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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, a major civil rights
law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, establishes
design requirements for the construction or alteration of facilities.
It covers facilities in the private sector (places of public
accommodation and commercial facilities) and the public sector (state
and local government facilities). Under the ADA, the U.S. Access Board,
an independent Federal agency, is responsible for accessibility
guidelines covering newly built and altered facilities. In 1991, the
Board published the ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) which serve as
the basis for standards used to enforce the law.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 22 January 2008 )
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The school closure decision is one of the most
difficult a school board must make.
Both economic and non-economic factors must be considered and extensive
community participation must be achieved.
The Barker Guidelines were laid down by the State Board of
Education in the Case of Norman Barker, et al., 1 D.P.I. App. Dec. 145
(1977).
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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Davis-Bacon Act was approved March 3, 1931 and relates to the rate of
wages for laborers and mechanics employed by contractors and
subcontractors on public buildings. Advertised specifications for
every contract in excess of $2,000 for construction, alteration, and/or
repair, including painting and decorating, of public buildings or
public works which requires or involves the employment of mechanics
and/or laborers shall contain a provision stating the minimum wages to
be paid shall be based upon the wages that will be determined by the
Secretary of Labor to be prevailing for contract work in the city,
town, village, or other civil subdivision of the State in which the
work is to be performed.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
Links below provide assistance with compliance of the
Davis-Bacon Act and Related Acts for wage determination guidelines for
federally funded construction projects.
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Compliance Assistance
Information on compliance assistance with the Davis-Bacon and Related
Acts. The site is provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment
Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division.
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Davis-Bacon Wage Determinations
General Decision County Index for the State of Iowa.
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Forms And Posters
The U.S. Department of Labor provides forms and posters for compliance of the Davis-Bacon Act and Related Acts (DBRA).
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Reference Materials, U. S. Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges
The U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges, maintains this site of decisions, statutes and regulations, and research materials related to the Davis-Bacon and related acts.
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Reference Materials, U.S. Department of Labor
Reference materials provided by the U.S. Department of Labor related to wage determination under the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts.
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Reference Materials, U.S. Government Printing Office
The U.S. Government Printing Office disseminates official information from all three branches of the Federal Government. Use the site search feature to locate several resources related to the Davis-Bacon Act.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a critically important aspect of creating
and maintaining school facilities. IAQ Design Tools for Schools
provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information
resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate and
maintain existing facilities. Though its primary focus is on indoor air
quality, it is also intended to encourage school districts to embrace
the concept of designing High Performance Schools,
an integrated, "whole building" approach to addressing a myriad of
important - and sometimes competing - priorities, such as energy
efficiency, indoor air quality, day-lighting, materials efficiency, and
safety, and doing so in the context of tight budgets and limited
staff. This web-based resource contains recommendations and tools
to help communities and design professionals integrate good indoor air
quality practices into the design, construction, renovation, and
operation and maintenance of K-12 school facilities. Practical,
cost-effective actions ranging from walk-off entry mats to advanced
ventilation systems can reduce contaminants in schools and help protect
the health of children and staff.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
Links below provide information about asbestos, indoor air quality,
radon, asthma, allergies, mold, sick building syndrome, children's
health protection, protecting the environment through energy
efficiencies, underground storage tanks, and waste management.
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Air Quality: Asbestos
Information provided by the Air Quality Bureau of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
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American Indoor Air Quality Council
The American Indoor Air Quality Council promotes awareness, education, and certification in the field of Indoor Air Quality through sharing, learning and networking.
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Asbestos: Permits and Licenses
Information provided by the Iowa Division of Labor.
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Asthma and Allergies
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America provides information on asthma and allergies. Topics include indoor air quality, mold, sick building syndrome, and ADA.
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Children's Health Protection
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides information on potential environmental hazards, health topics, and information on protecting children where they live, learn, and play.
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Energy Star for K-12 Schools
Energy Star is a government-backed program helping to protect the environment through energy efficiencies. |
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Environmental Health at the Center for Disease Control
Environmental Health at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) strives to
promote health and quality of life by preventing or controlling those
diseases or deaths that result from interactions between people and
their environments. Topics include air quality, bioterrorism,
environmental hazard exposure, food safety, herbicides, pesticides,
lead, natural disasters, water quality, and more.
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Environmental Resource Center
This resource list is made available by the Association of School Business Officials International. |
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EPA Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Kit is available to help ensure good indoor air quality in your school. |
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Iowa Department of Natural Resources
The Iowa DNR site contains information related to protecting health and the natural environment. Topics include air quality, asbestos, energy, drinking water, underground storage tanks, waste management, and more. This site also includes Iowa DNR Kids' Pages.
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA site contains information related to protecting health and the natural environment. Topics include air quality, asbestos, hazardous waste, lead, mercury, mold, pesticides, radon, water, and more.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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The school building of the future needs to be designed as a learning center for the entire community and involve many more members of the community in the school's design and planning. This idea of citizen participation reflects John Dewey's assertion that we not only need education in democracy, but also democracy in education. By engaging students, parents, educators and a wide variety of citizens in planning and designing schools as centers of community, the best aims of a democratic society will be served in both process and product.
The approval process required for the construction of school buildings requires that plans and specifications for all new school buildings, building additions, alterations and renovations used for school functions must be submitted to the Iowa State Building Code Bureau, a Division of State Fire Marshal's Office , prior to the start of construction. It is no longer necessary to submit plans to the Iowa Department of Education. Plans and specifications should be submitted at the time that they are submitted to contractors for bidding purposes. These plans should be prepared and sealed by an architect or an engineer licensed to practice in Iowa (Iowa Code 544A) . Fire alarm plans and sprinkler plans and specifications are required for the submittal, along with the plan review fee and the plan submittal sheets. The state is required to make comments on these documents within sixty days.
All new construction of school facilities used for educational use requires an architect. School districts are governmental entities that are empowered by law to enter into contracts for the construction of public improvements. If the estimated total cost of a public improvement exceeds the competitive bid threshold of $100,000, the governmental entity must follow the competitive bid law (Iowa Code 26.3) and have an engineer licensed under chapter 542B, a landscape architect licensed under chapter 544B, or an architect registered under chapter 544A prepare plans and specifications, and calculate the estimated total cost of a proposed public improvement. Public improvement (chapter 26.2) means a building or construction work which is constructed under the control of a governmental entity and is paid for in whole or in part with funds of the governmental entity, including a building or improvement constructed or operated jointly with any other public or private agency, but excluding emergency work or repair or maintenance work performed by employees of a governmental entity. For school districts, examples of public improvement projects include school facilities, transportation facilities, and athletic complex facilities.
Competitive quotations for public improvement contracts (chapter 26.14) shall be required for a public improvement having an estimated total cost that exceeds the applicable threshold amount of $51,000 for a school district having a population of fifty thousand or more or the threshold amount of $36,000 for a school district having a population of less than fifty thousand, but is less than the competitive bid threshold of $100,000. When a competitive quotation is required, the governmental entity shall make a good faith effort to obtain quotations for the work from at least two contractors regularly engaged in such work prior to letting a contract. Quotations may be obtained from contractors after the governmental entity provides a description of the work to be performed, including plans and specifications prepared by an architect, landscape architect, or engineer.
 Exceptions for use of an architect (80.77 KB 2006-11-03 15:08:45)
For new buildings or if site improvements are part of the project, a site plan showing compliance with State Accessibility Codes, Iowa Administrative Code 661-Chapter 302 and Chapter 18, is required.
Projects meeting the following definition must submit a Life Cycle Cost Analysis prior to construction: "...any public agency shall prepare a Life Cycle Cost Analysis for any new construction having 20,000 square feet of usable floor space which is heated or cooled by a mechanical or electrical system or for any renovation where additions or alterations exceed 50 percent of the value of the facility and will effect an energy system." Iowa Code 470
Boiler and/or Elevator Inspections, if applicable, are handled by the Division of Labor.
Information about portable buildings is given in Division VI of Chapter 16 of the Iowa Administrative Code 661 .
Local Building Code and Fire Code Officials in larger cities often have concurrent jurisdiction on educational occupancies with the State Fire Marshal's Office. It is important to contact these officials to determine the need for their review and approval of any construction projects.
The following legislative initiatives that were passed in the 2006 legislative session have an effect on construction of school facilities:
Iowa Code Chapter 26 Public Construction Bidding (effective January 1, 2007)
If the estimated total cost of a public improvement exceeds the competitive bid threshold of one hundred thousand dollars, or the adjusted competitive bid threshold established in section 314.1B, the governmental entity (state, political subdivisions of the state, public school corporations, and all officers, boards, or commissions empowered by law to enter into contracts for the construction of public improvements, excluding the state board of regents and the state department of transportation) shall advertise for sealed bids for the proposed public improvement by publishing a notice to bidders as provided in section 362.3. Additionally, the governmental entity may publish a notice in a relevant contractor organization publication and a relevant contractor plan room service with statewide circulation, provided that a notice is posted on a website sponsored by either a governmental entity. The notice to bidders shall be published more than twenty days but not more than forty-five days before the date for filing bids.
Specific areas mentioned in Chapter 26 are the following:
1. Notice of hearing (Iowa Code section 73A.2). The school district must fix a time and place for hearing, and give notice by publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the district at least ten days before the hearing before entering into any contract for public improvement costing $100,000 or more. [This was increased, effective January 1, 2007, from the former threshold of $25,000.]
2. Failure to set and receive security deposit (section 73A.18). When receiving bids for a public improvement costing $100,000 or more, the district must require that all bids be accompanied by a deposit of money (certified check or share draft) in an amount equal to at least five percent, but not more than ten percent of the estimated total cost of the work. The amount of the deposit must be named in the advertisement for bids.
NOTE: If local board policy sets a lower threshold for bids than does state law, the district must comply with both the above public notice and security deposit requirements. The new law on this issue is HF 2713 which created new Chapter 26 of the Iowa Code. It establishes three tiers of procedures for governmental entities, including school districts, for public improvements, non-emergency repair or maintenance work not done by school district employees, and structure demolition. In very broad terms, new Chapter 26 does the following:
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ALL Districts
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Projects with an estimated cost of over $100,000
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Follow all competitive bidding procedures
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Districts with district-wide population of less than 50,000
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Projects with estimated cost of $36,000 and under
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No state requirements...check local board policies
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Districts with district-wide population of 50,000 or more
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Projects with estimated cost of $51,000 and under
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No state requirements...check local board policies
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Districts with district-wide population of less than 50,000
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Projects with estimated cost of more than $36,000 but not in excess of $100,000
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Follow semi-formal quotation process outlined in new Iowa Code chapter 26:
1. Make good faith effort to obtain quotes from at least 2 contractors regularly engaged in relevant work.
2. Plans and specs must still be prepared by an architect or engineer
3. Provide contractors with opportunity to inspect work site
4. Contractor must provide price for labor, materials, equipment, supplies
5. Designate time, place, manner for filing quotes
6. Record approved quotes in meeting minutes
7. Award contract to lowest responsive, responsible bidder or reject all quotes
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Districts with district-wide population of 50,000 or more
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Projects with estimated cost of more than $51,000 but not in excess of $100,000
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Follow quotation process set out in part immediately above
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The table above is meant to provide a broad overview only and is not to be relied upon as legal advice. As always, when in doubt, contact your school attorney for guidance.
2006 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2272, Use of LOSST for School Infrastructure -
2006 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2272, Section 52 requires that any school system that utilizes local sales and services tax moneys for school infrastructure, must comply with the state building code in the absence of a local building code. Because K-12 educational buildings, not located in jurisdictions which have been delegated enforcement authority from the State Fire Marshal, must already be submitted to this Office, the practical effects of this new law are the following. Plans for educational projects, which are required to be submitted to the State Fire Marshal's Office on or after January 1, 2007, will be reviewed for compliance with both the State Fire Code and State Building Code, if the project is located in a jurisdiction that utilizes local sales and services tax moneys for school infrastructure and if the project is not subject to a local building code.
2006 Iowa Acts, House File 2797, Submitting Construction Plans for Review and Approval and Construction Inspections of Buildings Subject to State Plans Review -
2006 Iowa Acts, House File 2797, Section 72 requires that any non-state owned building, whose construction is paid for wholly or in part with state appropriated funds, must be submitted to the State Building Code Bureau for construction plans review and approval, if it is built in a jurisdiction without local building code enforcement. Local building code enforcement must include both the adoption and enforcement of a local building code through plan reviews and inspections. The requirement to submit plans begins on January 1, 2007; however any project having reached the point of owner approved, design development documents on or before January 1, 2007 will not be required to submit plans.
2006 Iowa Acts, House File 2797, Section 72 also mandates that the State Building Code Bureau begin conducting construction inspections of buildings subject to State plans review, with the exclusion of additions, renovations and repairs. This includes all state-owned buildings and non-state owned buildings which are funded wholly or in part with state appropriated funds if constructed in areas without local building code enforcement. For the first two years of this program, it is anticipated that most of these inspections will be carried out by a third-party inspection contractor. Inspections are targeted to begin March 1, 2007 and they will be funded through an inspection fee which has yet to be determined. Projects which are subject to these inspections and which obtain approval for construction from this Office, on or after February 1, 2007 should budget an amount not less than $2,000, in order to cover the cost of the anticipated inspection fees.
K-12 schools will not be subject to these building code inspections based solely upon the new statute, 2006 Iowa Acts, Senate File 2272, Section 52, Use of LOSST for School Infrastructure. K-12 school will be subject to these building code inspections if they are constructed in whole or in part with state appropriated money and are built in an area without local building code adoption and enforcement.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
Links below are to topics such as maintenance, construction, environmental issues, safety, design planning, design costs, financing, and security for school facilities.
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American Institute of Architects
AIA helps to locate an architect firm and provides information about the role of an architect for planning new school facilities.
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American School & University Facilities
This site contains information on topics such as maintenance, construction, environmental issues, and safety. American School & University Facilities publishes at this site an annual Maintenance and Operations cost study.
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Council of Educational Facility Planners International
CEFPI, The School Building Association.
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National Clearinghouse on Educational Facilities
National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities at the National Institute of Building Sciences with resources on design, costs, financing, safety and security, school size, disaster planning, playgrounds, and more.
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School Facilities Resources
This school facilities resource list is provided by the Association of School Business Officials International. |
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Schools as Community Centers
Schools as Centers of Community, A Citizen's Guide for Planning and Design.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 April 2008 )
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Apart from arson, major causes of school fires include improper
handling and storage of flammable liquids, overloaded electrical
outlets and excessive accumulation of rubbish. As well, many fires are
a result of changing original designs, where classrooms are turned into
motor repair shops, spray painting rooms, or other industrial arts
instruction areas. Wiring, ventilation and construction are often
unsuitable for a new use, having not been considered during the
original design and construction of the school. Young children must
rely on school personnel to handle any school fire
emergency, and school employees are responsible for establishing an
environment which can reduce, control and eliminate conditions that may
contribute to fire.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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Preservation and Adaptive Re-use of Iowa's Historic School Buildings by Conversion to Affordable Rental Housing
School districts who are contemplating closing a building are often
faced with the question of what to do with the building. Demolition can
be expensive especially when asbestos or lead-based paint might be
present.
An alternative that some districts in Iowa and around the nation have
used is to sell or give the building to a housing developer for
conversion to affordable rental apartments. Some successful examples in
Iowa include: the former Emerson and Whittier Elementary Schools in
Waterloo; the former Central High School in Sioux City is now Castle on
the Hill Apartments; St. Katherine's Girls School in Davenport is now
Senior Apartments and the entire campus of Marycrest College in
Davenport is being converted to a senior housing campus with
independent and assisted living options.
Affordable housing financing is available to housing developers through
the Iowa Finance Authority using federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
(LIHTC). Developers apply for the credits through an annual competitive
process. The apartments are restricted to persons whose incomes are
below 60 percent Area Median Income and rent levels are similarly
restricted to keep the units affordable. Many times when buildings are
in older neighborhoods, the income and rent restrictions are not very
different then the current market for the neighborhood. However, the
redevelopment project can bring investment to these neighborhoods for
the first time in many years. Further the preservation of an historic
building is often the spark that results in reinvestment in the housing
stock of an older neighborhood.
If a district is interested in this process and would like to contact
prospective developers with experience using the credits and managing
such apartments, contact:
The Iowa Finance Authority
East Grand Office Park
100 East Grand Avenue, Suite 250
Des Moines IA 50309
(515) 242-4990
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
Links below explain the regulations, compliance, and review for the
Section 106 process of protecting historic properties. This applies to
school districts that receive federal funds for the renovation or
demolition of school facilities over fifty years old. The Iowa
Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) reviews all projects that are
federally funded, licensed, or permitted and may affect historic
properties. The law and regulations governing this review are Section
106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and its implementing regulations, 36 CFR Part 800,
revised effective August 5, 2004. Under this act, federal agencies are
required to take into account the effects of their actions, called
"undertakings", on historic resources. Certain projects funded in
whole or in part by the Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program
may be considered "undertakings" under Section 106 and should be
reviewed according to the procedures outlined in 36 CFR Part 800.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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The Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Program was proposed by
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa and originally authorized by Title III of
Public Law 105-78 for $8,000,000 becoming effective September 28,
1998. Subsequently the grant has become known as Harkin Grants
with Congress authorizing annual allocations of $10,000,000,
$9,249,813, $9,000,000, $50,000,000, $6,954,499, $6,958,699, and
$14,880,000, with grant periods running through September 30,
2008.
The purpose of the program is to help school districts
correct fire safety problems and to help school districts leverage
local resources to construct new schools or remodel, modernize existing
buildings. Approximately 35 percent of the available funds have
been allocated each year for addressing fire safety issues and 65
percent for construction. Grant award recipients are listed
according to the school year when the school district received the
award.
Fire Safety Grants
*There are no current applications at this time.
Awards
 2005-06 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
2004-05 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
2003-04 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
2002-03 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
2001-02 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
2000-01 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
1999-00 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
1998-99 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards - Fire Safety
Construction
Grants
*There are no current applications at this time.
Awards
2005-06 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
2004-05 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
2003-04 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
2002-03 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
2001-02 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
2000-01 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
1999-00 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
1998-99 Iowa Demonstration Construction Grant Awards
Reporting Form
The following is the Interim/Final Reporting for for Fire Safety and Construction Grants.
Interim/Final Project Reporting Form for Fire Safety and Construction Grants
Property Tax Capacity, Local Option Tax, and Free and Reduced Price Meals
2005-06 Information on Iowa Demonstration Construction Grants
2004-05 Information on Iowa Demonstration Construction Grants
2003-04 Information on Iowa Demonstration Construction Grants
FAQs
Iowa Demonstration Grant Frequently Asked Questions
Contact
Gary Schwartz
515-281-4743
gary.schwartz@iowa.gov
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 March 2008 )
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Local sales and services tax moneys received by a county for school
infrastructure purposes shall be utilized for school infrastructure
needs or property tax relief. "School infrastructure" means those
activities for which a school district is authorized to contract
indebtedness and issue general obligation bonds under Iowa Code section 296.1,
except those activities related to a teacher's or superintendent's home
or homes.
These activities include the construction,
reconstruction, repair, demolition work, purchasing, or remodeling of
schoolhouses, stadiums, gyms, field houses, and bus garages and the
procurement of schoolhouse construction sites and making of site
improvements and those activities for which revenues under Iowa Code section
298.3 or section 300.2 may be spent. Additionally, "school infrastructure" includes the payment or retirement of outstanding
bonds previously issued for school infrastructure purposes, and the
payment or retirement of bonds issued under Iowa Code section 423E.5.
The maximum rate of tax shall be one percent. The tax shall be
imposed without regard to any other local sales and services tax
authorized in Iowa Code chapter 423B, and is repealed at the expiration of a
period of ten years of imposition or a shorter period as provided in
the ballot proposition unless the period is extended as provided in
Iowa Code section 423E.2, subsection 5.
Elections
 History of local option elections
Below is a map of the counties in Iowa that have Local Option Sales and Service Tax.
Links
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IA Dept. of Revenue - LOSST
Information provided by the Iowa Department of Revenue and Finance on
the Local Option Sales and Services Tax for School Infrastructure.
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FAQs
Local Option Sales and Service Tax FAQs
Contact
Gary Schwartz
515-281-4743
gary.schwartz@iowa.gov
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 13 March 2008 )
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School facilities maintenance affects the physical, educational, and
financial foundation of the school organization and should, therefore,
be a focus of both its day-to-day operations and long-range management
priorities. As America's school buildings age, we face the
growing challenge of maintaining school facilities at a level that
enables our teachers to meet the needs of 21st century learners.
While the construction of new school facilities supports this task,
many older buildings have developed modularly over time. A 1920s-era
school may have gotten an addition in 1950, which in turn got an
addition in 1970, and yet another addition in 1990. The task of caring
for these old school buildings, some of which are historically or
architecturally significant, at a level that supports contemporary
instructional practices is substantial. At the same time, maintaining
the finely tuned workings of new, more technologically advanced
facilities also demands considerable expertise and commitment.
Thus, it is perhaps not surprising that facilities issues arise at all
educational levels, pre-kindergarten through post-secondary, and all
sites, both school buildings and administrative offices alike.
Challenges arise in both new and old facilities, although the types of
concerns may differ. For example, even a brand-new building may have
problems with inadequate air circulation, which can lead to indoor air
quality (IAQ) problems unless remedied. Older buildings, on the other
hand, more frequently face age-related issues such as inefficient
energy systems that can lead to uncomfortable indoor climate and high
utility bills.
A sound facilities maintenance plan serves as evidence that school
facilities are, and will be, cared for appropriately. On the other
hand, negligent facilities maintenance planning can cause real
problems. Large capital investment can be squandered when buildings and
equipment deteriorate or warranties become invalidated. Failing to
maintain school facilities adequately also discourages future public
investment in the education system.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
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Cost of Deferred Maintenance
Save a Penny, Lose a School, is the second report in a series of policy briefs on rural education. This brief describes the problem of deferred maintenance for school facilities, especially from the perspective of small rural districts. It examines the extent, causes, and consequences of deferred maintenance as well as recommendations for policy, practice, and funding that can help correct this national problem.
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Planning Guide for Maintaining School Facilities
The National Forum on Education Statistics has published a planning
guide for schools. The guide can be downloaded in PDF format.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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PPEL is a property tax driven levy that consists of the regular PPEL (board approved) not exceeding thirty-three cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district and a voter-approved PPEL not exceeding one dollar and thirty-four cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation in the district.
This levy may be used for the following purposes: purchase and improvement of grounds; construction of schoolhouses or buildings and opening roads to schoolhouses or buildings; purchase of buildings and the purchase, lease, or lease-purchase of a single unit of equipment or technology exceeding five hundred dollars in value; payment of debts contracted for the erection or construction of schoolhouses or buildings, not including interest on bonds; procuring or acquisition of library facilities; repairing, remodeling, reconstructing, improving, or expanding the schoolhouses or buildings and additions to existing schoolhouses; expenditures for energy conservation; rental of facilities under chapter 28E; purchase of transportation equipment for transporting students; lease-purchase option agreements for school buildings and for equipment exceeding in value five thousand dollars per single unit; equipment purchases for recreational purposes; and payments to a municipality or other entity as required under section 403.19, subsection 2. The spreadsheets listed by school year are summaries of Physical Plant and Equipment Levies submitted to voters during each fiscal year.
Election Results
2006-07 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results
2005-06 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results
2004-05 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results (2006-05-07)
2003-04 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results (2006-05-07)
2002-03 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results (2006-05-07)
2001-02 Voter-Approved PPEL Election Results (5.74 KB 2006-05-07 21:58:07)
Links
Iowa Code 298.2 Imposition of physical plant and equipment levy
Uniform Administrative Procedures Manual
Contact
Gary Schwartz
515-281-4743
gary.schwartz@iowa.gov
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 April 2008 )
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It is estimated that every two-and-a-half minutes a child is treated in
an emergency room for a playground-related injury. This does not
include the children whose injuries receive treatment outside the
emergency room. Typically on an average, 15 children die every year
simply because they want to play. It shouldn't take a death or
debilitating injury for adults to realize that providing safe play
environments should be a top priority.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
Links below provide information and guidelines for public playground
safety and how public playgrounds need to be accessible for the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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The Iowa Department of Education is pleased to announce the
availability of the application for Qualified Zone Academy Bonds
(QZABs) Authority. The Federal Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 created the
Qualified Zone Academy Bond (loan) Program to provide low or no
interest financing for renovating school buildings and purchasing
equipment.
These are financial instruments that provide low or no interest
bonds (loans), which are subsidized by the federal government in the
form of tax credits to the bondholder. To qualify the school:
- must establish a partnership with a business,
- must have at least 35 percent of the students attending be eligible for free or reduced price lunches,
- must have the students subjected to the same academic standards and assessments as other students,
- must be designed in cooperation with business to enhance the academic program
Links
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Last Updated ( Friday, 14 December 2007 )
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This site contains links to consumer product safety, emergency
preparedness and management, and the physical security of school
occupants during natural disasters, accidents, and criminal acts and
other man-made threats.
Contact: Gary Schwartz
Links
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PK-12 Finance & Data 
2006-2008 Application for QZAB