essential in increasing opportunities.  Community education offerings will have a fee structure due to operational costs, but PERL will help ensure this fee structure makes programs accessible to the public. This money can also be used to upgrade property owned by the school district, but primarily dedicated to public use. Examples include the Woodside baseball fields, Cornell field, and other public use spaces.