Referendum gives school levy big jump for 2006

By Lori EhdeLuverne School Board members certified the school district levy at $1,912,049.80 at their Thursday, Dec. 22, meeting.That amount reflects the $700 per-pupil operating referendum voters approved in November.The new school levy for taxes payable in 2006 reflects a $555,904 (40 percent) increase over last year’s levy which was $1,356,145.51.The preliminary levy approved in September called for a 4-percent levy increase in 2006, but the referendum will have a big impact on tax statements next year.For example, property taxes on a $100,000 home in the district will increase by roughly $200 next year.The referendum will bring an additional $900,000 to the district per year for up to 10 years. The local burden of that amount will be 45 percent, with the state matching the remaining amount.The district went to voters with the referendum proposal in an effort to stay out of deficit spending. Statewide, legislative funding hasn’t kept pace with increasing school costs (fuel for heat and transportation, for example), and decreasing enrollment has further reduced revenue.Garage sale pendingThe city of Luverne has expressed interest in purchasing the former Community Education garage for $21,000.The garage is located in the parking lot of what is now Southwestern Mental Health Center. Before the new Community Education building went up with the new school in 1998, those offices occupied the brick the building once known as the Bell Telephone building.The city is interested in the garage to have it removed in order to make space for an anticipated Fire Hall expansion.The district currently uses the garage as storage space for Community Education recreational supplies.These supplies will be stored in the school bus garage, and a storage facility will be built under the athletic field bleachers to hold football and track equipment.The School Board can’t officially act on the agreement until council members formally approve it at their next meeting.Supplemental athletic activities payThe board approved an increase in pay for seventh- through ninth-grade athletic activities workers at the request of Activities Director Todd Oye, According to Oye, it’s becoming difficult to find people to help at events because of insufficient compensation.The board approved the request, bringing Luverne’s compensation in line with what other districts are paying. Luverne hasn’t increased its compensation since November 2000.Only some activities will see increases.For example, pay for junior varsity and ninth-grade football officials will increase from $25 per official per event to $30 for four-man officiating teams and $35 for three-man teams.Pay for ticket sellers at district events will increase from $30 to $40, and C-team volleyball line judges will get $7.50 instead of $5. In other business:
Finance Director Marlene Mann reported that the Luverne School Foundation had received a $500 donation earmarked toward building an additional tennis court.
Middle School High School Principal Donna Judson reported on open campus. "I’m impressed by how well they’re handling that responsibility," she said.
Judson also reported that cell-phones are banned from classrooms. She said students can have them, but they must be turned off. "I don’t want to see them or hear them," she said.
Fisher said he’d heard from several former students who told him they appreciated the college prep courses they were able to take while in high school in Luverne, because it put them ahead of other students – in some cases a whole semester ahead."It’s always good to hear our students are prepared once they leave here and go to college," Fisher said. "It reinforces our belief in preparing kids for life after high school."
Salary negotiations with Luverne teachers are now in mediation, the first meeting being Dec. 23.
The district will receive bids at 2 p.m. Jan. 24 for a bus and will receive bids on April 20 for a car and two suburban-type vehicles.