Posted: 9/27/06
School levy up 11.95 percent
Board questions
ACT scores
By David Heiller
Argus News Editor
The Caledonia School Board approved its 2006 payable 2007 levy at $2,146,819 at its September 18 meeting.
That is an 11.95 percent increase from the previous year.
ìOur taxes wouldnít be going up at all if it wasnít for the maximum levy going up,î superintendent Michael Moriarty said. ìThey just keep taking equalization is what theyíre doing.î
ISD #299 is one of 21 districts in Minnesota with a maximum effort loan. The $14 million loan was used to help finance the new middle/high school. The additional $9.5 million was bonded.
In 2005, the state legislature lowered the interest rate on the maximum effort loan program from 32 percent to 28 percent. The pay-off time has been cut from 50 to 25 years due to the taxable market value of land, which has more than doubled in the past 10 years.
The higher the percentage of growth, the higher the maximum effort levy. It rose from $1,210,969 last year to $1,411,230 this year. That makes up about two thirds of the levy increase, Moriarty said.
ìWe were very concerned that we didnít overtax our citizens or elderly,î Schulte said about the new school project, which culminated in a new middle/high school in 2002.
The bonds will be paid off in 2027.
(See Moriartyís ìSchool Talkî column on the school page in this weekís Argus for more on the levy.)
ACT scores questioned
In other action, the board approved the 2005-2006 Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Performance.
The 10-page report included test results of the CHS students on ACT tests for the past five years.
Caledonia students were below the state average in English, math, reading, and science in each of those years.
Schulte, who had requested the information, asked why that was the case.
High School principal Ron Helmers gave several reasons. He said the ACT is testing more students who donít have the core subjects like reading and math. The tests give students a chance to see what classes they need to take and improve on, he said.
The ACT is a four-year college preparedness test, and some student who take it do not go on to college, Helmers said. They take the tests as a junior the first time, he said. ìThey really donít have a lot of the background.î When they retake the tests, their scores go up dramatically, from 1-3 points, Helmers added.
ìIt would be nice if we were a point above and not a point below [state average],î Schulte said.
Board member Joyce Knutson said her son took the test as a 10th grader. He would have done better if he had taken it as a senior, she said.
Good scores also takes good guidance work, Helmers added. ìYou need to take the hard courses,î he said. ìIt takes all of us to do that.î
School trip discussed
Band director Eliott Kranz and choir director Carrie Erickson made a pitch for the trip to New York City at the meeting.
A maximum of 100 students would attend, and it would not be mandatory, Kranz told the board. The tentative dates are March 23-28.
ìThereís such a diverse group of cultures in New York City,î Kranz said. ìThereís so many things to see that they otherwise could not see.î
He estimated that 85-90 students had already said yes to the idea. There will be 10 chaperones.
Some fund-raising has already begun, and more events are coming, such as a bake sale at the Christmas concert, Kranz said.
Erickson said students would do some work on the trip too, such as keep a daily journal, and make a presentation afterwards.
Board member Chuck Schulte said it was important to have the money raised before going. he called it a great opportunity.
The board didnít vote on allowing the trip; it will be on the October agenda.
Other business
ï Personnel: The board approved a contract for Dianne Stevens as kindergarten teacher at BA/0 at $31,994.
ï Staff development: The board approved the staff development handbook for 2006-2007. Teacher Carol Nelson said there are many staff development opportunities. All staff are eligible to request up to $540 for things like attending conferences and workshops, and doing curriculum writing. It is funded by two percent of the districtís basic revenue.
ï Goals highlighted: Moriarty went over the goals that the board had set at an in-service, and what had been accomplished so far. He called the ninth grade reading class for students needing remediation a tremendous step.
Moriarty also noted that the goal of establishing an 8 percent fund balance had been achieved, and would be part of the 2005-06 audit report in October.
ï Testing report: Middle school principal Brian Doty went over different tests that student must take, including three in the MCA family as well as paper tests on writing, reading, and mathematics. He called it an enormous undertaking. Schulte said he was frustrated that the tests are mandated without the district getting reimbursed.
That is also true with No Child Left Behind, Moriarty said. Federal title funding is being cut and more requirements are being added, he said.
ï Bullying: Schulte asked how the districtís work on the prevention of bullying was going. All three principals said they had seen improvements. Elementary principal Connie Hesse said her students are less tolerant of being a bystander. ìKids are getting much better about reporting,î she said.
Doty said the issue is on the front burner at the middle school. CLIMB Theater gave a good presentation on it last year, and is scheduled to do another one this year, he added.
ìWe at least get a shot at it now,î Doty said. In the past it was invisible, he said.
Helmers said that buses are difficult to supervise for bullying. Itís important that drivers develop a rapport with kids and their families, he said.
ìNo student should be picked on or bullied,î Schulte said. ìThatís not acceptable.î
ï SAC program: Community education director Nancy Runningen reported that the School Age Care program had 47 students registered for 2006-07 as of August 25. There are 25 students there after school and 12-15 in the morning, she said. ìWeíre really pleased with the numbers,î Runningen said. ìHopefully the program will continue to grow.î
The Honors On-Line program has eight students enrolled, Runningen added. These are college classes from Southeast Technical College in Winona that students take vie ITV at Caledonia High School.
ï Absent: Board member Barb Hurley was absent from the meeting.
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