(Posted July 19, 2017)
By Sandi Latimer, Staff Writer
The Madison-Plains school board plans to put a request for renewal of a permanent improvement levy on the November ballot.
On July 18, the board approved a resolution requesting the Madison County auditor to certify the need for the levy.
Voters last passed the 2.5-mill levy in 2013. It expires at the end of 2018. The board is asking for another five-year renewal. Funds brought in from this levy are to be used for permanent improvements and to purchase school buses. The funds cannot be used for operational expenses.
Once the auditor certifies the need, the board will prepare the levy question for the ballot. This will be done in a special meeting set for 6 p.m. Aug. 7. The deadline to submit ballot questions to the Madison County Board of Elections is Aug. 9.
Todd Mustain, district treasurer, said the district finished the fiscal year $363,679 better than he had estimated a year ago. He said he was off less than 1 percent in revenue produced, while expenses came in 3 percent under what he had projected.
The district has a 5.953-mill operating levy up on the Aug. 8 special election ballot which, if passed, will bring in just over $2 million a year for day-to-day operating expenses. The district has enough money to operate through this coming school year but is projected to go into deficit spending in the fall of 2018.
At the start of the July 18 meeting, the board held a public hearing on the proposed rehiring of two retired employees—Mary Sparrow, food service coordinator, and Patty Anthony, transportation aide. Each retiree had one person speak in favor of rehiring. The board cannot, by state law, take action for 15 days, so their rehiring will be considered at an upcoming meeting.
“We are fortunate to have them stay with us,” said Superintendent Tim Dettwiller.
In other action, the board:
- accepted the resignation of Brad Miller as assistant elementary principal, who stepped up to become principal, and hired Ann Boerger to be assistant principal beginning Aug. 1.
- accepted resignations of four employees, including assistant principal Jason Weese at grades 7-12 and long-time science teacher Scott Spohler.
The board’s next regular meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 15.
