Sunday, August 22, 2010

USD 383 Board of Education

Aug. 18, 2010
Kathy Dzewaltowski

Regular meeting:
The board received a preliminary report on state assessment results. Overall, the district achieved "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP). As individual buildings, Bergman Elementary did not achieve AYP in reading and math for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and for students with disabilities. Anthony Middle School also did not achieve AYP in reading and math for students with disabilities, and students who qualify for free or reduced lunch did not achieve AYP in math. Both schools will develop intervention plans.

Board members were presented with the design development for Roosevelt Elementary. The plans include a new gym, kitchen, kindergarten classroom, and bus loading area along 14th Street. The board approved 7-0 the design development plans.

The board spent a considerable amount of time discussing the 2010-11 budget and, in particular, discussed the capital outlay mill levy. The three options the board considered for the capital outlay mill levy were 4.0 mills, 4.75 mills, and 5.5 mills (5.5 mills was the current mill levy). Board members were divided between keeping the mill levy at 5.5 or lowering it to 4.0. Board members Walt Pesaresi, Nancy Knopp, Susan Marshall, and Dave Colburn favored lowering the mill levy to 4.0 mills because they thought the district could accomplish what it needed to at that level and the funds generated by a higher mill levy would be saved for future needs, such as property acquisition, and they didn't like the idea of taxing the public for the purpose of creating savings. Pete Paukstelis and Doug Messer supported keeping the mill levy at 5.5 mills in order to take care of all of the district's projects rather than putting things off and getting behind with maintenance. Curt Herrman favored 4.75 mills as a compromise. The board approved 4-3 the budget and establishing the capital outlay mill levy at 4.0 mills, with Herrman, Messer, and Paukstelis dissenting.

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