The Knoxville Community School District will hold a Physical Plant and Equipment Levy (PPEL) informational session tonight ahead of the upcoming renewal vote.

The session will begin at 5:30 pm at the district office. The special election will be held on Tuesday, March 4th along with a vote for a school board vacancy. PPEL provides the necessary funds to maintain and improve school buildings, complete site and facility improvements, and purchase transportation vehicles and technology equipment. The PPEL cannot be used for salaries, educational program materials, or curriculum. In 2015, voters approved the PPEL, and approved an increase in 2018. Initially, the district anticipated the term would expire in 2028, but in December 2024, the Iowa Department of Management clarified that it would end in 2025, despite the vote in 2018. To meet state requirements, the district scheduled the vote for March 4th, ensuring PPEL funding is included in the district budget they will submit by April 15th, as required. Knoxville Superintendent Cassi Pearson encourages residents to attend the meeting and learn more about the levy ahead of the upcoming vote.

“We wanted to give our community an opportunity to come in and really ask any questions they have around our PPEL and the PPEL vote that will happen on March 4th. Tonight at 5:30 in our board room and that is located at 418 S Park Lane Drive. Come in, it’s really just going to be an open session. We can walk through what we’ve used PPEL for in the past and what we will continue needing to use PPEL for if this vote passes.”

Hear more from Pearson on today’s Let’s Talk Knoxville.