SOLON — As the school year begins to enter its final stretch, the Solon School District enters its budgeting season. A strong fiscal plan has allowed Solon to be in a great position going into the next couple of years. The State Senate and Governor Kim Reynolds proposed only a 2% increase in school funding for the next school year. The House is asking for a slightly higher increase of 2.25%.
While awaiting for a final decision from the state capital building, Solon Superintendent Davis Eidahl and the board have budgeted well enough where the low increase should have little, to no impact. They have put an emphasis on putting away more and more money each year in preparation for less funding, or a rainy-day type of event. Unfortunately, the former has presented itself, but Solon will be able to power through.
“We feel good about our budget right now,” said Eidahl, “We’ve got a good solvency ratio that will tick down a bit, but it’s still above where the Iowa School Board Association recommends it being.”
Last year, the district worked out a five-year deal with the teachers for a percentage increase that will be 3.25% per year. This is a higher number than the 2% increase in funding, but the district anticipated that in prior years, so it will not have a major impact on hiring or programs.
“Is that 2% increase each year going to sustain us for the next ten years? No,” said Eidahl, “But we can make it through some years and not have anybody really feel an impact.”
The budget for the 2025-26 school year will be finalized in March. The new AEA changes have had a minimal impact on the school district so far and Eidahl believes it will continue to be that way in the foreseeable future.
New classes and happenings in the SCSD
This year the district added a couple new classes focused on students’ future careers. These classes filled up quickly and have been very popular amongst students. These classes focus on a wide range of career paths ranging from manufacturing, woods, and welding to nursing.
The school also added individual career and academic plans to the middle school to vertically articulate with the high school plan. The middle school classes are meant to be much more explorative than the high school versions to promote trying out different areas of interest in the work force.
Next year, the district will increase the career tech department by adding another business teacher. This will free up time for a business teacher to focus on apprenticeships and getting students out into the community.
The Spartans will be getting a new addition to their athletic programs during the next school year. In spring 2026, the school will introduce junior high boys and girls soccer teams. The teams will be made up of seventh and eighth graders. Solon will join 6-7 other WaMaC school to add these teams.