Each January/February, ISFIS partners with Piper Sandler to host ISFIS Budget Workshops for school leaders. These hands-on workshops provide the opportunity for superintendents, SBOs and their teams to prepare their individual district's Certified Budget in just one highly productive day. Districts will leave the workshop with a completed (or nearly completed) Certified Budget and will know all the details for publication. Attendees also leave about sales and property tax debt and other variables affecting district finances.
This year, we again have 9 in-person locations, one in each AEA region, plus 2 virtual date options. In-person locations are scheduled from 9 am to approx. 1 pm. More information regarding documents and information to bring with you to the meeting, and the Zoom link for virtual meetings, will be emailed out to attendees a few days ahead of each workshop. Thanks to Iowa's Area Education Agencies for their support and use of meeting space.
Extreme Weather Plans: For in-person workshops, in the event the AEA location is delayed due to extreme weather, we will follow suit and begin the meeting on the same delay schedule. If the AEA is closed, we will instead hold a virtual workshop on the originally scheduled date, beginning at 10:30 am rather than 9 am.
2025 WORKSHOP DETAILS
This year, we have 9 in-person budget workshops and 2 virtual workshop options! Budget workshops cost $300 per district per workshop (whether in person or virtual), but please sign up each person individually to ensure we have adequate space for everyone in the rooms. All in-person workshops will be held from 9 am – 1 pm (ending time approx. but no later than 1pm).
- Wed., Jan 15th - Heartland AEA - Johnston
- Thurs, Jan 16th - Green Hills AEA - Red Oak
- Fri., Jan 17th - Northwest AEA - Sioux City
- Tues., Jan 21st - Grant Wood AEA - Cedar Rapids
- Wed., Jan 22nd - Central Rivers AEA - Cedar Falls
- Thurs., Jan 23rd - Fort Dodge CSD Administration Office, 109 N 25th Street, Fort Dodge (in partnership with Prairie Lakes AEA)
- Mon, Jan 27th - Great Prairie AEA - Ottumwa
- Wed., Jan 29th - Mississippi Bend AEA - Bettendorf
- Thurs., Jan 30th - Keystone AEA - Elkader
- Mon, Feb 3rd - Virtual (1 - 4 pm)
- Wed., Feb 5th - Virtual (9 am-noon)
ITEMS NEEDED FOR MEETINGS
Be sure to check the website and watch your email for the final and complete list ahead of the workshops, but below is the anticipated list of items needed for the workshops:
- Laptop, Power Cord, and Peripherials – Wifi-enabled laptop. Please log in and test getting into the DOM budget system prior to the workshop. Don't forget your mouse, 10-key, or other peripherals you may wish to use.
- Dropout Prevention modified supplemental amount for FY 2026, Special Education deficit or other School Budget Review Committee approvals during the 2024-25 budget year.
- Previous year’s budget forms from 2023-24 school year which were completed and certified in April 2024.
- Any Debt Schedules (Bonds and interest) and Loan Agreement Schedules - include PPEL loans. Contact your Financial Advisor for these in advance if you are not a Piper Sandler client.
- 2023-24 CAR Budget Crosswalk Report. Please have a draft of the Worksheet 1 and 2 as complete as possible. Don't worry about State Aid and Property Tax numbers, those will populate automatically.
- Please bring your DE district ID and password to access the portal.
REGISTRATION
Register using the link below. You do not need to create a SignUp Genius account to register. Space is limited at each location. Please create a new registration for each person attending to ensure we have contact information for each person and adequate space, even though the cost is the same regardless of the number of attendees from a district. Contact Jen Albers to make any changes to your registration or if you have issues with SignUp Genius. REGISTER HERE