By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members wrapped up their final meeting of 2003 by certifying the levy and reviewing the status of district fund balances.During their Monday night meeting, the board adopted the proposed property tax levy at $1.49 million payable in 2004. This is the maximum levy amount allowed by the state, but it represents a decrease of $63,306 from last year’s levy.While education costs are not decreasing, the state two years ago shifted the burden of school funding from local property taxes to state sales and income taxes.At the time, the state of Minnesota was on the upside of economic growth, but since the education tax shift, the economy has slowed.The result has been pressure on the state to keep up with education funding, in light of decreasing revenue from sales and income taxes.District Finance Officer Marlene Mann told School Board members Monday night how the state is handling its budget with regard to school funding."It’s that same old story," Mann said. "The state’s holding back dollars, putting more of a burden on districts to have a cash balance to float bills."She said Luverne District was due to receive $1.5 million in state aid at the start of the district’s fiscal year in July, but that money is being metered slowly.Meanwhile, state funds that are due now are being withheld.The bottom line, Mann said, is that the district needs to have money on hand to cover its monthly obligations."Until the state economy picks up and the state decides to release its education dollars," Mann said, "we have to have a fund balance on hand to cover what the state is holding."Study on merger of Southwest and South Central conferencesA joint committee of the Southwest Conference and South Central Conference initiated a feasibility study on merging the two conferences.Factors considered in the study will include: Travel distance and cost for all schools involved for any activity, size or enrollment variations and competitive levels of the programs."Some of these programs are historically pretty strong, while others aren’t, so they’re exploring the possibility of arranging schedules according to competitive level of the programs," Schaefer said."It isn’t just athletics, it’s everything."He emphasized the feasibility study won’t obligate the conference committee to a decision."It doesn’t mean that anything will come to be," Schaefer said. "They’re just studying it."Retired athletic director, Ron Stolsky, Brainerd, was hired to study the variables, and the target date for his report is March 1.In other business Monday, the boardoApproved student teaching contracts with Southwest State University, Marshall, and Augustana College. Student teachers will work with Jane Cote, Jodi Rops, Emily Matthiesen, Gordie Hansen, Kara Ahrendt, Doug Dooyema, Cloyce Smith and Chris Nowatzki.oApproved LaDonna Iveland and Colby Anderson as co-directors for the spring play.oApproved a leave of absence for Cheryl Cronberg, paraprofessional, for six months beginning Dec. 1, 2003.oHired Deborah Kneip as paraprofessional.oThe next school board meetings are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 and Feb. 12.
