While Tuesday's results are obviously good news for the district's budget, Schaefer's enthusiasm was dampened by the reality of increasing school costs that are quickly outpacing funding support from the state.
Despite last year's $328,000 in cuts, the Luverne District's revenues still fall short of expenses by more than $100,000. Expenses such as fuel and health insurance have affected all districts.
That, combined with state support not meeting inflation and rising expenses, adds up to a projected $120,000 shortfall by the end of this school year.
With voter approval of the operating levy, Luverne district bought some time to brace for an uncertain future of state funding for education.
"The next step now is to see how the state funds the basic education package," Schaefer said Tuesday.
Adrian levy referendum fails by only tow votes, 305 to 303
Adrian Superintendent LeRoy Domagala sighed heavily into the phone when he called to report the results of Adrian School District's special election Tuesday.
The proposed $450-per-pupil operating levy referendum failed by two solitary votes, leaving Domagala wondering what to do with a school budget that's already in the red.
"We're in deep doo-doo," he said Tuesday night.
Of the roughly 1,550 eligible voters in the district, 608 cast their ballots, 303 in favor and 305 against. "Somebody didn't vote that probably should have," Domagala said.
He said the district can put the question to voters again next year, but he said it's too late to salvage financing for the 2002-2003 school year.
"We're already in debt," Domagala said.
Adrian School District joined many districts statewide in proposing operating referendums to compensate for state funding that is not keeping pace with increasing education costs.
A brochure mailed in the Adrian district prior to the election warned that if residents vote down the proposal, "There will be major cuts and changes across the board in all areas of our children's education."
Some of these changes include increased class sizes, fewer teachers and support staff, elimination of some activities and elective classes and increased fees for student activities.
The levy's effect on a $100,000 property would have been roughly $134 per year.