Holton proposing slight mill levy decrease also

The Holton school board is proposing a slight decrease in the mill levy for USD 336, which also serves as the host district for the Holton Special Education Cooperative.

The proposed new mill levy is 58.754 mills, down from last year’s 58.796 mills.

The school district’s assessed valuation for the year has been set at $44,956,288, which is up about $1.37 million from last year’s $43,586,872.

Total taxes proposed to be levied total $2,536,383, up $76,991 from $2,459,392 last year.

A decrease in state aid for local option budget (LOB) funding required that the Holton district increase its budget by the $76,991, explained Superintendent Dennis Stones. Otherwise the district’s proposed budget would have been the same as last year.

The new proposed budget sets the school district’s maximum budget authority at $27,695,935, which is up $2.31 million from last year’s $25,381,860.

The proposed new budget is published on page 11 of this edition.

A public hearing to discuss the proposed budget has been set for 6:05 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the district office.

A total of 14 mills of the district’s budget is dedicated to bond and interest payments for the year, which are expected to total $1.47 million. The district has a new elementary school that was financed with $21.5 million in general obligation bonds. State tax funds are contributing 58 percent of the total cost of the project.

The district also is paying off about $2 million in lease/purchase principal related to new construction in recent years at the high school.

As host district for the Holton Special Education Cooperative, the proposed new budget for USD 336 lists the special ed co-op’s budget at $6,064,450, which is up $486,565 from last year’s $5,577,885. A total of five local school districts contribute tax funds to support the special ed co-op.

The school board met in a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to unanimously approve the proposed budget for publication.

In other business, at the meeting, the school board:

*Approved bills totaling $235,209.26.

*Formally accepted a $1,000 donation from Wal-Mart for new pre-school student scholarships and a $1,000 donation from Wal-Mart for a school grant that teacher Jill Schulz applied for.

*Met with John Chiles, a local school patron, about returning the street in front of the old Central school to two-way traffic since it is no longer used as a school.

Chiles also inquired about the district’s future plans for the old Central school. 

Superintendent Dennis Stones said the district is interested in selling the old Central school property to private investors or working out an agreement with the city of Holton to take over ownership of the property.

Chiles also reminded school officials that a lot of elderly Holton residents are living on fixed incomes and appreciate the school board’s efforts to keep local school taxes down.

Stones also commented that some special education office space that had been rented on the north side of the Holton Square in the past was now being moved to the remaining part of the Colorado school campus. 

Stones also explained that the district’s new pre-school program, which will serve about 60 kids this year, was started because of some of the federal government’s guidelines regarding special education funding. Pre-school education services for qualifying special education kids should be provided in a school setting with a 50-50 ratio of special ed kids and typically developing kids.

Stones also noted that the district’s Fresh Start program is now located in district-owned property, which has eliminated some rent payments that were required in the past. 

*Approved $500 stipends for each of the six “mentor’’ teachers in the district who will be selected to serve as mentors for the six new teachers in the district this year.

*Approved the purchase of a new scoreboard for the new elementary school at a cost of $4,998 from the Nevco company. Installation will cost an additional $1,500 to $2,000, it was reported.

Athco bid $6,936 plus $1,595 to install and Daktronics bid $4,510 with $600 to install.

*Approved a motion to enter into executive session at 6:38 p.m. to discuss non-elected personnel with Supt. Stones, Asst. Supt. Joe Kelly and maintenance director Mike Porter.

*Upon returning to open session at 6:53 p.m., a motion was approved to terminate the employment of custodian James Tapley.

*Adjourned the meeting at 6:55 p.m.

The Holton Recorder

109 W. Fourth St.
Holton, KS 66436
Phone: 785-364-3141
 

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