The School District 166 school board adopted two resolutions at the June 18 board meeting regarding the school’s levy, which combined would increase the school district operating levy from $495,000 to $1,000,848.
Superintendent Beth Schwarz explained that the school district actually has three operational levies, a voter approved levy, a board approved levy and a local option levy.
Schwarz said the local optional revenue (LOR) levy, already in place, is not slated for any change. The LOR provides $424 per pupil for school operations.
The second operating levy is a board-approved referendum, which can be raised and lowered by the school board, without voter approval. There was no board-approved referendum on the school tax levy in 2014-2015. With a resolution at the June 18 meeting, the board approved adding $300 per pupil to the operating levy.
Schwarz described the board-approved operating levy as a “safety net,” to help the school stay afloat if the voter approved levy failed to pass.
The final operating levy is the voter approved levy. The previous voter-approved levy, approved in 2010, is set to expire in fiscal year 2016. That levy brings $437.09 to the school per student.
With a student population of 496, that meant the school district received $210,643 from the voter-approved referendum.
At the June 18 meeting, the school board had to decide if it would seek a voter approved levy and if so, how much. At this final meeting of many to discuss the levy, the school board— absent Board Member Sissy Lunde— voted to seek a levy referendum on the November ballot.
The board agreed to ask voters to approve a levy of $1,276 per pupil, which at a student population of 480 would bring $612,480 to the school.
Board Member Terry Collins noted that the primary reason for the need for an increased levy is declining enrollment. He pointed out that in the 2000-2011 school year School District 166 had 708 students. He said in the 2014-2015 school year enrollment was 459.
Collins said the school is down about 260 students and with the average state funding per student approximately $1,200, the school is down about $3.2 million in “today’s student dollars.”
Collins said some costs go down with lower enrollment, but most do not. “The Gunflint Trail is still 50-plus miles long. Gas prices are not going down. We still have to maintain the halls and the grounds,” he said.
Collins said because School District 166 is small, it doesn’t have the opportunity to share expenses with other districts as metro-area schools do. “The rational is clear,” he said, noting that the school board and administration spent a great deal of time looking at setting the levy higher or lower.
Collins said he was voting to approve seeking a levy referendum with a foreboding of what would be lost if the referendum were not approved.
Schwarz agreed that the levy increase was crucial. With it, she said the school district could maintain its current programming, could keep pace with capital needs and could enhance programming. She provided a list of items on which levy funding would be expended, such as maintaining small class sizes, keeping industrial arts a full-time program, keeping up with changing technology, reducing student fees, increasing early childhood and preschool programming and more.
“If the operating levy expires, some of these things would be in jeopardy,” said Schwarz.
Schwarz also provided a table showing what the increased levy would mean to county taxpayers. (See table above). Board Member Deb White said that breaks down to about 40 cents a day.
Maternity leave and coaching questions
Discussion continues with teacher and coach April Wahlstrom who is currently on maternity leave. Wahlstrom asked the school district if she could begin her duties as cross country running coach in the fall while still on maternity leave. Wahlstrom told the school board that this would not only give consistency to the cross county team, but would help her transition back into teaching fulltime while being a new mother.
The school board had previously denied the request, noting that a leave from school also meant a leave from coaching. However, Superintendent Schwarz said she had since learned that another teacher was on paid parental leave and was given permission to coach while on leave.
Wahlstrom made another written request to the school board, asking for reconsideration. Board Member Terry Collins said he would like more information about the previous situation. He asked the superintendent to find out what the employee contract said at that time.
Schwarz said she would bring that information to the next board meeting.
In other business
. As discussed and agreed upon at the June 1 work session, resolutions passed to place Art Teacher Mary MacDonald and Music Teacher Kerri Bilben on unrequested leave of absence (ULA). School board members noted that the ULA did not mean the teachers were losing their jobs or that the art or music curriculum would be reduced. Bilben will see her hours reduced to 96 percent from fulltime. MacDonald’s hours will be reduced to 84 percent from fulltime.
. The board passed a resolution to authorize Superintendent Schwarz and Board Chair Jeanne Anderson to take action to refinance school bonds if rates become favorable. Doing so could save $80,000 – $82,000 for the school district.
. A unanimous motion passed to keep fees for sports and extracurricular activities the same for the 2015 – 2016 school year.
. The school board accepted the resignation of Special Education Teacher Larry Dean, “with much appreciation,” added Chair Anderson. The board also accepted the resignation of third-grade teacher Terry Blood, who accepted a teaching position in the Lake Superior School District.
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